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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $603 in Manado versus $940 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $929 in Manado versus $1,630 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,255 in Manado versus $2,320 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Manado costs roughly 36% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manado 55% lower, Denpasar, Bali 30% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Manado
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.27 Rp 21.9K
$2.38 Rp 41.3K
-46.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.38 Rp 162.6K
$21.86 Rp 379.0K
-57.09%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.14 Rp 54.5K
$3.30 Rp 57.2K
-4.85%
Cappuccino
$1.66 Rp 28.8K
$1.90 Rp 33.0K
-12.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.32 Rp 5,563
$0.89 Rp 15.4K
-64.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 Rp 4,530
$0.49 Rp 8,522
-46.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.67 Rp 63.6K
$1.95 Rp 33.8K
88.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.87 Rp 101.8K
$2.51 Rp 43.6K
133.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Manado
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 Rp 21.2K
$1.41 Rp 24.4K
-13.48%
White Bread (500g)
$0.91 Rp 15.7K
$2.04 Rp 35.4K
-55.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.73 Rp 12.7K
$0.96 Rp 16.7K
-23.96%
Eggs
$1.82 Rp 31.5K
$2.00 Rp 34.7K
-9.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.91 Rp 137.0K
$11.70 Rp 202.8K
-32.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.08 Rp 53.3K
$3.43 Rp 59.4K
-10.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.74 Rp 134.1K
$9.53 Rp 165.2K
-18.78%
Apples (1kg)
$2.82 Rp 48.8K
$3.10 Rp 53.8K
-9.03%
Banana (1kg)
$1.47 Rp 25.5K
$1.26 Rp 21.8K
16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 32.3K
$2.29 Rp 39.6K
-18.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.30 Rp 22.5K
$1.87 Rp 32.4K
-30.48%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 Rp 23.7K
$1.62 Rp 28.0K
-15.43%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 32.9K
$1.78 Rp 30.9K
6.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 Rp 15.5K
$0.81 Rp 14.0K
11.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 Rp 8,231
$0.58 Rp 9,999
-18.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.32 Rp 40.3K
$2.64 Rp 45.8K
-12.12%
Wine (Bottle)
$28.87 Rp 500.3K
$19.10 Rp 331.1K
51.15%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 30.3K
$2.32 Rp 40.1K
-24.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 Rp 54.8K
$2.26 Rp 39.1K
39.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Manado
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 Rp 5,602
$0.26 Rp 4,527
23.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.60 Rp 166.4K
$7.43 Rp 128.7K
29.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.54 Rp 9,323
$0.40 Rp 6,918
35.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 Rp 6,421
$0.41 Rp 7,189
-9.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.96 Rp 51.3K
$5.40 Rp 93.6K
-45.19%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 13.9K
$0.76 Rp 13.2K
5.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K Rp 427.7M
$23.2K Rp 402.6M
6.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K Rp 470.7M
$28.4K Rp 492.9M
-4.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Manado
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$24.75 Rp 428.9K
$73.2 Rp 1.3M
-66.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.32 Rp 74.9K
$3.67 Rp 63.7K
17.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.13 Rp 400.9K
$21.40 Rp 370.9K
8.08%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Manado
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.53 Rp 321.2K
$69.5 Rp 1.2M
-73.34%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.12 Rp 106.0K
$4.67 Rp 80.9K
31.05%
Cinema Ticket
$2.66 Rp 46.1K
$2.81 Rp 48.7K
-5.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Manado
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$92.1 Rp 1.6M
$234 Rp 4.1M
-60.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,155 Rp 89.3M
$5,114 Rp 88.6M
0.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Manado
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.0 Rp 1.1M
$46.27 Rp 801.9K
31.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.46 Rp 424.0K
$32.20 Rp 558.1K
-24.04%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 Rp 1.6M
$74.0 Rp 1.3M
26.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.8 Rp 1.3M
$67.2 Rp 1.2M
11.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Manado
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$328 Rp 5.7M
$512 Rp 8.9M
-36.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$98.8 Rp 1.7M
$344 Rp 6.0M
-71.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$327 Rp 5.7M
$1,804 Rp 31.3M
-81.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$186 Rp 3.2M
$1,064 Rp 18.4M
-82.50%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,203 Rp 20.9M
$1,591 Rp 27.6M
-24.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$782 Rp 13.6M
$1,226 Rp 21.2M
-36.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Manado
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$221 Rp 3.8M
$293 Rp 5.1M
-24.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
13.28
-24.70%

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

Last update for Manado: April 25, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $328 in Manado and $512 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 32% 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: $9.00 in Manado vs $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $221 vs $242 per month, with Manado 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
Manado vs Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Manado and Denpasar, Bali?
Manado and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 56% in total monthly costs ($603 vs $940 including rent). Manado is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Denpasar, Bali earns 32% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Manado and Denpasar, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $328 in Manado versus $512 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Manado or Denpasar, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $603 per month in Manado versus $940 in Denpasar, Bali – a 56% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Manado and Denpasar, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Manado runs roughly 29% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $603 in Manado versus $940 in Denpasar, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Manado but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Manado the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Manado and Denpasar, Bali?
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.
Is Manado or Denpasar, Bali safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Manado and Denpasar, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Manado or Denpasar, Bali?
Expats usually find Manado gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Manado vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities