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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $627 per month in Pontianak vs $1,275 in Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $986 per month in Pontianak vs $2,093 in Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,346 per month in Pontianak vs $2,912 in Bali, rent included.

Pontianak is about 51% cheaper than Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Pontianak and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Pontianak 55% lower, Bali 8% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.68 Rp 29.5K

$2.78 Rp 49.0K

-39.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.10 Rp 248.2K

$30.58 Rp 538.3K

-53.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.31 Rp 58.4K

$4.71 Rp 83.0K

-29.72%

Cappuccino

$1.15 Rp 20.3K

$2.34 Rp 41.1K

-50.85%

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

$0.51 Rp 9,010

$1.52 Rp 26.7K

-66.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 Rp 4,406

$0.67 Rp 11.8K

-62.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.15 Rp 55.4K

$2.56 Rp 45.1K

23.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 Rp 51.3K

$3.67 Rp 64.6K

-20.71%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 Rp 20.8K

$1.52 Rp 26.7K

-22.37%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 Rp 18.7K

$2.12 Rp 37.3K

-50.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 Rp 15.2K

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

-22.52%

Eggs

$1.43 Rp 25.1K

$2.02 Rp 35.5K

-29.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.94 Rp 139.7K

$16.67 Rp 293.5K

-52.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.74 Rp 48.3K

$3.75 Rp 66.0K

-26.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.61 Rp 116.4K

$11.85 Rp 208.7K

-44.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.21 Rp 39.0K

$3.51 Rp 61.9K

-37.04%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 23.2K

$1.54 Rp 27.1K

-14.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 Rp 30.0K

$2.25 Rp 39.6K

-24.44%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.6K

$1.92 Rp 33.7K

-39.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 Rp 21.9K

$1.73 Rp 30.5K

-28.32%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 Rp 36.9K

$2.30 Rp 40.5K

-8.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 Rp 15.0K

$1.01 Rp 17.7K

-15.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,241

$0.51 Rp 9,046

-19.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.84 Rp 50.0K

$2.13 Rp 37.4K

33.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.36 Rp 358.4K

$21.59 Rp 380.1K

-5.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.93 Rp 33.9K

$2.20 Rp 38.8K

-12.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 Rp 51.6K

$2.86 Rp 50.3K

2.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,174

$0.25 Rp 4,377

16.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.22 Rp 144.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,103

$0.49 Rp 8,567

-6.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 Rp 5,605

$0.48 Rp 8,392

-33.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 Rp 51.7K

$5.52 Rp 97.1K

-46.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

-4.94%

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

$20.3K Rp 357.6M

$24.7K Rp 435.2M

-17.83%

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

$30.0K Rp 527.7M

$31.8K Rp 559.5M

-5.68%

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

$67.7 Rp 1.2M

$82.8 Rp 1.5M

-18.24%

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

$5.67 Rp 99.9K

$6.49 Rp 114.3K

-12.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.67 Rp 399.1K

$19.04 Rp 335.1K

19.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.51 Rp 361.2K

$47.52 Rp 836.6K

-56.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.37 Rp 147.4K

$15.14 Rp 266.6K

-44.72%

Cinema Ticket

$2.76 Rp 48.5K

$3.77 Rp 66.3K

-26.79%

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

$97.7 Rp 1.7M

$446 Rp 7.9M

-78.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,709 Rp 118.1M

$5,332 Rp 93.9M

25.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.49 Rp 765.7K

$44.63 Rp 785.8K

-2.55%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.60 Rp 521.1K

$33.69 Rp 593.1K

-12.14%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.4 Rp 1.4M

$77.2 Rp 1.4M

2.77%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$76.3 Rp 1.3M

$77.5 Rp 1.4M

-1.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$237 Rp 4.2M

$1,003 Rp 17.7M

-76.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 Rp 2.8M

$610 Rp 10.7M

-74.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$542 Rp 9.5M

$3,095 Rp 54.5M

-82.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 Rp 6.5M

$1,500 Rp 26.4M

-75.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,189 Rp 20.9M

$2,478 Rp 43.6M

-52.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$719 Rp 12.7M

$1,968 Rp 34.7M

-63.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$274 Rp 4.8M

$220 Rp 3.9M

24.33%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

-27.43%

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

Last update for Pontianak: September 7, 2026

Last update for Bali: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $237 in Pontianak versus $1,003 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 24% 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 $14.00 in Pontianak versus $31.00 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $278 – 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

Bali costs about 104% 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.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $940 per month in Pontianak and $1,913 in Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $627 in Pontianak and $1,275 in Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $97.7 per month in Pontianak and $446 in Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Pontianak, where all-in costs run around $627, than in Bali at $1,275. In Pontianak it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pontianak costs $627 versus $1,275 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

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.