Cost of Living Comparison Between Pontianak and BaliCost of Living Comparison Between Pontianak and Bali
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $662 per month in Pontianak vs $1,295 in Bali, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,032 per month in Pontianak vs $2,292 in Bali, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,403 per month in Pontianak vs $3,289 in Bali, rent included.
🙂Pontianak is about 49% cheaper than Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Pontianak and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Pontianak51% lower, Bali4% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.48Rp 26.7K
$2.90Rp 52.1K
-48.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.25Rp 220.1K
$27.50Rp 494.0K
-55.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.32Rp 59.6K
$4.08Rp 73.3K
-18.63%
Cappuccino
$1.70Rp 30.6K
$2.35Rp 42.1K
-27.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,225
$1.10Rp 19.8K
-53.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,084
$0.58Rp 10.4K
-51.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.01Rp 54.0K
$2.40Rp 43.1K
25.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48Rp 44.5K
$3.20Rp 57.4K
-22.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 21.0K
$1.66Rp 29.8K
-29.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13Rp 20.4K
$2.31Rp 41.5K
-51.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.88Rp 15.8K
$1.15Rp 20.6K
-23.48%
Eggs
$1.54Rp 27.7K
$2.34Rp 42.1K
-34.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.05Rp 144.7K
$13.86Rp 249.0K
-41.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.21Rp 57.7K
$3.99Rp 71.7K
-19.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.00Rp 143.8K
$11.52Rp 206.9K
-30.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38Rp 42.8K
$3.50Rp 62.8K
-32.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45Rp 26.0K
$1.50Rp 26.9K
-3.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.81Rp 32.6K
$2.55Rp 45.9K
-29.02%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54Rp 27.7K
$2.24Rp 40.3K
-31.25%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.8K
$1.85Rp 33.2K
-28.65%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.4K
$2.20Rp 39.5K
-10.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97Rp 17.4K
$1.02Rp 18.3K
-4.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,401
$0.72Rp 12.9K
-43.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.87Rp 33.6K
$3.11Rp 56.0K
-39.87%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.18Rp 380.5K
$21.97Rp 394.7K
-3.60%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08Rp 37.4K
$2.76Rp 49.7K
-24.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23Rp 57.9K
$2.70Rp 48.4K
19.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,781
$0.27Rp 4,793
18.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.97Rp 179.0K
$8.17Rp 146.9K
22.03%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56Rp 10.1K
$0.46Rp 8,258
21.74%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,738
$0.46Rp 8,248
-17.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.88Rp 51.8K
$6.22Rp 111.8K
-53.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86Rp 15.4K
$0.85Rp 15.3K
1.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 448.3M
$25.9KRp 464.7M
-3.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KRp 487.2M
$32.6KRp 585.8M
-16.83%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.6Rp 1.3M
$80.0Rp 1.4M
-12.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.36Rp 78.3K
$4.00Rp 71.9K
9.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.01Rp 413.5K
$23.97Rp 430.7K
-4.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.69Rp 407.6K
$82.2Rp 1.5M
-72.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.05Rp 108.7K
$5.33Rp 95.8K
13.51%
Cinema Ticket
$3.00Rp 53.9K
$3.32Rp 59.7K
-9.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.9Rp 1.7M
$273Rp 4.9M
-65.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,731Rp 138.9M
$6,093Rp 109.5M
26.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.79Rp 750.8K
$51.5Rp 925.3K
-18.85%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.69Rp 551.3K
$36.05Rp 647.7K
-14.87%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.7Rp 1.2M
$82.6Rp 1.5M
-19.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.7Rp 1.3M
$72.6Rp 1.3M
1.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$259Rp 4.7M
$882Rp 15.8M
-70.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$159Rp 2.9M
$583Rp 10.5M
-72.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$595Rp 10.7M
$2,917Rp 52.4M
-79.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$334Rp 6.0M
$1,819Rp 32.7M
-81.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,207Rp 21.7M
$2,419Rp 43.5M
-50.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$734Rp 13.2M
$1,929Rp 34.7M
-61.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$335Rp 6.0M
$220Rp 4.0M
52.29%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Bali: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Pontianak versus $882 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 52% 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 $283 – 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 96% 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 $993 per month in Pontianak and $1,943 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 $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 $662 in Pontianak and $1,295 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 $662, than in Bali at $1,295. 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 $662 versus $1,295 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.