🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $662 in Pontianak versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,032 in Pontianak versus $2,549 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,403 in Pontianak versus $3,694 in Ubud, Bali.
🙂Living in Pontianak costs roughly 53% less than in Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Pontianak is 51% below, Ubud, Bali is 4% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Pontianak
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.48Rp 26.6K
$3.57Rp 64.0K
-58.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.25Rp 219.5K
$32.50Rp 582.3K
-62.31%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.32Rp 59.4K
$4.86Rp 87.1K
-31.69%
Cappuccino
$1.70Rp 30.5K
$2.75Rp 49.2K
-38.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,199
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-61.36%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,070
$0.70Rp 12.6K
-60.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.01Rp 53.9K
$2.91Rp 52.2K
3.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48Rp 44.4K
$3.79Rp 68.0K
-34.56%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pontianak
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 20.9K
$1.71Rp 30.6K
-31.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13Rp 20.3K
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-54.25%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.88Rp 15.7K
$1.20Rp 21.5K
-26.67%
Eggs
$1.54Rp 27.6K
$2.44Rp 43.8K
-36.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.05Rp 144.3K
$14.38Rp 257.7K
-44.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.21Rp 57.6K
$4.31Rp 77.1K
-25.52%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.00Rp 143.4K
$12.21Rp 218.7K
-34.48%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38Rp 42.7K
$3.68Rp 66.0K
-35.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.45Rp 25.9K
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-6.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.81Rp 32.5K
$2.79Rp 49.9K
-35.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.54Rp 27.6K
$2.33Rp 41.8K
-33.91%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.7K
$1.97Rp 35.3K
-32.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.97Rp 35.3K
$2.31Rp 41.4K
-14.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97Rp 17.4K
$1.06Rp 19.1K
-8.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,381
$0.73Rp 13.1K
-43.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.87Rp 33.5K
$3.28Rp 58.8K
-42.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.18Rp 379.5K
$22.79Rp 408.4K
-7.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08Rp 37.3K
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-25.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23Rp 57.8K
$2.78Rp 49.9K
16.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Pontianak
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,765
$0.29Rp 5,217
10.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.97Rp 178.5K
$8.06Rp 144.4K
23.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56Rp 10.1K
$0.45Rp 8,047
24.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,719
$0.45Rp 8,094
-15.56%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.88Rp 51.7K
$6.24Rp 111.7K
-53.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86Rp 15.3K
$0.85Rp 15.2K
1.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 447.0M
$26.0KRp 465.4M
-3.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KRp 485.9M
$31.7KRp 567.2M
-14.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pontianak
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.6Rp 1.2M
$80.8Rp 1.4M
-13.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.36Rp 78.1K
$4.06Rp 72.7K
7.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.01Rp 412.3K
$24.42Rp 437.6K
-5.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pontianak
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.69Rp 406.5K
$97.7Rp 1.7M
-76.77%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.05Rp 108.4K
$6.45Rp 115.5K
-6.20%
Cinema Ticket
$3.00Rp 53.7K
$4.04Rp 72.4K
-25.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pontianak
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.9Rp 1.7M
$304Rp 5.4M
-69.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,731Rp 138.5M
$6,621Rp 118.6M
16.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pontianak
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.79Rp 748.7K
$54.2Rp 971.7K
-22.94%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.69Rp 549.8K
$38.78Rp 694.7K
-20.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.7Rp 1.2M
$86.1Rp 1.5M
-22.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.7Rp 1.3M
$76.7Rp 1.4M
-3.85%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pontianak
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$259Rp 4.6M
$986Rp 17.7M
-73.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$159Rp 2.8M
$658Rp 11.8M
-75.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$595Rp 10.7M
$3,369Rp 60.4M
-82.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$334Rp 6.0M
$2,066Rp 37.0M
-83.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,207Rp 21.6M
$2,741Rp 49.1M
-55.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$734Rp 13.1M
$2,228Rp 39.9M
-67.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pontianak
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$335Rp 6.0M
$163Rp 2.9M
105.23%
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 Ubud, Bali: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $259 in Pontianak and $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pontianak pays 105% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Pontianak vs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $297 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 Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Pontianak?
Pontianak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 112% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Pontianak or Ubud, Bali?
Pontianak pays 105% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Pontianak and Ubud, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $259 in Pontianak versus $986 in Ubud, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Pontianak vs Ubud, Bali?
All in, you'll spend $662 per month in Pontianak versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali – a 112% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Pontianak runs roughly 24% less than in Ubud, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Pontianak or Ubud, Bali?
At $662 in Pontianak versus $1,404 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pontianak but tight or insufficient in Ubud, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Pontianak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Pontianak or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
For families, Pontianak is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Ubud, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Pontianak or Ubud, Bali?
Safety-wise, Pontianak and Ubud, 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Pontianak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 112% less than in Ubud, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.