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: $950 in Denpasar, Bali versus $662 in Pontianak.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,642 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,032 in Pontianak.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,334 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,403 in Pontianak.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 44% more expensive than Pontianak, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 29% lower, Pontianak 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.35 Rp 42.3K

$1.48 Rp 26.7K

58.78%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.69 Rp 389.8K

$12.25 Rp 220.1K

77.06%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.23 Rp 58.1K

$3.32 Rp 59.6K

-2.71%

Cappuccino

$1.90 Rp 34.2K

$1.70 Rp 30.6K

11.76%

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

$0.94 Rp 16.9K

$0.51 Rp 9,225

84.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 Rp 8,360

$0.28 Rp 5,084

67.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 Rp 35.7K

$3.01 Rp 54.0K

-33.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 Rp 45.9K

$2.48 Rp 44.5K

3.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 Rp 26.2K

$1.17 Rp 21.0K

24.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.99 Rp 35.7K

$1.13 Rp 20.4K

76.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 Rp 17.6K

$0.88 Rp 15.8K

11.36%

Eggs

$1.98 Rp 35.6K

$1.54 Rp 27.7K

28.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.75 Rp 211.0K

$8.05 Rp 144.7K

45.96%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.38 Rp 60.7K

$3.21 Rp 57.7K

5.30%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.83 Rp 176.5K

$8.00 Rp 143.8K

22.88%

Apples (1kg)

$3.00 Rp 53.9K

$2.38 Rp 42.8K

26.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 Rp 23.3K

$1.45 Rp 26.0K

-10.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.9K

$1.81 Rp 32.6K

25.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 32.5K

$1.54 Rp 27.7K

17.53%

Potato (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.2K

$1.32 Rp 23.8K

18.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 Rp 31.9K

$1.97 Rp 35.4K

-9.64%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

$0.97 Rp 17.4K

-17.53%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 Rp 11.3K

$0.41 Rp 7,401

53.66%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.59 Rp 46.5K

$1.87 Rp 33.6K

38.50%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.61 Rp 334.4K

$21.18 Rp 380.5K

-12.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

$2.08 Rp 37.4K

7.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.32 Rp 41.6K

$3.23 Rp 57.9K

-28.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 Rp 4,300

$0.32 Rp 5,781

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.50 Rp 134.8K

$9.97 Rp 179.0K

-24.77%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.41 Rp 7,347

$0.56 Rp 10.1K

-26.79%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 Rp 6,855

$0.38 Rp 6,738

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.61 Rp 100.8K

$2.88 Rp 51.8K

94.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.8K

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

-10.47%

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

$23.6K Rp 423.1M

$25.0K Rp 448.3M

-5.60%

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

$29.3K Rp 525.6M

$27.1K Rp 487.2M

7.87%

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

$72.0 Rp 1.3M

$69.6 Rp 1.3M

3.51%

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

$3.69 Rp 66.3K

$4.36 Rp 78.3K

-15.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.33 Rp 383.2K

$23.01 Rp 413.5K

-7.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.8 Rp 1.2M

$22.69 Rp 407.6K

203.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.53 Rp 81.4K

$6.05 Rp 108.7K

-25.12%

Cinema Ticket

$2.89 Rp 51.9K

$3.00 Rp 53.9K

-3.67%

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

$232 Rp 4.2M

$92.9 Rp 1.7M

149.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,015 Rp 90.1M

$7,731 Rp 138.9M

-35.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.98 Rp 844.0K

$41.79 Rp 750.8K

12.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.75 Rp 588.4K

$30.69 Rp 551.3K

6.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 Rp 1.3M

$66.7 Rp 1.2M

11.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.3 Rp 1.2M

$73.7 Rp 1.3M

-8.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$515 Rp 9.3M

$259 Rp 4.7M

98.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$349 Rp 6.3M

$159 Rp 2.9M

119.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,780 Rp 32.0M

$595 Rp 10.7M

199.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,083 Rp 19.5M

$334 Rp 6.0M

224.50%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,453 Rp 26.1M

$1,207 Rp 21.7M

20.38%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,186 Rp 21.3M

$734 Rp 13.2M

61.69%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$325 Rp 5.8M

$335 Rp 6.0M

-3.21%

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: June 7, 2026

Last update for Pontianak: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $515 in Denpasar, Bali and $259 in Pontianak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pontianak pays 3% 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 $241 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 44% in total monthly costs ($950 vs $662 including rent). Pontianak is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Pontianak earns 3% less. 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: $515 in Denpasar, Bali versus $259 in Pontianak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $950 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $662 in Pontianak – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pontianak runs roughly 33% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $662 in Pontianak versus $950 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 44% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.