Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambon and Jakarta Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambon and Jakarta

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $658 in Ambon versus $815 in Jakarta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,038 in Ambon versus $1,325 in Jakarta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,417 in Ambon versus $1,834 in Jakarta.

Living in Ambon costs roughly 19% less than in Jakarta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ambon 52% lower, Jakarta 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

$2.49 Rp 44.0K

-55.02%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.95 Rp 247.0K

$15.86 Rp 280.9K

-12.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.91 Rp 69.3K

$3.43 Rp 60.8K

13.99%

Cappuccino

$1.50 Rp 26.6K

$2.06 Rp 36.5K

-27.18%

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

$0.47 Rp 8,319

$0.42 Rp 7,520

11.90%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.29 Rp 5,068

$0.26 Rp 4,614

11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.48 Rp 43.8K

$2.65 Rp 47.0K

-6.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.49 Rp 61.8K

$3.89 Rp 68.9K

-10.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

$1.46 Rp 25.8K

-28.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 Rp 18.4K

$1.15 Rp 20.4K

-9.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 Rp 15.5K

$0.84 Rp 14.9K

4.76%

Eggs

$1.39 Rp 24.6K

$1.76 Rp 31.1K

-21.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.25 Rp 128.4K

$9.81 Rp 173.8K

-26.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.93 Rp 51.9K

$2.99 Rp 53.0K

-2.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 Rp 135.3K

$7.67 Rp 135.7K

-0.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.3K

$2.87 Rp 50.8K

-20.56%

Banana (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 23.4K

$1.37 Rp 24.2K

-3.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 Rp 30.2K

$2.65 Rp 46.9K

-35.85%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 Rp 22.8K

$1.37 Rp 24.3K

-5.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.31 Rp 23.2K

$1.35 Rp 23.9K

-2.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 34.8K

$2.10 Rp 37.2K

-6.19%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.93 Rp 16.5K

-16.13%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,302

$0.51 Rp 9,092

-19.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

$2.85 Rp 50.4K

-21.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.27 Rp 376.6K

$21.74 Rp 384.9K

-2.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.94 Rp 34.3K

$2.12 Rp 37.5K

-8.49%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.98 Rp 52.8K

$3.22 Rp 57.0K

-7.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 Rp 4,243

$0.29 Rp 5,206

-17.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.99 Rp 300.9K

$11.72 Rp 207.6K

44.97%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.50 Rp 8,778

$0.53 Rp 9,420

-5.66%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,435

$0.36 Rp 6,293

-13.89%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.34 Rp 59.2K

$3.30 Rp 58.4K

1.21%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

-2.56%

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

$23.0K Rp 406.6M

$28.7K Rp 507.9M

-19.95%

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

$31.1K Rp 550.3M

$33.4K Rp 590.9M

-6.87%

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

$77.5 Rp 1.4M

$108 Rp 1.9M

-28.12%

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

$5.82 Rp 103.1K

$6.07 Rp 107.5K

-4.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.77 Rp 350.1K

$19.01 Rp 336.7K

4.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.75 Rp 332.0K

$26.63 Rp 471.5K

-29.59%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.70 Rp 136.3K

$13.81 Rp 244.5K

-44.24%

Cinema Ticket

$1.38 Rp 24.5K

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

-59.88%

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

$94.2 Rp 1.7M

$155 Rp 2.7M

-39.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,888 Rp 139.7M

$8,224 Rp 145.6M

-4.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.70 Rp 773.8K

$60.1 Rp 1.1M

-27.26%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.00 Rp 548.9K

$28.63 Rp 506.9K

8.28%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.3 Rp 1.3M

$73.3 Rp 1.3M

1.27%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.1 Rp 1.3M

$110 Rp 1.9M

-33.39%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 Rp 4.6M

$363 Rp 6.4M

-28.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$161 Rp 2.9M

$204 Rp 3.6M

-20.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$571 Rp 10.1M

$1,179 Rp 20.9M

-51.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$359 Rp 6.4M

$581 Rp 10.3M

-38.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,120 Rp 19.8M

$3,009 Rp 53.3M

-62.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$618 Rp 10.9M

$1,477 Rp 26.2M

-58.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$126 Rp 2.2M

$460 Rp 8.1M

-72.65%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.46

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

Last update for Ambon: September 14, 2026

Last update for Jakarta: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Ambon and $363 in Jakarta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jakarta pays 266% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in Ambon vs $16.00 in Jakarta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $223 per month, with Ambon 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

Ambon vs Jakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ambon wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Jakarta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ambon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 266% lower in Jakarta. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $262 in Ambon versus $363 in Jakarta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $658 per month in Ambon versus $815 in Jakarta – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 45% less than in Jakarta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ambon gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ambon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $658 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ambon hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Ambon and Jakarta 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 Ambon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Jakarta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.