Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and PadangCost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and Padang
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $628 in Bandung versus $662 in Padang.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $937 in Bandung versus $1,023 in Padang.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,247 in Bandung versus $1,384 in Padang.
🌍Living in Bandung costs roughly 5% less than in Padang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bandung53% lower, Padang50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Padang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.30Rp 23.5K
$1.52Rp 27.4K
-14.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.27Rp 167.3K
$12.14Rp 219.2K
-23.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.42Rp 61.8K
$3.37Rp 60.8K
1.48%
Cappuccino
$1.45Rp 26.2K
$1.67Rp 30.1K
-13.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50Rp 8,955
$0.52Rp 9,369
-3.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,465
$0.28Rp 5,080
-10.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36Rp 60.6K
$2.41Rp 43.6K
39.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61Rp 65.1K
$3.44Rp 62.0K
4.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Padang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Rp 21.9K
$1.21Rp 21.9K
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.07Rp 19.4K
$1.18Rp 21.4K
-9.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.8K
$0.89Rp 16.1K
4.49%
Eggs
$1.58Rp 28.6K
$1.58Rp 28.5K
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.26Rp 167.2K
$7.98Rp 144.1K
16.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01Rp 54.4K
$3.08Rp 55.5K
-2.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.86Rp 141.9K
$7.76Rp 140.0K
1.29%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31Rp 41.6K
$2.34Rp 42.2K
-1.28%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29Rp 23.3K
$1.50Rp 27.0K
-14.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70Rp 30.6K
$1.79Rp 32.4K
-5.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60Rp 28.9K
$1.56Rp 28.2K
2.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48Rp 26.8K
$1.32Rp 23.8K
12.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.65Rp 47.9K
$1.97Rp 35.5K
34.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96Rp 17.4K
$0.97Rp 17.5K
-1.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,329
$0.44Rp 7,949
4.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.48Rp 44.7K
$2.51Rp 45.4K
-1.20%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.80Rp 393.6K
$17.61Rp 317.9K
23.79%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09Rp 37.7K
$2.12Rp 38.3K
-1.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43Rp 61.9K
$3.12Rp 56.4K
9.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Padang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,346
$0.32Rp 5,862
-6.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.23Rp 184.7K
$10.05Rp 181.5K
1.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70Rp 12.7K
$0.57Rp 10.2K
22.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77Rp 13.9K
$0.35Rp 6,271
120.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.58Rp 46.5K
$3.00Rp 54.1K
-14.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.3K
$0.73Rp 13.1K
8.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 451.0M
$24.6KRp 443.9M
1.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KRp 471.5M
$28.0KRp 505.9M
-6.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Padang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.55Rp 804.2K
$70.5Rp 1.3M
-36.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.69Rp 84.7K
$4.33Rp 78.2K
8.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.48Rp 405.8K
$23.02Rp 415.6K
-2.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Padang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.87Rp 394.8K
$23.34Rp 421.4K
-6.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.58Rp 118.8K
$6.33Rp 114.2K
3.95%
Cinema Ticket
$3.11Rp 56.1K
$3.01Rp 54.4K
3.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Padang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.2Rp 1.7M
$91.7Rp 1.7M
2.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,688Rp 138.8M
$7,675Rp 138.6M
0.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Padang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.35Rp 746.4K
$41.38Rp 747.1K
-0.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.15Rp 562.3K
$30.46Rp 549.9K
2.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.2Rp 1.1M
$67.8Rp 1.2M
-14.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.6Rp 1.1M
$73.2Rp 1.3M
-13.12%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Padang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$240Rp 4.3M
$259Rp 4.7M
-7.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$154Rp 2.8M
$161Rp 2.9M
-4.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$454Rp 8.2M
$589Rp 10.6M
-23.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$246Rp 4.4M
$336Rp 6.1M
-26.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$727Rp 13.1M
$1,296Rp 23.4M
-43.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$308Rp 5.6M
$593Rp 10.7M
-48.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Padang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$283Rp 5.1M
$168Rp 3.0M
68.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
9.15
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bandung: July 27, 2026
Last update for Padang: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Bandung and $259 in Padang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bandung pays 68% 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 $12.00 in Padang. Groceries flip the comparison at $213 vs $201, with Padang 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 Padang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bandung or Padang?
Bandung wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Padang. 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 Padang?
Average pay runs 68% 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 Padang?
Rent for a central apartment: $240 in Bandung versus $259 in Padang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Bandung or in Padang?
Shoppers in Padang pay roughly 6% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Bandung and in Padang?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandung – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $12.00 in Padang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Bandung or in Padang?
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 Padang?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bandung delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $628 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 Padang?
Safety-wise, Bandung and Padang 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 5% less than in Padang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.