😐A single person spends $645 per month in Bandung vs $326 in Banda Aceh, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $942 per month in Bandung vs $521 in Banda Aceh, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,239 per month in Bandung vs $716 in Banda Aceh, rent included.
😐Bandung costs about 97% more than Banda Aceh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Bandung and Banda Aceh are more affordable than the global median – Bandung53% lower, Banda Aceh76% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.40Rp 24.9K
$2.30Rp 40.7K
-39.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.00Rp 247.9K
$7.01Rp 124.1K
99.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.35Rp 59.3K
$3.50Rp 61.9K
-4.29%
Cappuccino
$1.55Rp 27.5K
$1.26Rp 22.3K
23.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,040
$0.42Rp 7,429
7.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23Rp 4,043
$0.24Rp 4,264
-4.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21Rp 56.8K
$2.51Rp 44.4K
27.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15Rp 55.8K
$3.93Rp 69.6K
-19.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10Rp 19.5K
$1.65Rp 29.3K
-33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.04Rp 18.4K
$0.89Rp 15.7K
16.85%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.88Rp 15.6K
$0.76Rp 13.4K
15.79%
Eggs
$1.44Rp 25.5K
$1.61Rp 28.5K
-10.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.32Rp 129.6K
$8.58Rp 151.9K
-14.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.85Rp 50.5K
$2.49Rp 44.0K
14.46%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.24Rp 145.9K
$6.83Rp 120.9K
20.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29Rp 40.6K
$2.31Rp 40.8K
-0.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12Rp 19.7K
$0.88Rp 15.6K
27.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49Rp 26.4K
$0.89Rp 15.7K
67.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.95Rp 16.8K
$0.88Rp 15.5K
7.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11Rp 19.6K
$0.88Rp 15.6K
26.14%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90Rp 33.7K
$3.47Rp 61.4K
-45.24%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66Rp 11.6K
$0.81Rp 14.3K
-18.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,252
$0.45Rp 7,985
-8.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79Rp 49.4K
$3.17Rp 56.2K
-11.99%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.80Rp 403.8K
-
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93Rp 34.1K
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35Rp 59.3K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,725
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.57Rp 169.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.81Rp 14.4K
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.55Rp 9,759
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.34Rp 41.5K
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$0.67Rp 11.9K
16.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KRp 375.9M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5KRp 522.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.79Rp 598.3K
$34.54Rp 611.7K
-2.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.39Rp 77.7K
$2.36Rp 41.8K
86.02%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.60Rp 347.0K
$23.88Rp 422.8K
-17.92%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.96Rp 335.7K
$9.69Rp 171.5K
95.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.92Rp 104.9K
$13.38Rp 237.0K
-55.75%
Cinema Ticket
$2.88Rp 51.1K
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.8Rp 1.7M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,255Rp 146.2M
$1,963Rp 34.8M
320.44%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.76Rp 704.0K
$28.52Rp 505.1K
39.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.16Rp 587.1K
$22.86Rp 404.8K
45.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.5Rp 1.4M
$44.76Rp 792.6K
73.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5Rp 1.2M
$28.29Rp 501.0K
149.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$222Rp 3.9M
-
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$182Rp 3.2M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$390Rp 6.9M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$269Rp 4.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$738Rp 13.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$311Rp 5.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$285Rp 5.1M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.38
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bandung: September 13, 2026
Last update for Banda Aceh: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Bandung versus $7.00 in Banda Aceh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $197 vs $137 – making Banda Aceh the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Banda Aceh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Banda Aceh cheaper than Bandung?
Yes – Bandung is pricier by about 97%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $967 per month in Bandung and $490 in Banda Aceh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do food prices compare in Bandung and in Banda Aceh?
Groceries cost about 44% more in Bandung, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Bandung or in Banda Aceh?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Bandung and $7.00 in Banda Aceh. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Bandung or Banda Aceh?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $645 in Bandung and $326 in Banda Aceh, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Bandung or Banda Aceh more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Banda Aceh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Bandung or Banda Aceh?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Banda Aceh. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bandung makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.