Cost of Living Comparison Between Pontianak and BaliCost of Living Comparison Between Pontianak and Bali
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $671 per month in Pontianak vs $1,279 in Bali, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,030 per month in Pontianak vs $2,322 in Bali, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,390 per month in Pontianak vs $3,365 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 – Pontianak50% lower, Bali4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.44Rp 25.8K
$2.90Rp 52.0K
-50.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.43Rp 222.9K
$26.61Rp 477.3K
-53.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.28Rp 58.9K
$4.08Rp 73.3K
-19.61%
Cappuccino
$1.71Rp 30.7K
$2.25Rp 40.3K
-24.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,269
$1.12Rp 20.0K
-53.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,037
$0.61Rp 11.0K
-54.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.02Rp 54.2K
$2.44Rp 43.8K
23.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43Rp 43.6K
$3.33Rp 59.7K
-27.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 21.0K
$1.73Rp 31.0K
-32.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.12Rp 20.1K
$2.38Rp 42.7K
-52.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95Rp 17.1K
$1.13Rp 20.3K
-15.93%
Eggs
$1.53Rp 27.5K
$2.31Rp 41.5K
-33.77%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.25Rp 147.9K
$13.63Rp 244.5K
-39.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.14Rp 56.4K
$4.12Rp 73.9K
-23.79%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.07Rp 144.8K
$11.61Rp 208.2K
-30.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40Rp 43.0K
$3.48Rp 62.4K
-31.03%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48Rp 26.6K
$1.55Rp 27.7K
-4.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86Rp 33.4K
$2.59Rp 46.5K
-28.19%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 28.1K
$2.13Rp 38.1K
-26.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 24.7K
$1.88Rp 33.7K
-26.60%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.4K
$2.11Rp 37.8K
-6.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90Rp 16.1K
$1.01Rp 18.1K
-10.89%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,009
$0.73Rp 13.1K
-38.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.79Rp 32.1K
$3.01Rp 54.1K
-40.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.42Rp 366.2K
$21.99Rp 394.5K
-7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12Rp 38.0K
$2.67Rp 47.9K
-20.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13Rp 56.2K
$2.69Rp 48.2K
16.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,789
$0.27Rp 4,785
18.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.92Rp 177.8K
$8.30Rp 148.8K
19.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57Rp 10.3K
$0.49Rp 8,845
16.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34Rp 6,161
$0.45Rp 8,102
-24.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.89Rp 51.8K
$6.20Rp 111.2K
-53.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 15.2K
$0.84Rp 15.1K
1.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KRp 442.4M
$26.5KRp 475.5M
-6.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KRp 488.9M
$32.0KRp 574.0M
-14.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.7Rp 1.2M
$81.2Rp 1.5M
-15.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.28Rp 76.7K
$4.12Rp 74.0K
3.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.72Rp 407.5K
$23.71Rp 425.2K
-4.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.19Rp 415.9K
$82.3Rp 1.5M
-71.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.30Rp 112.9K
$5.43Rp 97.5K
16.02%
Cinema Ticket
$3.11Rp 55.8K
$3.46Rp 62.1K
-10.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.7Rp 1.7M
$267Rp 4.8M
-64.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,587Rp 136.1M
$5,952Rp 106.7M
27.48%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.20Rp 738.9K
$51.5Rp 924.0K
-20.03%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.11Rp 540.1K
$36.70Rp 658.2K
-17.96%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.6Rp 1.2M
$83.6Rp 1.5M
-20.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.7Rp 1.3M
$74.0Rp 1.3M
-0.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$257Rp 4.6M
$884Rp 15.9M
-70.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$159Rp 2.8M
$574Rp 10.3M
-72.37%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$595Rp 10.7M
$2,921Rp 52.4M
-79.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$334Rp 6.0M
$1,782Rp 32.0M
-81.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,214Rp 21.8M
$2,449Rp 43.9M
-50.44%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$784Rp 14.1M
$1,993Rp 35.7M
-60.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$333Rp 6.0M
$223Rp 4.0M
49.40%
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: July 20, 2026
Last update for Bali: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $257 in Pontianak versus $884 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 49% 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 $12.00 in Pontianak versus $27.00 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $208 vs $284 – 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 91% 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 and in Bali?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,006 per month in Pontianak and $1,919 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 and in Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Pontianak and $27.00 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 $671 in Pontianak and $1,279 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 in Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pontianak, where all-in costs run around $671, than in Bali at $1,279. 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 $671 versus $1,279 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 to 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.