Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and Makassar Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and Makassar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $647 in Bandung versus $662 in Makassar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $949 in Bandung versus $1,005 in Makassar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,251 in Bandung versus $1,347 in Makassar.

Living in Bandung costs roughly 2% less than in Makassar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bandung 52% lower, Makassar 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Makassar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.28 Rp 22.8K
$3.13 Rp 55.9K
-59.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.42 Rp 168.2K
$9.45 Rp 168.8K
-0.32%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.43 Rp 61.3K
$2.98 Rp 53.2K
15.10%
Cappuccino
$1.44 Rp 25.7K
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
-17.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 Rp 8,684
$0.71 Rp 12.7K
-30.99%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25 Rp 4,435
$0.39 Rp 6,976
-35.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.28 Rp 58.6K
$3.67 Rp 65.5K
-10.63%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 Rp 63.7K
$3.72 Rp 66.4K
-4.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Makassar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 Rp 21.1K
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
-27.61%
White Bread (500g)
$1.07 Rp 19.2K
$1.09 Rp 19.4K
-1.83%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.94 Rp 16.8K
$0.64 Rp 11.5K
46.87%
Eggs
$1.58 Rp 28.1K
$1.44 Rp 25.8K
9.72%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.33 Rp 166.6K
$5.49 Rp 98.0K
69.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.02 Rp 54.0K
$2.77 Rp 49.5K
9.03%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.92 Rp 141.5K
$4.36 Rp 77.8K
81.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.37 Rp 42.2K
$2.29 Rp 40.9K
3.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 Rp 23.8K
$1.64 Rp 29.3K
-18.90%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.69 Rp 30.2K
$1.85 Rp 33.0K
-8.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 27.1K
$1.57 Rp 28.0K
-3.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 Rp 26.4K
$1.26 Rp 22.5K
17.46%
Onion (1kg)
$2.67 Rp 47.6K
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
71.15%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 Rp 17.2K
$0.41 Rp 7,381
134.15%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,203
$0.47 Rp 8,440
-2.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.57 Rp 45.8K
$2.56 Rp 45.8K
0.39%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.35 Rp 399.2K
$22.53 Rp 402.4K
-0.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 Rp 37.5K
$2.10 Rp 37.4K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49 Rp 62.3K
$2.48 Rp 44.3K
40.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Makassar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 Rp 5,342
$0.32 Rp 5,720
-6.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.57 Rp 188.8K
$4.51 Rp 80.5K
134.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.76 Rp 13.6K
$0.56 Rp 10.0K
35.71%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.71 Rp 12.6K
$0.29 Rp 5,115
144.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.59 Rp 46.2K
$3.03 Rp 54.1K
-14.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.4K
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
3.85%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 435.3M
$16.8K Rp 299.6M
45.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K Rp 471.5M
$18.7K Rp 334.7M
40.89%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Makassar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$43.12 Rp 770.0K
$66.5 Rp 1.2M
-35.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.52 Rp 80.8K
$3.50 Rp 62.5K
29.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.94 Rp 409.7K
$32.44 Rp 579.2K
-29.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Makassar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.48 Rp 383.6K
$23.28 Rp 415.8K
-7.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.62 Rp 118.3K
$6.03 Rp 107.6K
9.78%
Cinema Ticket
$3.16 Rp 56.4K
$3.16 Rp 56.4K
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Makassar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.4 Rp 1.7M
$106 Rp 1.9M
-11.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,577 Rp 135.3M
$4,097 Rp 73.2M
84.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Makassar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.84 Rp 747.3K
$30.05 Rp 536.6K
39.23%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.57 Rp 545.8K
$25.17 Rp 449.4K
21.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$59.2 Rp 1.1M
$81.8 Rp 1.5M
-27.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.7 Rp 1.1M
$43.93 Rp 784.5K
45.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Makassar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$234 Rp 4.2M
$212 Rp 3.8M
10.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 Rp 2.8M
$168 Rp 3.0M
-7.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$447 Rp 8.0M
$438 Rp 7.8M
1.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$247 Rp 4.4M
$333 Rp 5.9M
-25.87%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$723 Rp 12.9M
$1,167 Rp 20.8M
-37.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$309 Rp 5.5M
$737 Rp 13.2M
-58.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Makassar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$284 Rp 5.1M
$218 Rp 3.9M
30.11%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.15
6
52.50%

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

Last update for Bandung: June 2, 2026

Last update for Makassar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $234 in Bandung and $212 in Makassar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bandung pays 30% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $9.00 in Bandung vs $9.00 in Makassar. Groceries flip the comparison at $215 vs $190, with Makassar 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 Makassar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bandung or Makassar?
Bandung wins on cost – living expenses run 2% lower than in Makassar. 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 Makassar?
Bandung pays 30% more on average, 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 vs Makassar?
Rent for a central apartment: $234 in Bandung versus $212 in Makassar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Bandung or Makassar?
Shoppers in Makassar pay roughly 13% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Bandung vs Makassar?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandung – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $9.00 in Makassar. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Bandung or Makassar?
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 Makassar?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bandung delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $647 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 Makassar?
Safety-wise, Bandung and Makassar 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 2% less than in Makassar. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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