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: $671 in Pekanbaru versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $972 in Pekanbaru versus $1,660 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,273 in Pekanbaru versus $2,360 in Denpasar, Bali.

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

Both cities sit below the global median: Pekanbaru 50% lower, Denpasar, Bali 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.58 Rp 28.1K

$2.41 Rp 43.0K

-34.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.16 Rp 163.6K

$21.74 Rp 388.3K

-57.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.43 Rp 43.3K

$3.26 Rp 58.2K

-25.46%

Cappuccino

$1.35 Rp 24.2K

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

-28.57%

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

$0.50 Rp 8,881

$0.92 Rp 16.5K

-45.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 Rp 4,259

$0.47 Rp 8,368

-48.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.21 Rp 39.5K

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

15.10%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 Rp 59.1K

$2.56 Rp 45.7K

29.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.36 Rp 24.2K

$1.44 Rp 25.7K

-5.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.20 Rp 21.4K

$2.04 Rp 36.5K

-41.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 Rp 17.5K

$0.92 Rp 16.5K

6.52%

Eggs

$1.71 Rp 30.5K

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-10.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.17 Rp 306.6K

$11.89 Rp 212.4K

44.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.62 Rp 46.8K

$3.41 Rp 61.0K

-23.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.17 Rp 181.5K

$9.95 Rp 177.7K

2.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.88 Rp 51.4K

$3.09 Rp 55.2K

-6.80%

Banana (1kg)

$1.68 Rp 30.1K

$1.26 Rp 22.6K

33.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.00 Rp 35.8K

$2.22 Rp 39.6K

-9.91%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.96 Rp 17.2K

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

-46.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$1.61 Rp 28.8K

-37.27%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 Rp 29.8K

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

-7.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

74.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 8,024

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

-21.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 Rp 40.2K

$2.64 Rp 47.1K

-14.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.07 Rp 376.3K

$19.27 Rp 344.2K

9.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 50.0K

$2.25 Rp 40.2K

24.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.08 Rp 72.8K

$2.23 Rp 39.8K

82.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,261

$0.24 Rp 4,257

20.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.04 Rp 161.5K

$7.34 Rp 131.0K

23.16%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.88 Rp 15.7K

$0.44 Rp 7,813

100.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 Rp 7,814

$0.39 Rp 6,914

12.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.14 Rp 38.2K

$5.45 Rp 97.2K

-60.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

$0.74 Rp 13.1K

4.05%

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

$22.7K Rp 405.1M

$23.5K Rp 420.5M

-3.66%

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

$25.7K Rp 459.7M

$29.1K Rp 520.1M

-11.60%

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

$69.3 Rp 1.2M

$70.5 Rp 1.3M

-1.63%

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

$6.73 Rp 120.2K

$3.67 Rp 65.5K

83.38%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.30 Rp 505.4K

$21.23 Rp 379.1K

33.30%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.12 Rp 412.8K

$69.5 Rp 1.2M

-66.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.25 Rp 218.7K

$4.45 Rp 79.5K

175.28%

Cinema Ticket

$3.29 Rp 58.7K

$2.91 Rp 52.0K

13.06%

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

$175 Rp 3.1M

$227 Rp 4.1M

-22.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,092 Rp 55.2M

$5,191 Rp 92.7M

-40.44%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$34.33 Rp 613.1K

$47.61 Rp 850.2K

-27.89%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.18 Rp 646.2K

$32.45 Rp 579.4K

11.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.1 Rp 1.2M

$76.3 Rp 1.4M

-14.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.5 Rp 1.4M

$66.7 Rp 1.2M

14.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$258 Rp 4.6M

$528 Rp 9.4M

-51.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$120 Rp 2.2M

$344 Rp 6.1M

-65.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$908 Rp 16.2M

$1,801 Rp 32.2M

-49.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 Rp 2.7M

$1,065 Rp 19.0M

-85.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,026 Rp 18.3M

$1,476 Rp 26.4M

-30.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$722 Rp 12.9M

$1,184 Rp 21.2M

-39.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$190 Rp 3.4M

$335 Rp 6.0M

-43.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

13.28

-31.10%

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

Last update for Pekanbaru: May 31, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $258 in Pekanbaru and $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 76% 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 Pekanbaru vs $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $251 vs $243, 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

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

Pekanbaru and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 43% in total monthly costs ($671 vs $961 including rent). Pekanbaru is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Denpasar, Bali earns 76% 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: $258 in Pekanbaru versus $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $671 per month in Pekanbaru versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali – a 43% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pekanbaru runs roughly 23% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $671 in Pekanbaru versus $961 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 43% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.