Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and Magelang Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and Magelang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $645 in Bandung versus $537 in Magelang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $942 in Bandung versus $837 in Magelang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,239 in Bandung versus $1,137 in Magelang.

Living in Bandung is roughly 20% more expensive than in Magelang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bandung 53% lower, Magelang 61% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Magelang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.40 Rp 24.9K
$1.38 Rp 24.4K
1.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.00 Rp 247.9K
$8.25 Rp 146.1K
69.70%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.35 Rp 59.3K
$2.73 Rp 48.3K
22.71%
Cappuccino
$1.55 Rp 27.5K
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
101.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 8,040
$0.35 Rp 6,229
28.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23 Rp 4,043
$0.18 Rp 3,214
27.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 Rp 56.8K
$1.38 Rp 24.4K
132.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 Rp 55.8K
$2.76 Rp 48.8K
14.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Magelang
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 Rp 19.5K
$1.06 Rp 18.8K
3.77%
White Bread (500g)
$1.04 Rp 18.4K
$1.16 Rp 20.6K
-10.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.88 Rp 15.6K
$0.81 Rp 14.3K
8.64%
Eggs
$1.44 Rp 25.5K
$1.21 Rp 21.4K
19.01%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.32 Rp 129.6K
$6.73 Rp 119.2K
8.77%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.85 Rp 50.5K
$2.41 Rp 42.7K
18.26%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.24 Rp 145.9K
$7.03 Rp 124.4K
17.21%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 40.6K
$2.03 Rp 35.9K
12.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.12 Rp 19.7K
$1.14 Rp 20.2K
-1.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.49 Rp 26.4K
$1.30 Rp 23.0K
14.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.95 Rp 16.8K
$0.90 Rp 16.0K
5.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
$1.00 Rp 17.7K
11.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 33.7K
$1.40 Rp 24.8K
35.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 Rp 11.6K
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
-14.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,252
$0.37 Rp 6,496
10.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79 Rp 49.4K
$1.95 Rp 34.6K
43.08%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.80 Rp 403.8K
$17.10 Rp 302.7K
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93 Rp 34.1K
$1.52 Rp 26.8K
26.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35 Rp 59.3K
$2.20 Rp 39.0K
52.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Magelang
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,725
$0.29 Rp 5,177
-6.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.57 Rp 169.5K
$8.70 Rp 154.1K
10.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.81 Rp 14.4K
$0.46 Rp 8,164
76.09%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.55 Rp 9,759
$0.35 Rp 6,219
57.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.34 Rp 41.5K
$2.30 Rp 40.7K
1.74%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
$0.71 Rp 12.5K
9.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2K Rp 375.9M
$25.7K Rp 455.8M
-17.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K Rp 522.2M
$29.6K Rp 524.1M
-0.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Magelang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$33.79 Rp 598.3K
$46.91 Rp 830.6K
-27.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.39 Rp 77.7K
$4.00 Rp 70.9K
9.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.60 Rp 347.0K
$19.93 Rp 352.9K
-1.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Magelang
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.96 Rp 335.7K
$13.84 Rp 245.1K
36.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.92 Rp 104.9K
$3.77 Rp 66.8K
57.03%
Cinema Ticket
$2.88 Rp 51.1K
$2.52 Rp 44.6K
14.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Magelang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$93.8 Rp 1.7M
$45.71 Rp 809.3K
105.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,255 Rp 146.2M
$3,913 Rp 69.3M
110.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Magelang
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.76 Rp 704.0K
$20.17 Rp 357.1K
97.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.16 Rp 587.1K
$20.11 Rp 356.1K
64.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$57.9 Rp 1.0M
33.75%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5 Rp 1.2M
$54.6 Rp 966.4K
29.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Magelang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$222 Rp 3.9M
$232 Rp 4.1M
-4.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$182 Rp 3.2M
$158 Rp 2.8M
15.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$390 Rp 6.9M
$568 Rp 10.1M
-31.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$269 Rp 4.8M
$373 Rp 6.6M
-27.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$738 Rp 13.1M
$1,201 Rp 21.3M
-38.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$311 Rp 5.5M
$664 Rp 11.8M
-53.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Magelang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$285 Rp 5.1M
$178 Rp 3.2M
60.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.38
7.5
51.73%

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

Last update for Bandung: September 13, 2026

Last update for Magelang: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $222 in Bandung and $232 in Magelang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bandung pays 60% 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 $8.00 in Magelang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $197 vs $170 per month, with Magelang 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 Magelang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bandung or Magelang?
Magelang wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Bandung. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Magelang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bandung or in Magelang?
Average pay runs 60% higher in Bandung, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bandung compared to Magelang?
Rent for a central apartment: $222 in Bandung versus $232 in Magelang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Bandung or in Magelang?
Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Bandung. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Bandung and in Magelang?
Dining out is cheaper in Magelang – a meal for two runs $8.00 versus $14.00 in Bandung. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Bandung or in Magelang?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Magelang 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 Magelang?
Both work as nomad bases, but Magelang delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $537 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Magelang hard to pass up.
How safe is Bandung compared to Magelang?
Safety-wise, Bandung and Magelang 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 Magelang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Bandung. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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