Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and Binjai Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and Binjai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $634 in Bandung versus $674 in Binjai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $945 in Bandung versus $1,018 in Binjai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,257 in Bandung versus $1,363 in Binjai.

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

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.26 Rp 22.6K
$1.53 Rp 27.3K
-17.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.09 Rp 162.8K
$12.52 Rp 224.3K
-27.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.30 Rp 59.2K
$3.39 Rp 60.8K
-2.65%
Cappuccino
$1.49 Rp 26.7K
$1.67 Rp 30.0K
-10.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 Rp 8,831
$0.55 Rp 9,916
-10.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 Rp 4,864
$0.28 Rp 5,036
-3.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 Rp 62.2K
$2.51 Rp 45.0K
38.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 Rp 64.0K
$3.51 Rp 62.9K
1.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 Rp 21.8K
$1.23 Rp 22.1K
-0.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.06 Rp 19.0K
$1.13 Rp 20.3K
-6.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 Rp 17.0K
$0.89 Rp 16.0K
6.74%
Eggs
$1.60 Rp 28.7K
$1.51 Rp 27.1K
5.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.91 Rp 159.6K
$8.34 Rp 149.5K
6.83%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 Rp 55.9K
$3.25 Rp 58.3K
-4.00%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.01 Rp 143.6K
$7.93 Rp 142.1K
1.01%
Apples (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 40.7K
$2.37 Rp 42.4K
-4.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 Rp 23.2K
$1.46 Rp 26.1K
-11.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.73 Rp 30.9K
$1.89 Rp 33.9K
-8.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.60 Rp 28.6K
$1.51 Rp 27.0K
5.96%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 Rp 25.1K
$1.32 Rp 23.7K
6.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.68 Rp 48.1K
$1.88 Rp 33.7K
42.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 Rp 16.0K
$0.91 Rp 16.2K
-2.20%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 8,114
$0.41 Rp 7,380
9.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.48 Rp 44.5K
$2.52 Rp 45.2K
-1.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.04 Rp 394.9K
$20.24 Rp 362.6K
8.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09 Rp 37.4K
$2.08 Rp 37.3K
0.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42 Rp 61.4K
$3.06 Rp 54.8K
11.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 Rp 5,785
$0.29 Rp 5,278
10.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.57 Rp 189.4K
$9.98 Rp 178.8K
5.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.71 Rp 12.7K
$0.56 Rp 10.1K
26.79%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.72 Rp 12.8K
$0.35 Rp 6,252
105.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.48 Rp 44.4K
$2.97 Rp 53.1K
-16.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 Rp 14.0K
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
-6.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K Rp 435.6M
$24.4K Rp 437.2M
-0.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K Rp 456.5M
$27.8K Rp 497.3M
-8.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.19 Rp 791.6K
$68.6 Rp 1.2M
-35.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.66 Rp 83.6K
$4.32 Rp 77.4K
7.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.53 Rp 403.7K
$22.56 Rp 404.3K
-0.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.16 Rp 397.0K
$22.96 Rp 411.4K
-3.48%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60 Rp 118.2K
$6.13 Rp 109.9K
7.67%
Cinema Ticket
$3.05 Rp 54.6K
$3.13 Rp 56.1K
-2.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$92.8 Rp 1.7M
$95.2 Rp 1.7M
-2.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,565 Rp 135.5M
$7,473 Rp 133.9M
1.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.23 Rp 738.6K
$40.89 Rp 732.6K
0.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.03 Rp 555.9K
$30.93 Rp 554.2K
0.32%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.1 Rp 1.1M
$66.8 Rp 1.2M
-11.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.9 Rp 1.1M
$72.7 Rp 1.3M
-12.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$242 Rp 4.3M
$258 Rp 4.6M
-6.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 Rp 2.8M
$160 Rp 2.9M
-2.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$449 Rp 8.1M
$577 Rp 10.3M
-22.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$246 Rp 4.4M
$339 Rp 6.1M
-27.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$704 Rp 12.6M
$1,189 Rp 21.3M
-40.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$305 Rp 5.5M
$611 Rp 10.9M
-50.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Binjai
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 Binjai: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Bandung and $258 in Binjai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $9.00 in Bandung vs $13.00 in Binjai. Groceries flip the comparison at $213 vs $207, 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 6% 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 $1,011 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: $242 in Bandung versus $258 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 $13.00 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 6% less than in Binjai. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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