Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and BinjaiCost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and Binjai
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $634 in Bandung versus $656 in Binjai.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $952 in Bandung versus $1,018 in Binjai.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,269 in Bandung versus $1,380 in Binjai.
🙂Living in Bandung costs roughly 3% less than in Binjai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bandung53% lower, Binjai51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.27Rp 22.1K
$1.57Rp 27.2K
-19.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.29Rp 161.1K
$12.22Rp 211.8K
-23.98%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.30Rp 57.2K
$3.47Rp 60.1K
-4.90%
Cappuccino
$1.50Rp 26.0K
$1.67Rp 28.9K
-10.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,409
$0.52Rp 8,991
-5.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,308
$0.26Rp 4,492
-3.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.45Rp 59.7K
$2.51Rp 43.6K
37.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61Rp 62.6K
$3.56Rp 61.6K
1.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 20.3K
$1.22Rp 21.2K
-4.10%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07Rp 18.5K
$1.13Rp 19.6K
-5.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.88Rp 15.3K
$0.88Rp 15.2K
-
Eggs
$1.57Rp 27.2K
$1.53Rp 26.4K
2.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.97Rp 155.5K
$8.10Rp 140.5K
10.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03Rp 52.6K
$3.14Rp 54.4K
-3.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.81Rp 135.4K
$8.11Rp 140.5K
-3.70%
Apples(1kg)
$2.35Rp 40.8K
$2.36Rp 40.9K
-0.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27Rp 22.1K
$1.45Rp 25.1K
-12.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71Rp 29.6K
$1.82Rp 31.5K
-6.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51Rp 26.3K
$1.56Rp 27.0K
-3.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.47Rp 25.5K
$1.36Rp 23.6K
8.09%
Onion(1kg)
$2.65Rp 46.0K
$1.94Rp 33.6K
36.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97Rp 16.8K
$0.92Rp 15.9K
5.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,310
$0.45Rp 7,726
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.60Rp 45.0K
$2.51Rp 43.4K
3.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.38Rp 405.2K
$20.98Rp 363.6K
11.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04Rp 35.4K
$2.01Rp 34.9K
1.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.41Rp 59.1K
$3.08Rp 53.3K
10.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,160
$0.32Rp 5,576
-6.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.52Rp 182.4K
$9.64Rp 167.1K
9.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76Rp 13.2K
$0.57Rp 9,952
33.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76Rp 13.2K
$0.34Rp 5,942
123.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.55Rp 44.1K
$2.95Rp 51.2K
-13.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 13.8K
$0.84Rp 14.5K
-5.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 432.6M
$24.9KRp 432.0M
0.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2KRp 454.5M
$27.7KRp 480.8M
-5.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.66Rp 756.7K
$70.9Rp 1.2M
-38.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.62Rp 80.1K
$4.37Rp 75.7K
5.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.01Rp 398.9K
$22.73Rp 394.0K
1.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.48Rp 372.2K
$22.86Rp 396.3K
-6.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.32Rp 109.5K
$6.12Rp 106.0K
3.27%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01Rp 52.1K
$3.04Rp 52.7K
-0.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.0Rp 1.6M
$94.8Rp 1.6M
-2.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,439Rp 128.9M
$7,443Rp 129.0M
-0.05%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.16Rp 730.7K
$41.01Rp 710.7K
2.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.59Rp 530.2K
$30.78Rp 533.4K
-0.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.3Rp 1.0M
$66.6Rp 1.2M
-10.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.6Rp 1.1M
$73.3Rp 1.3M
-11.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$238Rp 4.1M
$255Rp 4.4M
-6.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$153Rp 2.7M
$158Rp 2.7M
-2.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$455Rp 7.9M
$575Rp 10.0M
-20.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$249Rp 4.3M
$329Rp 5.7M
-24.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$755Rp 13.1M
$1,258Rp 21.8M
-39.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$318Rp 5.5M
$858Rp 14.9M
-62.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$287Rp 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: April 28, 2026
Last update for Binjai: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $238 in Bandung and $255 in Binjai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $9.00 in Bandung vs $12.00 in Binjai. Groceries flip the comparison at $214 vs $208, with Binjai 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 Binjai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bandung or Binjai?
Bandung wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Binjai. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bandung the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bandung vs Binjai?
You'd need roughly $951 in Bandung and $985 in Binjai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bandung vs Binjai?
Rent for a central apartment: $238 in Bandung versus $255 in Binjai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Bandung or Binjai?
Shoppers in Binjai pay roughly 3% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Bandung vs Binjai?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandung – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $12.00 in Binjai. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Bandung or Binjai?
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.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bandung or Binjai?
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.
How safe is Bandung compared to Binjai?
Safety-wise, Bandung and Binjai are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bandung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Binjai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.