Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Pontianak

For one person, living is cheaper in Pontianak: $477 a month against $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $10,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Ubud, Bali, Indonesia
Pontianak, Indonesia
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,331
/mo nomad
Pontianak
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$477
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ubud, Bali and in Pontianak

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ubud, Bali and in Pontianak actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,331 in Ubud, Bali versus $477 in Pontianak.

  • Ubud, Bali $1,331
  • Pontianak $477

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,255 in Ubud, Bali versus $594 in Pontianak.

  • Ubud, Bali $2,255
  • Pontianak $594

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,180 in Ubud, Bali versus $710 in Pontianak.

  • Ubud, Bali $3,180
  • Pontianak $710

Living in Ubud, Bali is roughly 179% more expensive than in Pontianak, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ubud, Bali 2% lower, Pontianak 65% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.38 Rp 61.2K
$1.72 Rp 31.2K
96.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.65 Rp 628.6K
$8.33 Rp 151.1K
315.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.57 Rp 101.1K
$2.87 Rp 52.1K
94.08%
Cappuccino
$2.62 Rp 47.5K
$1.19 Rp 21.5K
120.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
$0.49 Rp 8,911
214.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.6K
$0.21 Rp 3,807
204.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.67 Rp 48.4K
$2.70 Rp 49.0K
-1.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.26 Rp 77.3K
$3.50 Rp 63.5K
21.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.46 Rp 26.5K
$1.02 Rp 18.6K
43.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.29 Rp 41.6K
$1.36 Rp 24.8K
68.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 20.1K
$0.98 Rp 17.8K
13.27%
Eggs
$2.10 Rp 38.1K
$1.43 Rp 25.9K
46.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$15.94 Rp 289.2K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.88 Rp 70.4K
$3.24 Rp 58.7K
19.75%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.40 Rp 206.8K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$3.55 Rp 64.4K
$3.11 Rp 56.5K
14.15%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.9K
$1.90 Rp 34.5K
-18.95%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.23 Rp 40.5K
$2.19 Rp 39.7K
1.83%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.97 Rp 35.8K
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.86 Rp 33.7K
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.42 Rp 43.9K
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.02 Rp 18.6K
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,475
$0.52 Rp 9,437
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.20 Rp 39.9K
$2.68 Rp 48.6K
-17.91%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.79 Rp 395.2K
$22.33 Rp 405.0K
-2.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.33 Rp 42.2K
$1.81 Rp 32.8K
28.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 53.9K
$2.11 Rp 38.3K
40.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,542
$0.29 Rp 5,286
-13.79%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.17 Rp 148.3K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,941
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,489
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.60 Rp 101.6K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$0.72 Rp 13.1K
15.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 443.5M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 575.0M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$70.2 Rp 1.3M
10.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.14 Rp 111.5K
$5.39 Rp 97.8K
13.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.92 Rp 343.1K
$21.93 Rp 397.8K
-13.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$51.0 Rp 925.0K
$23.39 Rp 424.3K
118.00%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.25 Rp 331.0K
$11.57 Rp 209.9K
57.74%
Cinema Ticket
$4.38 Rp 79.5K
$3.61 Rp 65.5K
21.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$492 Rp 8.9M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.2K Rp 221.7M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.16 Rp 819.2K
$33.74 Rp 612.0K
33.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$34.89 Rp 632.9K
$33.44 Rp 606.7K
4.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.3 Rp 1.4M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,078 Rp 19.5M
$164 Rp 3.0M
558.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$665 Rp 12.1M
$108 Rp 2.0M
514.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,510 Rp 63.7M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,671 Rp 30.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,340 Rp 42.4M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,236 Rp 40.6M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$263 Rp 4.8M
-36.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
10
37.80%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: November 1, 2026

Last update for Pontianak: November 2, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
$665
Pontianak
–
Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
$279
Pontianak
–
Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
$106
Pontianak
–
Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
$106
Pontianak
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
$103
Pontianak
–
Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
$60
Pontianak
–
Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
$12
Pontianak
–

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,078 in Ubud, Bali and $164 in Pontianak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pontianak pays 58% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $35 in Ubud, Bali vs $8 in Pontianak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $279 vs $150 per month, with Pontianak cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Pontianak
🕒 Local time
11:05 11:05 AM
10:05 10:05 AM
1 h behind Ubud, Bali
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
74,800
672,440
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 5, 2026: 1 USD = 18,140 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,421 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.9 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Ubud, Bali Pontianak 1,150 km ≈ 2 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Ubud, Bali
  • Pontianak

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Ubud, Bali vs Pontianak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pontianak cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Pontianak is about 64% cheaper overall, especially in groceries, clothing, and eating out. That difference adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Ubud, Bali or Pontianak?
On paper, salaries run 37% lower in Ubud, Bali. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Ubud, Bali and Pontianak?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,078 in Ubud, Bali versus $164 in Pontianak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Ubud, Bali and in Pontianak?
Supermarket bills run roughly 87% higher in Ubud, Bali. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Ubud, Bali or in Pontianak?
Dining out is cheaper in Pontianak – a meal for two runs $8 versus $35 in Ubud, Bali. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Pontianak?
At $477 in Pontianak versus $1,331 in Ubud, Bali, a $1,000 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 it better to live in Ubud, Bali or in Pontianak?
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.

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