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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $661 in Pontianak versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,020 in Pontianak versus $1,663 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,379 in Pontianak versus $2,365 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Pontianak costs roughly 31% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pontianak 51% lower, Denpasar, Bali 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.45 Rp 25.0K

$2.36 Rp 40.6K

-38.56%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.20 Rp 209.7K

$21.50 Rp 369.5K

-43.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.32 Rp 57.0K

$3.29 Rp 56.6K

0.91%

Cappuccino

$1.67 Rp 28.7K

$1.90 Rp 32.6K

-12.11%

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

$0.51 Rp 8,849

$0.88 Rp 15.1K

-42.05%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 4,836

$0.50 Rp 8,603

-44.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 Rp 53.6K

$2.00 Rp 34.4K

56.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.40 Rp 41.2K

$2.53 Rp 43.5K

-5.14%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 Rp 20.2K

$1.45 Rp 25.0K

-18.62%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 Rp 20.3K

$2.05 Rp 35.2K

-42.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 Rp 15.9K

$0.92 Rp 15.7K

1.09%

Eggs

$1.60 Rp 27.6K

$1.89 Rp 32.5K

-15.34%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.88 Rp 135.5K

$11.86 Rp 203.9K

-33.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.13 Rp 53.8K

$3.40 Rp 58.4K

-7.94%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.98 Rp 137.2K

$9.82 Rp 168.8K

-18.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 Rp 41.5K

$2.98 Rp 51.2K

-18.79%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 Rp 24.5K

$1.27 Rp 21.8K

12.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 Rp 32.1K

$2.21 Rp 37.9K

-15.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 Rp 25.9K

$1.86 Rp 32.0K

-18.82%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 Rp 22.9K

$1.55 Rp 26.6K

-14.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 Rp 33.3K

$1.85 Rp 31.8K

4.86%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 Rp 16.2K

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

10.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 7,656

$0.58 Rp 9,985

-22.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.80 Rp 30.9K

$2.63 Rp 45.1K

-31.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.63 Rp 388.8K

$18.93 Rp 325.3K

19.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.03 Rp 34.9K

$2.31 Rp 39.7K

-12.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.24 Rp 55.7K

$2.22 Rp 38.1K

45.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 Rp 5,080

$0.26 Rp 4,489

15.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.80 Rp 168.4K

$7.29 Rp 125.2K

34.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.53 Rp 9,027

$0.40 Rp 6,927

32.50%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 Rp 6,379

$0.42 Rp 7,172

-11.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 Rp 49.5K

$5.61 Rp 96.5K

-48.66%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.4K

$0.72 Rp 12.3K

16.67%

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

$24.3K Rp 417.5M

$23.3K Rp 400.6M

4.24%

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

$27.8K Rp 477.2M

$29.4K Rp 505.4M

-5.58%

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

$70.1 Rp 1.2M

$72.6 Rp 1.2M

-3.44%

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

$4.32 Rp 74.3K

$3.65 Rp 62.8K

18.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.55 Rp 387.6K

$21.89 Rp 376.1K

3.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.69 Rp 390.0K

$68.1 Rp 1.2M

-66.67%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.02 Rp 103.4K

$4.62 Rp 79.3K

30.30%

Cinema Ticket

$3.01 Rp 51.7K

$2.83 Rp 48.7K

6.36%

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

$92.2 Rp 1.6M

$228 Rp 3.9M

-59.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,613 Rp 130.8M

$5,033 Rp 86.5M

51.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.22 Rp 725.6K

$46.85 Rp 805.1K

-9.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.31 Rp 538.0K

$32.32 Rp 555.5K

-3.13%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.9 Rp 1.2M

$75.9 Rp 1.3M

-10.54%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.8 Rp 1.3M

$67.6 Rp 1.2M

9.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 Rp 4.4M

$525 Rp 9.0M

-51.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$160 Rp 2.7M

$346 Rp 6.0M

-53.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$581 Rp 10.0M

$1,754 Rp 30.1M

-66.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$333 Rp 5.7M

$1,099 Rp 18.9M

-69.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,374 Rp 23.6M

$1,596 Rp 27.4M

-13.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$749 Rp 12.9M

$1,244 Rp 21.4M

-39.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$345 Rp 5.9M

$290 Rp 5.0M

18.98%

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 Denpasar, Bali: April 19, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $255 in Pontianak and $525 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pontianak pays 19% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12 in Pontianak vs $22 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $242 per month, with Pontianak cheaper across the board.

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 Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pontianak and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 45% in total monthly costs ($661 vs $961 including rent). Pontianak is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Pontianak pays 19% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $255 in Pontianak versus $525 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $661 per month in Pontianak versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pontianak runs roughly 34% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $661 in Pontianak versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pontianak but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Pontianak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Pontianak and Denpasar, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Pontianak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.