🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $644 in Bandung versus $799 in Jakarta.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $939 in Bandung versus $1,304 in Jakarta.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,234 in Bandung versus $1,809 in Jakarta.
🌍Living in Bandung costs roughly 19% less than in Jakarta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bandung53% lower, Jakarta42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Jakarta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.39Rp 24.7K
$2.61Rp 46.3K
-46.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.39Rp 255.0K
$17.12Rp 303.3K
-15.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.31Rp 58.7K
$3.46Rp 61.3K
-4.34%
Cappuccino
$1.57Rp 27.8K
$1.96Rp 34.8K
-19.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,438
$0.42Rp 7,449
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,461
$0.27Rp 4,790
-7.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15Rp 55.9K
$2.63Rp 46.6K
19.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.02Rp 53.6K
$3.92Rp 69.5K
-22.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Jakarta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12Rp 19.9K
$1.42Rp 25.2K
-21.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00Rp 17.7K
$1.10Rp 19.6K
-9.09%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.82Rp 14.5K
$0.92Rp 16.4K
-10.87%
Eggs
$1.49Rp 26.4K
$1.80Rp 32.0K
-17.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.31Rp 129.6K
$9.72Rp 172.3K
-24.79%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.00Rp 53.2K
$3.01Rp 53.4K
-0.33%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.16Rp 144.5K
$7.78Rp 137.8K
4.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27Rp 40.3K
$2.92Rp 51.8K
-22.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08Rp 19.1K
$1.33Rp 23.7K
-18.80%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.4K
$2.66Rp 47.1K
-41.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.97Rp 17.2K
$1.36Rp 24.1K
-28.68%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09Rp 19.4K
$1.41Rp 24.9K
-22.70%
Onion(1kg)
$1.91Rp 33.8K
$2.10Rp 37.2K
-9.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69Rp 12.3K
$0.99Rp 17.5K
-30.30%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,748
$0.48Rp 8,537
-8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.66Rp 47.2K
$2.88Rp 51.1K
-7.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.71Rp 402.5K
$21.58Rp 382.4K
5.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84Rp 32.6K
$2.15Rp 38.2K
-14.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31Rp 58.7K
$3.05Rp 54.0K
8.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Jakarta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,209
$0.27Rp 4,772
7.41%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.46Rp 167.6K
$11.93Rp 211.4K
-20.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.87Rp 15.5K
$0.49Rp 8,661
77.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.52Rp 9,204
$0.35Rp 6,285
48.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.29Rp 40.5K
$3.42Rp 60.6K
-33.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$0.78Rp 13.8K
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KRp 375.4M
$27.9KRp 495.0M
-24.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5KRp 523.7M
$34.1KRp 603.4M
-13.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Jakarta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.35Rp 608.8K
$110Rp 1.9M
-68.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.29Rp 76.0K
$5.82Rp 103.2K
-26.29%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.31Rp 342.2K
$19.33Rp 342.6K
-0.10%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Jakarta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.65Rp 330.6K
$26.69Rp 473.0K
-30.12%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.80Rp 102.8K
$14.24Rp 252.4K
-59.27%
Cinema Ticket
$2.86Rp 50.7K
$3.29Rp 58.4K
-13.07%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Jakarta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$97.1Rp 1.7M
$156Rp 2.8M
-37.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,509Rp 150.8M
$8,348Rp 147.9M
1.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Jakarta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.89Rp 689.2K
$60.2Rp 1.1M
-35.39%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.08Rp 586.2K
$30.59Rp 542.1K
8.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.7Rp 1.4M
$73.8Rp 1.3M
3.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.4Rp 1.2M
$107Rp 1.9M
-33.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Jakarta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$219Rp 3.9M
$364Rp 6.5M
-39.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$183Rp 3.2M
$199Rp 3.5M
-8.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$385Rp 6.8M
$1,178Rp 20.9M
-67.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$268Rp 4.7M
$577Rp 10.2M
-53.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$718Rp 12.7M
$3,054Rp 54.1M
-76.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$310Rp 5.5M
$1,485Rp 26.3M
-79.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Jakarta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$285Rp 5.1M
$454Rp 8.0M
-37.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.38
9.46
20.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bandung: August 31, 2026
Last update for Jakarta: August 29, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $219 in Bandung and $364 in Jakarta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jakarta pays 59% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $14.00 in Bandung vs $17.00 in Jakarta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $222 per month, with Bandung cheaper across the board.
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 Jakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bandung or Jakarta?
Bandung wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Jakarta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bandung the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bandung or in Jakarta?
On paper, salaries run 59% lower in Jakarta. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bandung compared to Jakarta?
Rent for a central apartment: $219 in Bandung versus $364 in Jakarta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Bandung or in Jakarta?
Supermarket bills run roughly 13% higher in Jakarta. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Bandung and in Jakarta?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandung – a meal for two runs $14.00 versus $17.00 in Jakarta. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Bandung or in Jakarta?
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 Jakarta?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bandung delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $644 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 Jakarta?
Safety-wise, Bandung and Jakarta 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 24% less than in Jakarta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.