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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $932 in Denpasar, Bali versus $671 in Pontianak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,641 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,030 in Pontianak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,350 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,390 in Pontianak.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 39% more expensive than in Pontianak, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 30% lower, Pontianak 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.40 Rp 43.0K

$1.44 Rp 25.8K

66.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.69 Rp 389.0K

$12.43 Rp 222.9K

74.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.35 Rp 60.0K

$3.28 Rp 58.9K

2.13%

Cappuccino

$1.82 Rp 32.6K

$1.71 Rp 30.7K

6.43%

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

$0.89 Rp 15.9K

$0.52 Rp 9,269

71.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 Rp 9,038

$0.28 Rp 5,037

78.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

$3.02 Rp 54.2K

-36.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.57 Rp 46.2K

$2.43 Rp 43.6K

5.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 Rp 26.2K

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

24.79%

White Bread (500g)

$2.04 Rp 36.6K

$1.12 Rp 20.1K

82.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 Rp 16.5K

$0.95 Rp 17.1K

-3.16%

Eggs

$2.00 Rp 35.9K

$1.53 Rp 27.5K

30.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.60 Rp 208.0K

$8.25 Rp 147.9K

40.61%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.43 Rp 61.5K

$3.14 Rp 56.4K

9.24%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.59 Rp 172.1K

$8.07 Rp 144.8K

18.84%

Apples (1kg)

$3.04 Rp 54.6K

$2.40 Rp 43.0K

26.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 Rp 22.3K

$1.48 Rp 26.6K

-16.22%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.26 Rp 40.6K

$1.86 Rp 33.4K

21.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 Rp 33.4K

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

18.47%

Potato (1kg)

$1.53 Rp 27.5K

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

10.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 33.0K

$1.97 Rp 35.4K

-6.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 Rp 14.9K

$0.90 Rp 16.1K

-7.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

$0.45 Rp 8,009

37.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 Rp 47.3K

$1.79 Rp 32.1K

47.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.22 Rp 344.8K

$20.42 Rp 366.2K

-5.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.22 Rp 39.9K

$2.12 Rp 38.0K

4.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 Rp 41.7K

$3.13 Rp 56.2K

-25.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 Rp 4,266

$0.32 Rp 5,789

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.29 Rp 130.8K

$9.92 Rp 177.8K

-26.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.43 Rp 7,714

$0.57 Rp 10.3K

-24.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 Rp 6,981

$0.34 Rp 6,161

14.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.46 Rp 97.9K

$2.89 Rp 51.8K

88.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

-14.12%

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

$23.7K Rp 425.5M

$24.7K Rp 442.4M

-3.83%

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

$28.9K Rp 518.8M

$27.3K Rp 488.9M

6.12%

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

$71.3 Rp 1.3M

$68.7 Rp 1.2M

3.86%

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

$3.56 Rp 63.8K

$4.28 Rp 76.7K

-16.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.78 Rp 390.7K

$22.72 Rp 407.5K

-4.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.7 Rp 1.2M

$23.19 Rp 415.9K

200.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.73 Rp 84.8K

$6.30 Rp 112.9K

-24.92%

Cinema Ticket

$2.92 Rp 52.5K

$3.11 Rp 55.8K

-6.11%

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

$229 Rp 4.1M

$93.7 Rp 1.7M

144.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,075 Rp 91.0M

$7,587 Rp 136.1M

-33.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.37 Rp 831.7K

$41.20 Rp 738.9K

12.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.71 Rp 586.7K

$30.11 Rp 540.1K

8.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.1 Rp 1.4M

$66.6 Rp 1.2M

14.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.1 Rp 1.2M

$73.7 Rp 1.3M

-10.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$514 Rp 9.2M

$257 Rp 4.6M

99.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$354 Rp 6.3M

$159 Rp 2.8M

122.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,774 Rp 31.8M

$595 Rp 10.7M

198.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,077 Rp 19.3M

$334 Rp 6.0M

222.27%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,424 Rp 25.5M

$1,214 Rp 21.8M

17.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,201 Rp 21.5M

$784 Rp 14.1M

53.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$276 Rp 5.0M

$333 Rp 6.0M

-16.93%

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 19, 2026

Last update for Pontianak: July 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $514 in Denpasar, Bali and $257 in Pontianak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pontianak pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $12.00 in Pontianak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $242 vs $208 per month, with Pontianak cheaper across the board.

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 Pontianak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Denpasar, Bali and Pontianak differ by about 39% in total monthly costs ($932 vs $671 including rent). Pontianak is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 20% lower in Pontianak. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $514 in Denpasar, Bali versus $257 in Pontianak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $932 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $671 in Pontianak – a 39% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pontianak runs roughly 36% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $671 in Pontianak versus $932 in Denpasar, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pontianak but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Pontianak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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 Pontianak 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 Pontianak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.