😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,720 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $661 in Pontianak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,131 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,020 in Pontianak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,541 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $1,379 in Pontianak.
😐Living in Uluwatu, Bali is roughly 160% more expensive than Pontianak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Uluwatu, Bali is 28% above, Pontianak is 51% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Uluwatu, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.11Rp 70.6K
$1.45Rp 25.0K
183.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.72Rp 682.6K
$12.20Rp 209.7K
225.57%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$5.99Rp 103.0K
$3.32Rp 57.0K
80.42%
Cappuccino
$3.31Rp 56.8K
$1.67Rp 28.7K
98.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67Rp 28.6K
$0.51Rp 8,849
227.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85Rp 14.6K
$0.28Rp 4,836
203.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47Rp 59.7K
$3.12Rp 53.6K
11.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.65Rp 79.9K
$2.40Rp 41.2K
93.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Uluwatu, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.87Rp 32.1K
$1.18Rp 20.2K
58.47%
White Bread(500g)
$2.58Rp 44.4K
$1.18Rp 20.3K
118.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.21Rp 20.8K
$0.93Rp 15.9K
30.11%
Eggs
$2.49Rp 42.9K
$1.60Rp 27.6K
55.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.10Rp 259.4K
$7.88Rp 135.5K
91.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.40Rp 75.6K
$3.13Rp 53.8K
40.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.70Rp 218.2K
$7.98Rp 137.2K
59.15%
Apples(1kg)
$3.83Rp 65.8K
$2.42Rp 41.5K
58.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 28.0K
$1.43Rp 24.5K
13.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.83Rp 48.7K
$1.87Rp 32.1K
51.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.45Rp 42.1K
$1.51Rp 25.9K
62.25%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08Rp 35.7K
$1.33Rp 22.9K
56.39%
Onion(1kg)
$2.30Rp 39.6K
$1.94Rp 33.3K
18.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07Rp 18.4K
$0.94Rp 16.2K
13.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.81Rp 13.9K
$0.45Rp 7,656
80.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.45Rp 59.3K
$1.80Rp 30.9K
91.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.56Rp 422.1K
$22.63Rp 388.8K
8.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.03Rp 52.1K
$2.03Rp 34.9K
49.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95Rp 50.7K
$3.24Rp 55.7K
-8.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Uluwatu, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33Rp 5,724
$0.30Rp 5,080
10.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.32Rp 177.3K
$9.80Rp 168.4K
5.31%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.58Rp 9,883
$0.53Rp 9,027
9.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.57Rp 9,878
$0.37Rp 6,379
54.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75Rp 133.1K
$2.88Rp 49.5K
169.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.03Rp 17.7K
$0.84Rp 14.4K
22.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.0KRp 550.3M
$24.3KRp 417.5M
31.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.5KRp 695.3M
$27.8KRp 477.2M
45.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Uluwatu, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.4Rp 1.5M
$70.1Rp 1.2M
27.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.37Rp 75.1K
$4.32Rp 74.3K
1.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.63Rp 457.6K
$22.55Rp 387.6K
18.09%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Uluwatu, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$114Rp 2.0M
$22.69Rp 390.0K
402.64%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.49Rp 128.8K
$6.02Rp 103.4K
24.42%
Cinema Ticket
$4.78Rp 82.2K
$3.01Rp 51.7K
58.80%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Uluwatu, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$340Rp 5.8M
$92.2Rp 1.6M
268.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,378Rp 126.8M
$7,613Rp 130.8M
-3.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Uluwatu, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$59.7Rp 1.0M
$42.22Rp 725.6K
41.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.50Rp 730.4K
$31.31Rp 538.0K
35.74%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.1Rp 1.7M
$67.9Rp 1.2M
43.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4Rp 1.5M
$73.8Rp 1.3M
17.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Uluwatu, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,326Rp 22.8M
$255Rp 4.4M
420.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$909Rp 15.6M
$160Rp 2.7M
469.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$4,534Rp 77.9M
$581Rp 10.0M
680.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,820Rp 48.5M
$333Rp 5.7M
745.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,121Rp 70.8M
$1,374Rp 23.6M
199.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,149Rp 54.1M
$749Rp 12.9M
320.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Uluwatu, Bali
Pontianak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$345Rp 5.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.28
9.15
45.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Uluwatu, Bali: April 22, 2026
Last update for Pontianak: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,326 in Uluwatu, Bali and $255 in Pontianak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $40 in Uluwatu, Bali vs $12 in Pontianak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $312 vs $212 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
Uluwatu, Bali vs Pontianak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pontianak cheaper than Uluwatu, Bali?
Pontianak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 160% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,579 in Uluwatu, Bali and $991 in Pontianak to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Uluwatu, Bali and Pontianak?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,326 in Uluwatu, Bali versus $255 in Pontianak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Uluwatu, Bali vs Pontianak?
All in, you'll spend $1,720 per month in Uluwatu, Bali versus $661 in Pontianak – a 160% 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 5% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Uluwatu, Bali or Pontianak?
At $661 in Pontianak versus $1,720 in Uluwatu, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Pontianak but tight or insufficient in Uluwatu, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Pontianak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Uluwatu, Bali or Pontianak more family-friendly?
For families, Pontianak is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Uluwatu, Bali, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Uluwatu, Bali or Pontianak?
Safety-wise, Uluwatu, Bali and Pontianak 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 160% less than in Uluwatu, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Uluwatu, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared