Cost of Living Comparison Between Pontianak and BaliCost 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 – Pontianak51% lower, Bali5% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.45Rp 25.0K
$2.89Rp 49.7K
-49.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.20Rp 209.7K
$27.51Rp 472.8K
-55.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.32Rp 57.0K
$4.26Rp 73.3K
-22.07%
Cappuccino
$1.67Rp 28.7K
$2.28Rp 39.2K
-26.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 8,849
$1.14Rp 19.7K
-55.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 4,836
$0.59Rp 10.1K
-52.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12Rp 53.6K
$2.49Rp 42.8K
25.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40Rp 41.2K
$3.28Rp 56.4K
-26.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18Rp 20.2K
$1.73Rp 29.7K
-31.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18Rp 20.3K
$2.41Rp 41.4K
-51.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 15.9K
$1.15Rp 19.8K
-19.13%
Eggs
$1.60Rp 27.6K
$2.32Rp 39.9K
-31.03%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.88Rp 135.5K
$13.80Rp 237.2K
-42.90%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.13Rp 53.8K
$3.99Rp 68.5K
-21.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.98Rp 137.2K
$11.64Rp 200.0K
-31.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.42Rp 41.5K
$3.55Rp 61.0K
-31.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43Rp 24.5K
$1.49Rp 25.6K
-4.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87Rp 32.1K
$2.58Rp 44.4K
-27.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51Rp 25.9K
$2.23Rp 38.3K
-32.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 22.9K
$1.81Rp 31.1K
-26.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94Rp 33.3K
$2.18Rp 37.5K
-11.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94Rp 16.2K
$0.97Rp 16.7K
-3.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,656
$0.68Rp 11.7K
-33.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.80Rp 30.9K
$3.10Rp 53.2K
-41.94%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.63Rp 388.8K
$22.57Rp 387.8K
0.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03Rp 34.9K
$2.63Rp 45.1K
-22.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24Rp 55.7K
$2.72Rp 46.7K
19.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,080
$0.27Rp 4,579
11.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.80Rp 168.4K
$8.25Rp 141.7K
18.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,027
$0.45Rp 7,786
17.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,379
$0.46Rp 7,824
-19.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.88Rp 49.5K
$6.04Rp 103.7K
-52.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.4K
$0.85Rp 14.6K
-1.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3KRp 417.5M
$25.7KRp 442.4M
-5.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8KRp 477.2M
$32.2KRp 553.2M
-13.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.1Rp 1.2M
$79.9Rp 1.4M
-12.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.32Rp 74.3K
$3.98Rp 68.5K
8.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.55Rp 387.6K
$24.26Rp 417.0K
-7.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.69Rp 390.0K
$81.4Rp 1.4M
-72.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02Rp 103.4K
$5.50Rp 94.5K
9.45%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01Rp 51.7K
$3.37Rp 57.9K
-10.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.2Rp 1.6M
$273Rp 4.7M
-66.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,613Rp 130.8M
$6,007Rp 103.2M
26.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.22Rp 725.6K
$52.5Rp 902.4K
-19.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.31Rp 538.0K
$36.80Rp 632.5K
-14.92%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.9Rp 1.2M
$84.4Rp 1.5M
-19.60%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.8Rp 1.3M
$73.2Rp 1.3M
0.79%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$255Rp 4.4M
$880Rp 15.1M
-71.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$160Rp 2.7M
$589Rp 10.1M
-72.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$581Rp 10.0M
$3,010Rp 51.7M
-80.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$333Rp 5.7M
$1,834Rp 31.5M
-81.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,374Rp 23.6M
$2,575Rp 44.3M
-46.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$749Rp 12.9M
$2,080Rp 35.7M
-63.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pontianak
Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$345Rp 5.9M
$223Rp 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.