Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and Banda Aceh Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and Banda Aceh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $634 per month in Bandung vs $583 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A couple spends around $945 per month in Bandung vs $903 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,257 per month in Bandung vs $1,223 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

Bandung costs about 9% more than Banda Aceh, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bandung and Banda Aceh are more affordable than the global median – Bandung 53% lower, Banda Aceh 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.26 Rp 22.6K
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
-18.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.09 Rp 162.8K
$12.53 Rp 224.5K
-27.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.30 Rp 59.2K
$3.42 Rp 61.2K
-3.51%
Cappuccino
$1.49 Rp 26.7K
$1.14 Rp 20.4K
30.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 Rp 8,831
$0.51 Rp 9,196
-3.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 Rp 4,864
$0.28 Rp 5,070
-3.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 Rp 62.2K
$2.42 Rp 43.3K
43.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$3.44 Rp 61.7K
3.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 Rp 21.8K
$1.22 Rp 21.9K
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.06 Rp 19.0K
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
-10.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 Rp 17.0K
$0.58 Rp 10.4K
63.79%
Eggs
$1.60 Rp 28.7K
$1.60 Rp 28.6K
-
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.91 Rp 159.6K
$8.13 Rp 145.7K
9.59%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 Rp 55.9K
$3.22 Rp 57.6K
-3.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.01 Rp 143.6K
$7.74 Rp 138.7K
3.49%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 40.7K
$2.41 Rp 43.2K
-5.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 Rp 23.2K
$1.43 Rp 25.7K
-9.79%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 Rp 30.9K
$1.86 Rp 33.3K
-6.99%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 Rp 28.6K
$1.52 Rp 27.2K
5.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 Rp 25.1K
$1.33 Rp 23.8K
5.26%
Onion (1kg)
$2.68 Rp 48.1K
$1.89 Rp 33.8K
41.80%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 Rp 16.0K
$0.90 Rp 16.1K
-1.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 8,114
$0.41 Rp 7,426
9.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.48 Rp 44.5K
$2.56 Rp 45.9K
-3.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.04 Rp 394.9K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 Rp 37.4K
$2.05 Rp 36.7K
1.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 Rp 61.4K
$3.16 Rp 56.7K
8.23%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 Rp 5,785
$0.30 Rp 5,318
6.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.57 Rp 189.4K
$10.10 Rp 180.9K
4.65%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.71 Rp 12.7K
$0.53 Rp 9,424
33.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.72 Rp 12.8K
$0.38 Rp 6,741
89.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.48 Rp 44.4K
$2.99 Rp 53.5K
-17.06%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 Rp 14.0K
$0.60 Rp 10.7K
30.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K Rp 435.6M
$24.9K Rp 445.3M
-2.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K Rp 456.5M
$27.4K Rp 491.5M
-7.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.19 Rp 791.6K
$68.5 Rp 1.2M
-35.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.66 Rp 83.6K
$4.40 Rp 78.8K
5.91%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.53 Rp 403.7K
$23.25 Rp 416.6K
-3.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.16 Rp 397.0K
$22.74 Rp 407.4K
-2.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60 Rp 118.2K
$6.18 Rp 110.8K
6.80%
Cinema Ticket
$3.05 Rp 54.6K
$3.12 Rp 55.8K
-2.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$92.8 Rp 1.7M
$94.1 Rp 1.7M
-1.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,565 Rp 135.5M
$7,656 Rp 137.2M
-1.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.23 Rp 738.6K
$32.50 Rp 582.2K
26.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.03 Rp 555.9K
$23.01 Rp 412.2K
34.85%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.1 Rp 1.1M
$35.01 Rp 627.3K
68.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.9 Rp 1.1M
$33.18 Rp 594.4K
92.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$242 Rp 4.3M
$256 Rp 4.6M
-5.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 Rp 2.8M
$160 Rp 2.9M
-2.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$449 Rp 8.1M
$595 Rp 10.7M
-24.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$246 Rp 4.4M
$339 Rp 6.1M
-27.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$704 Rp 12.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$305 Rp 5.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Banda Aceh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$280 Rp 5.0M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.15
9.15
-

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

Last update for Bandung: June 7, 2026

Last update for Banda Aceh: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $242 in Bandung versus $256 in Banda Aceh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Bandung versus $13.00 in Banda Aceh. Groceries tell a different story – $213 in Bandung vs $165 in Banda Aceh – so Banda Aceh wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 9%, 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 $951 per month in Bandung and $875 in Banda Aceh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Banda Aceh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $92.8 per month in Bandung and $94.1 in Banda Aceh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Bandung and Banda Aceh?
Groceries cost about 29% 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 $1,000 enough for either Bandung or Banda Aceh?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $634 in Bandung and $583 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.

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