Cost of Living Comparison Between Denpasar, Bali and Pekanbaru Cost of Living Comparison Between Denpasar, Bali and Pekanbaru

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $942 in Denpasar, Bali versus $681 in Pekanbaru.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,637 in Denpasar, Bali versus $970 in Pekanbaru.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,331 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,258 in Pekanbaru.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 38% more expensive than in Pekanbaru, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 29% lower, Pekanbaru 49% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.38 Rp 42.8K

$1.56 Rp 28.0K

52.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.21 Rp 380.5K

$8.68 Rp 155.6K

144.35%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.39 Rp 60.9K

$2.49 Rp 44.7K

36.14%

Cappuccino

$1.87 Rp 33.6K

$1.42 Rp 25.5K

31.69%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

$0.47 Rp 8,369

82.98%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,810

$0.26 Rp 4,666

88.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 Rp 36.2K

$2.14 Rp 38.4K

-5.61%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 Rp 45.6K

$3.43 Rp 61.5K

-25.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

$1.34 Rp 24.1K

5.97%

White Bread (500g)

$2.07 Rp 37.1K

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

72.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 Rp 17.8K

$1.02 Rp 18.4K

-2.94%

Eggs

$1.96 Rp 35.2K

$1.78 Rp 31.9K

10.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.90 Rp 213.4K

$16.88 Rp 302.8K

-29.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.50 Rp 62.8K

$2.61 Rp 46.9K

34.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.90 Rp 177.6K

$10.40 Rp 186.6K

-4.81%

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 Rp 56.0K

$2.96 Rp 53.0K

5.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 Rp 23.2K

$1.67 Rp 30.0K

-22.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 41.0K

$2.01 Rp 36.1K

13.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 Rp 32.9K

$0.89 Rp 15.9K

105.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.9K

$1.00 Rp 17.9K

55.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 Rp 33.1K

$1.61 Rp 28.8K

14.91%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 Rp 14.6K

$1.58 Rp 28.3K

-48.10%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

$0.41 Rp 7,385

51.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 Rp 47.5K

$2.30 Rp 41.2K

15.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.39 Rp 330.0K

$19.82 Rp 355.6K

-7.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 Rp 42.2K

$2.74 Rp 49.2K

-14.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

$3.87 Rp 69.5K

-42.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 Rp 4,695

$0.30 Rp 5,301

-13.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.41 Rp 133.0K

$9.33 Rp 167.4K

-20.58%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,857

$0.89 Rp 15.9K

-50.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 Rp 6,851

$0.40 Rp 7,206

-5.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.43 Rp 97.4K

$2.18 Rp 39.1K

149.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

$0.77 Rp 13.8K

-6.49%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.1K Rp 413.5M

$23.2K Rp 415.6M

-0.48%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.6K Rp 512.5M

$25.5K Rp 456.6M

12.22%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

$70.3 Rp 1.3M

3.70%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.72 Rp 66.8K

$6.58 Rp 118.0K

-43.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.15 Rp 379.4K

$27.97 Rp 501.7K

-24.38%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.2 Rp 1.2M

$23.15 Rp 415.3K

194.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.71 Rp 84.4K

$12.41 Rp 222.6K

-62.05%

Cinema Ticket

$2.81 Rp 50.5K

$3.21 Rp 57.5K

-12.46%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$233 Rp 4.2M

$174 Rp 3.1M

33.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,136 Rp 92.1M

$3,096 Rp 55.5M

65.92%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.35 Rp 831.4K

$34.18 Rp 613.1K

35.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.50 Rp 583.0K

$36.35 Rp 652.1K

-10.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 Rp 1.4M

$65.7 Rp 1.2M

15.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.5 Rp 1.2M

$75.9 Rp 1.4M

-13.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$528 Rp 9.5M

$257 Rp 4.6M

105.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 Rp 6.4M

$122 Rp 2.2M

192.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,791 Rp 32.1M

$930 Rp 16.7M

92.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 Rp 19.5M

$151 Rp 2.7M

622.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,415 Rp 25.4M

$1,135 Rp 20.4M

24.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,164 Rp 20.9M

$699 Rp 12.5M

66.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 Rp 5.0M

$181 Rp 3.2M

53.41%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

9.15

45.14%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: July 13, 2026

Last update for Pekanbaru: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $528 in Denpasar, Bali and $257 in Pekanbaru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 53% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $21.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $9.00 in Pekanbaru. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $247, with Denpasar, Bali cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Denpasar, Bali vs Pekanbaru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Denpasar, Bali and Pekanbaru differ by about 38% in total monthly costs ($942 vs $681 including rent). Pekanbaru is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 53% higher in Denpasar, Bali, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $528 in Denpasar, Bali versus $257 in Pekanbaru. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $942 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $681 in Pekanbaru – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pekanbaru runs roughly 26% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Pekanbaru gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Denpasar, Bali and Pekanbaru are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Pekanbaru gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.