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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $661 per month in Pontianak vs $1,270 in Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,020 per month in Pontianak vs $2,308 in Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,379 per month in Pontianak vs $3,345 in Bali, rent included.

Pontianak is about 48% cheaper than Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Pontianak and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Pontianak 51% lower, Bali 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.45 Rp 25.0K
$2.89 Rp 49.7K
-49.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.20 Rp 209.7K
$27.51 Rp 472.8K
-55.65%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.32 Rp 57.0K
$4.26 Rp 73.3K
-22.07%
Cappuccino
$1.67 Rp 28.7K
$2.28 Rp 39.2K
-26.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 8,849
$1.14 Rp 19.7K
-55.26%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 Rp 4,836
$0.59 Rp 10.1K
-52.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.12 Rp 53.6K
$2.49 Rp 42.8K
25.30%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40 Rp 41.2K
$3.28 Rp 56.4K
-26.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 Rp 20.2K
$1.73 Rp 29.7K
-31.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.18 Rp 20.3K
$2.41 Rp 41.4K
-51.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 Rp 15.9K
$1.15 Rp 19.8K
-19.13%
Eggs
$1.60 Rp 27.6K
$2.32 Rp 39.9K
-31.03%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.88 Rp 135.5K
$13.80 Rp 237.2K
-42.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.13 Rp 53.8K
$3.99 Rp 68.5K
-21.55%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.98 Rp 137.2K
$11.64 Rp 200.0K
-31.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 41.5K
$3.55 Rp 61.0K
-31.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 Rp 24.5K
$1.49 Rp 25.6K
-4.03%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 Rp 32.1K
$2.58 Rp 44.4K
-27.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.51 Rp 25.9K
$2.23 Rp 38.3K
-32.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 Rp 22.9K
$1.81 Rp 31.1K
-26.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 Rp 33.3K
$2.18 Rp 37.5K
-11.01%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.94 Rp 16.2K
$0.97 Rp 16.7K
-3.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 7,656
$0.68 Rp 11.7K
-33.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.80 Rp 30.9K
$3.10 Rp 53.2K
-41.94%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.63 Rp 388.8K
$22.57 Rp 387.8K
0.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 Rp 34.9K
$2.63 Rp 45.1K
-22.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 Rp 55.7K
$2.72 Rp 46.7K
19.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 Rp 5,080
$0.27 Rp 4,579
11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.80 Rp 168.4K
$8.25 Rp 141.7K
18.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 Rp 9,027
$0.45 Rp 7,786
17.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 Rp 6,379
$0.46 Rp 7,824
-19.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.88 Rp 49.5K
$6.04 Rp 103.7K
-52.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.4K
$0.85 Rp 14.6K
-1.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K Rp 417.5M
$25.7K Rp 442.4M
-5.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8K Rp 477.2M
$32.2K Rp 553.2M
-13.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.1 Rp 1.2M
$79.9 Rp 1.4M
-12.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.32 Rp 74.3K
$3.98 Rp 68.5K
8.54%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.55 Rp 387.6K
$24.26 Rp 417.0K
-7.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.69 Rp 390.0K
$81.4 Rp 1.4M
-72.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02 Rp 103.4K
$5.50 Rp 94.5K
9.45%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01 Rp 51.7K
$3.37 Rp 57.9K
-10.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$92.2 Rp 1.6M
$273 Rp 4.7M
-66.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,613 Rp 130.8M
$6,007 Rp 103.2M
26.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.22 Rp 725.6K
$52.5 Rp 902.4K
-19.60%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.31 Rp 538.0K
$36.80 Rp 632.5K
-14.92%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.9 Rp 1.2M
$84.4 Rp 1.5M
-19.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.8 Rp 1.3M
$73.2 Rp 1.3M
0.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$255 Rp 4.4M
$880 Rp 15.1M
-71.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$160 Rp 2.7M
$589 Rp 10.1M
-72.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$581 Rp 10.0M
$3,010 Rp 51.7M
-80.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$333 Rp 5.7M
$1,834 Rp 31.5M
-81.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,374 Rp 23.6M
$2,575 Rp 44.3M
-46.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$749 Rp 12.9M
$2,080 Rp 35.7M
-63.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$345 Rp 5.9M
$223 Rp 3.8M
55.19%
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 Pontianak: April 22, 2026

Last update for Bali: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Pontianak versus $880 in Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 55% higher in Pontianak, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12 in Pontianak versus $28 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $285 – making Pontianak the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Pontianak vs Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Pontianak or Bali?
Bali costs about 92% more than Pontianak, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Pontianak vs Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $991 per month in Pontianak and $1,905 in Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Pontianak or Bali?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pontianak, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Pontianak vs Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Pontianak and $28.00 in Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Pontianak compared to Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $661 in Pontianak and $1,270 in Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,500/month in Pontianak or Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pontianak, where all-in costs run around $661, than in Bali at $1,270. In Pontianak it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Pontianak or Bali?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pontianak costs $661 versus $1,270 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Pontianak compared to Bali?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Pontianak or Bali?
If budget matters most, go with Pontianak. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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