Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and Ambon Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and Ambon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $634 in Bandung versus $675 in Ambon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $952 in Bandung versus $1,036 in Ambon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,269 in Bandung versus $1,397 in Ambon.

Living in Bandung costs roughly 6% less than in Ambon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bandung 53% lower, Ambon 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.27 Rp 22.1K

$0.87 Rp 15.2K

45.98%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.29 Rp 161.1K

$12.06 Rp 209.0K

-22.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.30 Rp 57.2K

$3.41 Rp 59.0K

-3.23%

Cappuccino

$1.50 Rp 26.0K

$1.65 Rp 28.7K

-9.09%

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

$0.49 Rp 8,409

$0.54 Rp 9,371

-9.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 Rp 4,308

$0.26 Rp 4,521

-3.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.45 Rp 59.7K

$2.51 Rp 43.5K

37.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 Rp 62.6K

$3.45 Rp 59.7K

4.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.17 Rp 20.3K

$1.23 Rp 21.3K

-4.88%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 Rp 18.5K

$1.12 Rp 19.5K

-4.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 Rp 15.3K

$0.95 Rp 16.4K

-7.37%

Eggs

$1.57 Rp 27.2K

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.97 Rp 155.5K

$8.04 Rp 139.4K

11.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.03 Rp 52.6K

$3.15 Rp 54.6K

-3.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.81 Rp 135.4K

$7.76 Rp 134.6K

0.64%

Apples (1kg)

$2.35 Rp 40.8K

$2.39 Rp 41.4K

-1.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 Rp 22.1K

$1.49 Rp 25.9K

-14.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.71 Rp 29.6K

$1.88 Rp 32.6K

-9.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 Rp 26.3K

$1.50 Rp 26.0K

0.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 Rp 25.5K

$1.36 Rp 23.6K

8.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.65 Rp 46.0K

$1.89 Rp 32.7K

40.21%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 Rp 16.8K

$0.95 Rp 16.5K

2.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,310

$0.42 Rp 7,255

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.60 Rp 45.0K

$2.55 Rp 44.2K

1.96%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.38 Rp 405.2K

$22.04 Rp 381.9K

6.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.04 Rp 35.4K

$2.11 Rp 36.5K

-3.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.41 Rp 59.1K

$3.20 Rp 55.4K

6.56%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 Rp 5,160

$0.30 Rp 5,145

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.52 Rp 182.4K

$10.12 Rp 175.4K

3.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.76 Rp 13.2K

$0.53 Rp 9,197

43.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.76 Rp 13.2K

$0.37 Rp 6,478

105.41%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 Rp 44.1K

$2.95 Rp 51.1K

-13.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 13.8K

$0.83 Rp 14.4K

-4.82%

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

$25.0K Rp 432.6M

$25.0K Rp 432.7M

-0.02%

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

$26.2K Rp 454.5M

$27.4K Rp 475.7M

-4.46%

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

$43.66 Rp 756.7K

$70.6 Rp 1.2M

-38.14%

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

$4.62 Rp 80.1K

$4.32 Rp 74.9K

6.94%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.01 Rp 398.9K

$22.52 Rp 390.3K

2.18%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.48 Rp 372.2K

$23.17 Rp 401.5K

-7.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.32 Rp 109.5K

$6.09 Rp 105.6K

3.78%

Cinema Ticket

$3.01 Rp 52.1K

$3.13 Rp 54.2K

-3.83%

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

$92.0 Rp 1.6M

$91.9 Rp 1.6M

0.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,439 Rp 128.9M

$7,453 Rp 129.2M

-0.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.16 Rp 730.7K

$40.91 Rp 709.1K

3.06%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.59 Rp 530.2K

$30.37 Rp 526.4K

0.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.3 Rp 1.0M

$66.5 Rp 1.2M

-10.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.6 Rp 1.1M

$72.8 Rp 1.3M

-11.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$238 Rp 4.1M

$262 Rp 4.5M

-9.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 Rp 2.7M

$157 Rp 2.7M

-2.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$455 Rp 7.9M

$586 Rp 10.2M

-22.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$249 Rp 4.3M

$333 Rp 5.8M

-25.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$755 Rp 13.1M

$1,052 Rp 18.2M

-28.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$318 Rp 5.5M

$883 Rp 15.3M

-64.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$287 Rp 5.0M

$177 Rp 3.1M

62.28%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

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

Last update for Bandung: April 28, 2026

Last update for Ambon: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $238 in Bandung and $262 in Ambon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bandung pays 62% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $9.00 in Bandung vs $12.00 in Ambon. Groceries flip the comparison at $214 vs $210, with Ambon 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

Bandung vs Ambon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bandung wins on cost – living expenses run 7% lower than in Ambon. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bandung the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Bandung pays 62% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $238 in Bandung versus $262 in Ambon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $634 per month in Bandung versus $675 in Ambon – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bandung runs roughly 4% less than in Ambon. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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 work as nomad bases, but Bandung delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $634 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bandung hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Bandung and Ambon 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 7% less than in Ambon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.