Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and Manado Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and Manado

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $635 in Bandung versus $576 in Manado.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $934 in Bandung versus $905 in Manado.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,234 in Bandung versus $1,234 in Manado.

Living in Bandung is roughly 10% more expensive than Manado, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bandung 52% lower, Manado 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Manado
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.31 Rp 23.2K
$1.21 Rp 21.4K
8.26%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.21 Rp 163.1K
$9.44 Rp 167.3K
-2.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.36 Rp 59.6K
$2.99 Rp 53.0K
12.37%
Cappuccino
$1.50 Rp 26.6K
$1.62 Rp 28.6K
-7.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 Rp 9,322
$0.32 Rp 5,702
65.63%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 Rp 4,830
$0.24 Rp 4,239
12.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 Rp 61.6K
$3.74 Rp 66.2K
-7.22%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60 Rp 63.8K
$5.69 Rp 100.9K
-36.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Manado
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 Rp 21.8K
$1.18 Rp 20.9K
4.24%
White Bread (500g)
$1.10 Rp 19.5K
$0.88 Rp 15.6K
25.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.94 Rp 16.6K
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
20.51%
Eggs
$1.52 Rp 26.9K
$1.88 Rp 33.4K
-19.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.25 Rp 163.8K
$8.05 Rp 142.6K
14.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.09 Rp 54.7K
$3.11 Rp 55.2K
-0.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.73 Rp 136.9K
$7.77 Rp 137.6K
-0.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 41.7K
$2.84 Rp 50.2K
-17.25%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 Rp 22.9K
$1.52 Rp 26.9K
-15.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.71 Rp 30.3K
$1.80 Rp 31.9K
-5.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 Rp 28.0K
$1.30 Rp 23.0K
21.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.40 Rp 24.8K
$1.32 Rp 23.4K
6.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.56 Rp 45.4K
$1.98 Rp 35.0K
29.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 Rp 17.3K
$0.90 Rp 15.9K
7.78%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,131
$0.48 Rp 8,478
-4.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.58 Rp 45.7K
$2.31 Rp 40.9K
11.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.40 Rp 396.8K
$21.06 Rp 373.1K
6.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12 Rp 37.6K
$1.76 Rp 31.1K
20.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57 Rp 63.3K
$3.16 Rp 56.0K
12.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Manado
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 Rp 5,751
$0.32 Rp 5,732
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.50 Rp 185.9K
$9.64 Rp 170.8K
8.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.75 Rp 13.3K
$0.57 Rp 10.0K
31.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
$0.37 Rp 6,599
108.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.45 Rp 43.4K
$2.86 Rp 50.7K
-14.34%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 14.8K
$0.81 Rp 14.4K
3.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.9K Rp 440.9M
$24.1K Rp 426.9M
3.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.4K Rp 450.8M
$27.2K Rp 482.4M
-6.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Manado
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$43.15 Rp 764.4K
$25.14 Rp 445.4K
71.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.62 Rp 81.8K
$4.27 Rp 75.7K
8.20%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.12 Rp 409.6K
$22.96 Rp 406.8K
0.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Manado
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.83 Rp 386.8K
$18.34 Rp 324.9K
19.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.56 Rp 116.1K
$6.20 Rp 109.8K
5.81%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01 Rp 53.3K
$2.57 Rp 45.5K
17.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Manado
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$92.2 Rp 1.6M
$93.4 Rp 1.7M
-1.19%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,546 Rp 133.7M
$5,239 Rp 92.8M
44.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Manado
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.50 Rp 753.0K
$60.8 Rp 1.1M
-30.12%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.38 Rp 538.2K
$24.08 Rp 426.6K
26.16%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$57.9 Rp 1.0M
$95.6 Rp 1.7M
-39.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.9 Rp 1.1M
$72.4 Rp 1.3M
-11.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Manado
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$235 Rp 4.2M
$329 Rp 5.8M
-28.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$155 Rp 2.7M
$100 Rp 1.8M
53.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$454 Rp 8.0M
$325 Rp 5.8M
39.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$250 Rp 4.4M
$191 Rp 3.4M
30.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$724 Rp 12.8M
$1,263 Rp 22.4M
-42.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$305 Rp 5.4M
$706 Rp 12.5M
-56.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Manado
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$289 Rp 5.1M
$218 Rp 3.9M
32.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.15
10
-8.50%

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

Last update for Bandung: June 14, 2026

Last update for Manado: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $235 in Bandung and $329 in Manado. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bandung pays 33% 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: $9.00 in Bandung vs $9.00 in Manado. Groceries flip the comparison at $215 vs $206, with Manado 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 Manado: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bandung or Manado?
Manado wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Bandung. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Manado the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bandung or Manado?
Bandung pays 33% 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 Manado?
Rent for a central apartment: $235 in Bandung versus $329 in Manado. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Bandung or Manado?
Supermarket bills run roughly 5% higher in Bandung. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Bandung vs Manado?
Dining out is cheaper in Manado – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $9.00 in Bandung. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bandung or Manado?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Manado 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 Manado?
Both work as nomad bases, but Manado delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $576 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Manado hard to pass up.
How safe is Bandung compared to Manado?
Safety-wise, Bandung and Manado 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 Manado gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Bandung. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Bandung vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities