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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $630 in Pekanbaru versus $904 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $998 in Pekanbaru versus $1,545 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,367 in Pekanbaru versus $2,186 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Pekanbaru costs roughly 30% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pekanbaru 54% lower, Denpasar, Bali 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.42 Rp 25.3K

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

-39.06%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.31 Rp 147.7K

$25.80 Rp 458.3K

-67.79%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.23 Rp 39.7K

$3.76 Rp 66.8K

-40.69%

Cappuccino

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

$1.83 Rp 32.5K

-30.60%

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

$0.42 Rp 7,533

$1.14 Rp 20.3K

-63.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 Rp 3,889

$0.54 Rp 9,661

-59.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.96 Rp 34.9K

$1.83 Rp 32.5K

7.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 Rp 53.7K

$2.80 Rp 49.8K

7.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.32 Rp 23.5K

$1.29 Rp 23.0K

2.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 Rp 20.6K

$1.86 Rp 33.0K

-37.63%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 Rp 14.7K

$0.95 Rp 16.8K

-12.63%

Eggs

$1.72 Rp 30.5K

$1.71 Rp 30.5K

0.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.24 Rp 128.7K

$14.24 Rp 252.9K

-49.16%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.50 Rp 44.4K

$3.16 Rp 56.1K

-20.89%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.75 Rp 119.9K

$10.16 Rp 180.5K

-33.56%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 Rp 46.9K

$2.91 Rp 51.7K

-9.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.66 Rp 29.6K

$1.30 Rp 23.1K

27.69%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.38 Rp 42.3K

$1.87 Rp 33.2K

27.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 Rp 22.6K

$1.65 Rp 29.3K

-23.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 Rp 23.2K

$1.47 Rp 26.1K

-11.56%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 Rp 36.0K

$1.98 Rp 35.2K

2.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 Rp 13.2K

$0.81 Rp 14.3K

-8.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 Rp 6,512

$0.42 Rp 7,393

-11.90%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.18 Rp 38.7K

$1.83 Rp 32.4K

19.13%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.35 Rp 361.6K

$19.06 Rp 338.6K

6.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 Rp 32.6K

$1.86 Rp 33.1K

-1.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

$2.31 Rp 41.0K

27.71%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,171

$0.22 Rp 3,904

31.82%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.60 Rp 152.8K

$7.39 Rp 131.3K

16.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 Rp 16.8K

$0.43 Rp 7,649

120.93%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 Rp 6,493

$0.43 Rp 7,595

-13.95%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 Rp 52.5K

$3.20 Rp 56.8K

-7.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 Rp 13.1K

$0.69 Rp 12.3K

7.25%

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

$22.8K Rp 405.3M

$22.5K Rp 400.3M

1.27%

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

$26.8K Rp 476.2M

$28.5K Rp 506.7M

-6.01%

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

$63.4 Rp 1.1M

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

-12.99%

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

$6.32 Rp 112.3K

$5.79 Rp 102.8K

9.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.43 Rp 416.2K

$16.73 Rp 297.2K

40.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.64 Rp 508.8K

$40.09 Rp 712.3K

-28.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.34 Rp 148.2K

$12.87 Rp 228.6K

-35.20%

Cinema Ticket

$3.02 Rp 53.7K

$3.19 Rp 56.6K

-5.33%

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

$94.8 Rp 1.7M

$382 Rp 6.8M

-75.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,876 Rp 139.9M

$4,414 Rp 78.4M

78.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.56 Rp 489.6K

$39.21 Rp 696.5K

-29.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.07 Rp 534.2K

$30.71 Rp 545.5K

-2.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$56.5 Rp 1.0M

$69.1 Rp 1.2M

-18.32%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.5 Rp 1.4M

$68.0 Rp 1.2M

18.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$193 Rp 3.4M

$602 Rp 10.7M

-68.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 Rp 2.7M

$358 Rp 6.4M

-57.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$562 Rp 10.0M

$1,879 Rp 33.4M

-70.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 Rp 6.6M

$893 Rp 15.9M

-58.57%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,260 Rp 22.4M

$1,433 Rp 25.5M

-12.03%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$668 Rp 11.9M

$1,191 Rp 21.2M

-43.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$181 Rp 3.2M

$285 Rp 5.1M

-36.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.46

13.78

-31.35%

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

Last update for Pekanbaru: August 31, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $193 in Pekanbaru and $602 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 58% 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: $8.00 in Pekanbaru vs $26.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $200 vs $238 per month, with Pekanbaru 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

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

Pekanbaru and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 44% in total monthly costs ($630 vs $904 including rent). Pekanbaru is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 58% lower in Denpasar, Bali. 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: $193 in Pekanbaru versus $602 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $630 per month in Pekanbaru versus $904 in Denpasar, Bali – a 44% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pekanbaru runs roughly 16% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $630 in Pekanbaru versus $904 in Denpasar, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pekanbaru but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Pekanbaru 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, Pekanbaru 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.

Expats usually find Pekanbaru 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.