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: $774 in Balikpapan versus $634 in Bandung.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,193 in Balikpapan versus $952 in Bandung.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,612 in Balikpapan versus $1,269 in Bandung.

Living in Balikpapan is roughly 22% more expensive than Bandung, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Balikpapan 42% lower, Bandung 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.52 Rp 26.3K

$1.27 Rp 22.0K

19.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.63 Rp 269.8K

$9.29 Rp 160.5K

68.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.42 Rp 59.0K

$3.30 Rp 57.0K

3.64%

Cappuccino

$1.81 Rp 31.2K

$1.50 Rp 25.9K

20.67%

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

$0.44 Rp 7,600

$0.49 Rp 8,377

-10.20%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 Rp 6,692

$0.25 Rp 4,292

56.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 Rp 35.1K

$3.45 Rp 59.5K

-41.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 Rp 54.6K

$3.61 Rp 62.3K

-12.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 30.9K

$1.17 Rp 20.2K

52.99%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 Rp 21.3K

$1.07 Rp 18.5K

14.95%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 Rp 22.0K

$0.88 Rp 15.3K

45.45%

Eggs

$2.66 Rp 46.0K

$1.57 Rp 27.1K

69.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 Rp 136.8K

$8.97 Rp 154.9K

-11.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 Rp 82.9K

$3.03 Rp 52.4K

58.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.99 Rp 137.9K

$7.81 Rp 134.9K

2.30%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 62.8K

$2.35 Rp 40.6K

54.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 25.9K

$1.27 Rp 22.0K

18.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 Rp 36.8K

$1.71 Rp 29.5K

24.56%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.51 Rp 26.2K

-21.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 Rp 32.1K

$1.47 Rp 25.4K

26.53%

Onion (1kg)

$3.77 Rp 65.0K

$2.65 Rp 45.8K

42.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 Rp 17.2K

$0.97 Rp 16.7K

3.09%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 Rp 13.9K

$0.42 Rp 7,282

92.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 Rp 35.7K

$2.60 Rp 44.9K

-20.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.43 Rp 387.4K

$23.38 Rp 403.7K

-4.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 Rp 37.6K

$2.04 Rp 35.2K

6.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 Rp 75.7K

$3.41 Rp 58.9K

28.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 Rp 10.7K

$0.30 Rp 5,140

106.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.73 Rp 168.1K

$10.52 Rp 181.7K

-7.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 Rp 21.5K

$0.76 Rp 13.2K

63.16%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 Rp 5,912

$0.76 Rp 13.1K

-55.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 Rp 104.4K

$2.55 Rp 44.0K

137.25%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.5K

$0.79 Rp 13.7K

-1.27%

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

$24.6K Rp 424.3M

$25.0K Rp 431.0M

-1.56%

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

$25.9K Rp 447.2M

$26.2K Rp 452.8M

-1.23%

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

$91.7 Rp 1.6M

$43.66 Rp 753.8K

110.10%

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

$3.06 Rp 52.8K

$4.62 Rp 79.8K

-33.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.34 Rp 558.4K

$23.01 Rp 397.3K

40.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.34 Rp 368.4K

$21.48 Rp 370.8K

-0.65%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.26 Rp 108.0K

$6.32 Rp 109.1K

-0.95%

Cinema Ticket

$3.00 Rp 51.7K

$3.01 Rp 51.9K

-0.33%

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

$60.9 Rp 1.1M

$92.0 Rp 1.6M

-33.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,667 Rp 132.4M

$7,439 Rp 128.4M

3.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.90 Rp 723.4K

$42.16 Rp 727.9K

-0.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.46 Rp 353.2K

$30.59 Rp 528.2K

-33.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 Rp 2.2M

$59.3 Rp 1.0M

110.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 Rp 2.1M

$64.6 Rp 1.1M

87.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$217 Rp 3.7M

$238 Rp 4.1M

-8.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.7M

$153 Rp 2.6M

1.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 Rp 8.6M

$455 Rp 7.9M

9.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 Rp 5.2M

$249 Rp 4.3M

22.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,193 Rp 20.6M

$755 Rp 13.0M

57.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$876 Rp 15.1M

$318 Rp 5.5M

175.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$204 Rp 3.5M

$287 Rp 5.0M

-28.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

63.93%

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

Last update for Balikpapan: April 27, 2026

Last update for Bandung: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $217 in Balikpapan and $238 in Bandung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bandung pays 40% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $16.00 in Balikpapan vs $9.00 in Bandung for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $214 per month, with Bandung 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

Balikpapan vs Bandung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Balikpapan and Bandung differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($774 vs $634 including rent). Bandung is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Bandung earns 40% less. 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: $217 in Balikpapan versus $238 in Bandung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Bandung runs roughly 8% less than in Balikpapan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $60.9 in Balikpapan versus $92.0 in Bandung. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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 22% less than in Balikpapan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.