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 $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: Bandung53% lower, Binjai50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.26Rp 22.6K
$1.53Rp 27.3K
-17.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.09Rp 162.8K
$12.52Rp 224.3K
-27.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.30Rp 59.2K
$3.39Rp 60.8K
-2.65%
Cappuccino
$1.49Rp 26.7K
$1.67Rp 30.0K
-10.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,831
$0.55Rp 9,916
-10.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27Rp 4,864
$0.28Rp 5,036
-3.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.47Rp 62.2K
$2.51Rp 45.0K
38.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57Rp 64.0K
$3.51Rp 62.9K
1.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 21.8K
$1.23Rp 22.1K
-0.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.06Rp 19.0K
$1.13Rp 20.3K
-6.19%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95Rp 17.0K
$0.89Rp 16.0K
6.74%
Eggs
$1.60Rp 28.7K
$1.51Rp 27.1K
5.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.91Rp 159.6K
$8.34Rp 149.5K
6.83%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12Rp 55.9K
$3.25Rp 58.3K
-4.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.01Rp 143.6K
$7.93Rp 142.1K
1.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27Rp 40.7K
$2.37Rp 42.4K
-4.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29Rp 23.2K
$1.46Rp 26.1K
-11.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73Rp 30.9K
$1.89Rp 33.9K
-8.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60Rp 28.6K
$1.51Rp 27.0K
5.96%
Potato(1kg)
$1.40Rp 25.1K
$1.32Rp 23.7K
6.06%
Onion(1kg)
$2.68Rp 48.1K
$1.88Rp 33.7K
42.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89Rp 16.0K
$0.91Rp 16.2K
-2.20%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,114
$0.41Rp 7,380
9.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.48Rp 44.5K
$2.52Rp 45.2K
-1.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.04Rp 394.9K
$20.24Rp 362.6K
8.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09Rp 37.4K
$2.08Rp 37.3K
0.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.42Rp 61.4K
$3.06Rp 54.8K
11.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,785
$0.29Rp 5,278
10.34%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.57Rp 189.4K
$9.98Rp 178.8K
5.91%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.71Rp 12.7K
$0.56Rp 10.1K
26.79%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.72Rp 12.8K
$0.35Rp 6,252
105.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.48Rp 44.4K
$2.97Rp 53.1K
-16.50%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 14.0K
$0.83Rp 14.9K
-6.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3KRp 435.6M
$24.4KRp 437.2M
-0.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KRp 456.5M
$27.8KRp 497.3M
-8.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.19Rp 791.6K
$68.6Rp 1.2M
-35.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.66Rp 83.6K
$4.32Rp 77.4K
7.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.53Rp 403.7K
$22.56Rp 404.3K
-0.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.16Rp 397.0K
$22.96Rp 411.4K
-3.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60Rp 118.2K
$6.13Rp 109.9K
7.67%
Cinema Ticket
$3.05Rp 54.6K
$3.13Rp 56.1K
-2.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.8Rp 1.7M
$95.2Rp 1.7M
-2.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,565Rp 135.5M
$7,473Rp 133.9M
1.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.23Rp 738.6K
$40.89Rp 732.6K
0.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.03Rp 555.9K
$30.93Rp 554.2K
0.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.1Rp 1.1M
$66.8Rp 1.2M
-11.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.9Rp 1.1M
$72.7Rp 1.3M
-12.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$242Rp 4.3M
$258Rp 4.6M
-6.21%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.8M
$160Rp 2.9M
-2.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$449Rp 8.1M
$577Rp 10.3M
-22.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$246Rp 4.4M
$339Rp 6.1M
-27.56%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$704Rp 12.6M
$1,189Rp 21.3M
-40.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$305Rp 5.5M
$611Rp 10.9M
-50.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Binjai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$280Rp 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.