Cost of Living Comparison Between Balikpapan and Jakarta Cost of Living Comparison Between Balikpapan and Jakarta

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $774 in Balikpapan versus $849 in Jakarta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,193 in Balikpapan versus $1,389 in Jakarta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,612 in Balikpapan versus $1,929 in Jakarta.

Living in Balikpapan costs roughly 9% less than in Jakarta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Balikpapan 42% lower, Jakarta 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.52 Rp 26.3K

$3.02 Rp 52.1K

-49.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.63 Rp 269.8K

$18.34 Rp 316.6K

-14.78%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.42 Rp 59.0K

$3.51 Rp 60.5K

-2.56%

Cappuccino

$1.81 Rp 31.2K

$2.14 Rp 37.0K

-15.42%

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

$0.44 Rp 7,600

$0.52 Rp 8,915

-15.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 Rp 6,692

$0.28 Rp 4,854

39.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 Rp 35.1K

$2.73 Rp 47.1K

-25.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 Rp 54.6K

$4.26 Rp 73.5K

-25.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 30.9K

$1.39 Rp 24.1K

28.78%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 Rp 21.3K

$1.16 Rp 20.0K

6.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 Rp 22.0K

$1.03 Rp 17.7K

24.27%

Eggs

$2.66 Rp 46.0K

$1.87 Rp 32.3K

42.25%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 Rp 136.8K

$6.29 Rp 108.6K

25.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 Rp 82.9K

$3.12 Rp 53.9K

53.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.99 Rp 137.9K

$7.86 Rp 135.6K

1.65%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 62.8K

$2.86 Rp 49.3K

27.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 25.9K

$1.55 Rp 26.8K

-3.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 Rp 36.8K

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

-2.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.49 Rp 25.7K

-20.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 Rp 32.1K

$1.81 Rp 31.3K

2.76%

Onion (1kg)

$3.77 Rp 65.0K

$2.63 Rp 45.4K

43.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 Rp 17.2K

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

-5.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 Rp 13.9K

$0.42 Rp 7,249

92.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 Rp 35.7K

$2.96 Rp 51.1K

-30.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.43 Rp 387.4K

$22.32 Rp 385.5K

0.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 Rp 37.6K

$2.23 Rp 38.5K

-2.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 Rp 75.7K

$3.06 Rp 52.8K

43.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 Rp 10.7K

$0.21 Rp 3,610

195.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.73 Rp 168.1K

$12.42 Rp 214.4K

-21.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 Rp 21.5K

$0.54 Rp 9,270

129.63%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 Rp 5,912

$0.37 Rp 6,472

-8.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 Rp 104.4K

$3.14 Rp 54.2K

92.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.5K

$0.78 Rp 13.4K

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

$24.6K Rp 424.3M

$30.1K Rp 520.5M

-18.49%

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

$25.9K Rp 447.2M

$32.4K Rp 559.5M

-20.07%

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

$91.7 Rp 1.6M

$89.7 Rp 1.5M

2.26%

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

$3.06 Rp 52.8K

$6.56 Rp 113.3K

-53.35%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.34 Rp 558.4K

$27.10 Rp 467.9K

19.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.34 Rp 368.4K

$30.54 Rp 527.3K

-30.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.26 Rp 108.0K

$12.74 Rp 220.0K

-50.86%

Cinema Ticket

$3.00 Rp 51.7K

$3.04 Rp 52.4K

-1.32%

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

$60.9 Rp 1.1M

$169 Rp 2.9M

-64.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,667 Rp 132.4M

$9,651 Rp 166.6M

-20.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.90 Rp 723.4K

$56.5 Rp 974.7K

-25.78%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.46 Rp 353.2K

$33.55 Rp 579.3K

-39.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 Rp 2.2M

$84.5 Rp 1.5M

47.99%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 Rp 2.1M

$88.3 Rp 1.5M

37.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$217 Rp 3.7M

$377 Rp 6.5M

-42.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.7M

$239 Rp 4.1M

-34.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 Rp 8.6M

$1,176 Rp 20.3M

-57.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 Rp 5.2M

$658 Rp 11.4M

-53.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,193 Rp 20.6M

$2,777 Rp 48.0M

-57.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$876 Rp 15.1M

$1,418 Rp 24.5M

-38.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$204 Rp 3.5M

$476 Rp 8.2M

-57.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.59

56.41%

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

Last update for Balikpapan: April 27, 2026

Last update for Jakarta: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $217 in Balikpapan and $377 in Jakarta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jakarta pays 133% 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: $16.00 in Balikpapan vs $18.00 in Jakarta. Groceries flip the comparison at $251 vs $217, with Jakarta 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 Jakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Balikpapan and Jakarta differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($774 vs $849 including rent). Balikpapan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Jakarta earns 133% 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 $377 in Jakarta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Balikpapan runs roughly 28% less than in Jakarta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $60.9 in Balikpapan versus $169 in Jakarta. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Balikpapan 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 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 Balikpapan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Jakarta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.