😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $645 in Bandung versus $611 in Mataram.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $942 in Bandung versus $985 in Mataram.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,239 in Bandung versus $1,360 in Mataram.
🌍Living in Bandung is roughly 6% more expensive than in Mataram, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bandung53% lower, Mataram55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Mataram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.40Rp 24.9K
$0.95Rp 16.9K
47.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.00Rp 247.9K
$9.19Rp 162.8K
52.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.35Rp 59.3K
$3.31Rp 58.6K
1.21%
Cappuccino
$1.55Rp 27.5K
$1.58Rp 28.0K
-1.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,040
$0.42Rp 7,461
7.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23Rp 4,043
$0.33Rp 5,866
-30.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21Rp 56.8K
$2.67Rp 47.3K
20.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15Rp 55.8K
$3.38Rp 59.8K
-6.80%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Mataram
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10Rp 19.5K
$1.35Rp 24.0K
-18.52%
White Bread(500g)
$1.04Rp 18.4K
$1.56Rp 27.7K
-33.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.88Rp 15.6K
$0.84Rp 14.8K
4.76%
Eggs
$1.44Rp 25.5K
$1.51Rp 26.8K
-4.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.32Rp 129.6K
$7.95Rp 140.8K
-7.92%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.85Rp 50.5K
$3.05Rp 54.0K
-6.56%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.24Rp 145.9K
$8.01Rp 141.8K
2.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29Rp 40.6K
$2.09Rp 37.0K
9.57%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12Rp 19.7K
$1.35Rp 23.9K
-17.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49Rp 26.4K
$1.77Rp 31.4K
-15.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.95Rp 16.8K
$1.25Rp 22.1K
-24.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11Rp 19.6K
$1.32Rp 23.4K
-15.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90Rp 33.7K
$1.70Rp 30.1K
11.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.66Rp 11.6K
$0.77Rp 13.6K
-14.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,252
$0.42Rp 7,385
-2.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79Rp 49.4K
$2.67Rp 47.2K
4.49%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.80Rp 403.8K
$20.74Rp 367.2K
9.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.93Rp 34.1K
$1.91Rp 33.8K
1.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.35Rp 59.3K
$2.70Rp 47.7K
24.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Mataram
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,725
$0.32Rp 5,673
-15.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.57Rp 169.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.81Rp 14.4K
$0.49Rp 8,601
65.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.55Rp 9,759
$0.33Rp 5,886
66.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.34Rp 41.5K
$3.13Rp 55.3K
-25.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$0.62Rp 11.0K
25.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KRp 375.9M
$22.6KRp 400.1M
-6.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5KRp 522.2M
$35.7KRp 632.0M
-17.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Mataram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.79Rp 598.3K
$75.6Rp 1.3M
-55.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.39Rp 77.7K
$4.06Rp 71.9K
8.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.60Rp 347.0K
$19.22Rp 340.4K
1.98%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Mataram
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.96Rp 335.7K
$20.32Rp 359.8K
-6.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.92Rp 104.9K
$7.23Rp 128.1K
-18.12%
Cinema Ticket
$2.88Rp 51.1K
$2.90Rp 51.4K
-0.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Mataram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.8Rp 1.7M
$106Rp 1.9M
-11.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,255Rp 146.2M
$8,960Rp 158.7M
-7.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Mataram
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.76Rp 704.0K
$46.12Rp 816.6K
-13.79%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.16Rp 587.1K
$29.40Rp 520.6K
12.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.5Rp 1.4M
$72.7Rp 1.3M
6.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.5Rp 1.2M
$73.1Rp 1.3M
-3.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Mataram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$222Rp 3.9M
$231Rp 4.1M
-3.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$182Rp 3.2M
$137Rp 2.4M
33.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$390Rp 6.9M
$641Rp 11.3M
-39.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$269Rp 4.8M
$371Rp 6.6M
-27.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$738Rp 13.1M
$1,312Rp 23.2M
-43.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$311Rp 5.5M
$668Rp 11.8M
-53.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Mataram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$285Rp 5.1M
$227Rp 4.0M
26.00%
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: September 13, 2026
Last update for Mataram: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $222 in Bandung and $231 in Mataram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bandung pays 26% 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 $9.00 in Mataram. Groceries flip the comparison at $197 vs $205, with Bandung 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 Mataram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bandung or Mataram?
Mataram wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Bandung. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mataram the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bandung or in Mataram?
Average pay runs 26% 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 Mataram?
Rent for a central apartment: $222 in Bandung versus $231 in Mataram. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Bandung and in Mataram?
Childcare runs $93.8 in Bandung versus $106 in Mataram. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Bandung and in Mataram?
Dining out is cheaper in Mataram – a meal for two runs $9.00 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 Mataram?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Mataram 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 Mataram?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mataram delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $611 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mataram hard to pass up.
How safe is Bandung compared to Mataram?
Safety-wise, Bandung and Mataram 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 Mataram gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Bandung. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.