Cost of Living Comparison Between Balikpapan and Bandung Cost of Living Comparison Between Balikpapan and Bandung

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $672 in Balikpapan versus $645 in Bandung.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,070 in Balikpapan versus $942 in Bandung.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,468 in Balikpapan versus $1,239 in Bandung.

Living in Balikpapan is roughly 4% more expensive than in Bandung, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Balikpapan 51% lower, Bandung 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

$1.40 Rp 24.9K

-1.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.14 Rp 197.3K

$14.00 Rp 247.9K

-20.43%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.17 Rp 56.1K

$3.35 Rp 59.3K

-5.37%

Cappuccino

$1.45 Rp 25.8K

$1.55 Rp 27.5K

-6.45%

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

$0.38 Rp 6,782

$0.45 Rp 8,040

-15.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.37 Rp 6,529

$0.23 Rp 4,043

60.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 Rp 42.5K

$3.21 Rp 56.8K

-25.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.53 Rp 62.5K

$3.15 Rp 55.8K

12.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 Rp 21.0K

$1.10 Rp 19.5K

8.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 Rp 19.7K

$1.04 Rp 18.4K

6.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.7K

$0.88 Rp 15.6K

32.95%

Eggs

$2.59 Rp 45.9K

$1.44 Rp 25.5K

79.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.34 Rp 130.0K

$7.32 Rp 129.6K

0.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.97 Rp 52.6K

$2.85 Rp 50.5K

4.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.78 Rp 120.1K

$8.24 Rp 145.9K

-17.72%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

$2.29 Rp 40.6K

-0.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 Rp 22.4K

$1.12 Rp 19.7K

13.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 Rp 30.1K

$1.49 Rp 26.4K

14.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 Rp 22.1K

$0.95 Rp 16.8K

31.58%

Potato (1kg)

$1.31 Rp 23.3K

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

18.02%

Onion (1kg)

$2.01 Rp 35.6K

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

5.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.73 Rp 13.0K

$0.66 Rp 11.6K

10.61%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.69 Rp 12.3K

$0.41 Rp 7,252

68.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

$2.79 Rp 49.4K

-31.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.60 Rp 364.7K

$22.80 Rp 403.8K

-9.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

$1.93 Rp 34.1K

-1.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.0K

$3.35 Rp 59.3K

-10.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.55 Rp 9,817

$0.27 Rp 4,725

103.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.57 Rp 169.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 Rp 20.4K

$0.81 Rp 14.4K

41.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 Rp 5,944

$0.55 Rp 9,759

-38.18%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.89 Rp 51.2K

$2.34 Rp 41.5K

23.50%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

-2.56%

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

$23.5K Rp 416.3M

$21.2K Rp 375.9M

10.74%

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

$31.2K Rp 552.0M

$29.5K Rp 522.2M

5.72%

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

$69.9 Rp 1.2M

$33.79 Rp 598.3K

106.81%

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

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

$4.39 Rp 77.7K

2.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.58 Rp 523.8K

$19.60 Rp 347.0K

50.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.45 Rp 433.0K

$18.96 Rp 335.7K

28.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.64 Rp 153.1K

$5.92 Rp 104.9K

45.95%

Cinema Ticket

$2.85 Rp 50.5K

$2.88 Rp 51.1K

-1.04%

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

$94.7 Rp 1.7M

$93.8 Rp 1.7M

0.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,923 Rp 122.6M

$8,255 Rp 146.2M

-16.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.44 Rp 680.6K

$39.76 Rp 704.0K

-3.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.51 Rp 345.5K

$33.16 Rp 587.1K

-41.16%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$141 Rp 2.5M

$77.5 Rp 1.4M

82.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$70.9 Rp 1.3M

$70.5 Rp 1.2M

0.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$203 Rp 3.6M

$222 Rp 3.9M

-8.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.8M

$182 Rp 3.2M

-14.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$557 Rp 9.9M

$390 Rp 6.9M

42.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$367 Rp 6.5M

$269 Rp 4.8M

36.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,079 Rp 19.1M

$738 Rp 13.1M

46.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$709 Rp 12.6M

$311 Rp 5.5M

127.83%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$245 Rp 4.3M

$285 Rp 5.1M

-14.03%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.46

11.38

-16.87%

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

Last update for Balikpapan: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bandung: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $203 in Balikpapan and $222 in Bandung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bandung pays 16% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $11.00 in Balikpapan vs $14.00 in Bandung. Groceries flip the comparison at $203 vs $197, with Bandung cheaper for home cooking.

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

Balikpapan vs Bandung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Balikpapan and Bandung differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($672 vs $645 including rent). Bandung is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 16% lower in Bandung. 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: $203 in Balikpapan versus $222 in Bandung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $94.7 in Balikpapan versus $93.8 in Bandung. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Bandung – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $11.00 in Balikpapan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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

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, Balikpapan and Bandung 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 Bandung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Balikpapan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.