🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $628 in Bandung versus $659 in Palangkaraya.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $937 in Bandung versus $1,010 in Palangkaraya.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,247 in Bandung versus $1,360 in Palangkaraya.
🌍Living in Bandung costs roughly 5% less than in Palangkaraya, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bandung53% lower, Palangkaraya50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Palangkaraya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.30Rp 23.5K
$1.49Rp 27.0K
-12.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.27Rp 167.3K
$12.13Rp 218.9K
-23.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.42Rp 61.8K
$3.94Rp 71.1K
-13.20%
Cappuccino
$1.45Rp 26.2K
$1.64Rp 29.6K
-11.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50Rp 8,955
$0.55Rp 9,884
-9.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,465
$0.30Rp 5,366
-16.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36Rp 60.6K
$2.73Rp 49.4K
23.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61Rp 65.1K
$3.48Rp 62.8K
3.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Palangkaraya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Rp 21.9K
$1.21Rp 21.8K
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.07Rp 19.4K
$1.34Rp 24.2K
-20.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.8K
$0.88Rp 15.8K
5.68%
Eggs
$1.58Rp 28.6K
$1.52Rp 27.5K
3.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.26Rp 167.2K
$8.36Rp 150.9K
10.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01Rp 54.4K
$2.41Rp 43.6K
24.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.86Rp 141.9K
$7.88Rp 142.2K
-0.25%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31Rp 41.6K
$2.52Rp 45.4K
-8.33%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29Rp 23.3K
$1.90Rp 34.3K
-32.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70Rp 30.6K
$1.86Rp 33.5K
-8.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60Rp 28.9K
$1.10Rp 19.9K
45.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48Rp 26.8K
$1.33Rp 24.1K
11.28%
Onion(1kg)
$2.65Rp 47.9K
$3.13Rp 56.4K
-15.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96Rp 17.4K
$0.59Rp 10.7K
62.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,329
$0.45Rp 8,063
2.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.48Rp 44.7K
$1.81Rp 32.6K
37.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.80Rp 393.6K
$20.46Rp 369.4K
6.55%
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
$3.10Rp 56.0K
10.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Palangkaraya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,346
$0.30Rp 5,354
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.23Rp 184.7K
$10.12Rp 182.8K
1.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70Rp 12.7K
$0.56Rp 10.1K
25.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77Rp 13.9K
$0.35Rp 6,254
120.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.58Rp 46.5K
$2.91Rp 52.5K
-11.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.3K
$0.72Rp 13.1K
9.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 451.0M
$24.9KRp 449.3M
0.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KRp 471.5M
$27.4KRp 495.3M
-4.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Palangkaraya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.55Rp 804.2K
$68.8Rp 1.2M
-35.28%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.69Rp 84.7K
$4.38Rp 79.1K
7.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.48Rp 405.8K
$19.19Rp 346.4K
17.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Palangkaraya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.87Rp 394.8K
$6.32Rp 114.1K
246.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.58Rp 118.8K
$6.26Rp 113.0K
5.11%
Cinema Ticket
$3.11Rp 56.1K
$3.03Rp 54.8K
2.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Palangkaraya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.2Rp 1.7M
$95.1Rp 1.7M
-0.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,688Rp 138.8M
$7,558Rp 136.4M
1.71%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Palangkaraya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.35Rp 746.4K
$40.89Rp 738.3K
1.12%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.15Rp 562.3K
$30.20Rp 545.2K
3.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.2Rp 1.1M
$67.3Rp 1.2M
-13.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.6Rp 1.1M
$73.9Rp 1.3M
-13.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Palangkaraya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$240Rp 4.3M
$257Rp 4.6M
-6.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$154Rp 2.8M
$157Rp 2.8M
-2.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$454Rp 8.2M
$588Rp 10.6M
-22.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$246Rp 4.4M
$329Rp 5.9M
-25.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$727Rp 13.1M
$1,000Rp 18.0M
-27.25%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$308Rp 5.6M
$681Rp 12.3M
-54.77%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Palangkaraya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$283Rp 5.1M
$162Rp 2.9M
74.39%
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 Palangkaraya: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Bandung and $257 in Palangkaraya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bandung pays 74% 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 Palangkaraya. Groceries flip the comparison at $213 vs $209, with Palangkaraya 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 Palangkaraya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bandung or Palangkaraya?
Bandung wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Palangkaraya. 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 Palangkaraya?
Average pay runs 74% 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 Palangkaraya?
Rent for a central apartment: $240 in Bandung versus $257 in Palangkaraya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Bandung or in Palangkaraya?
Shoppers in Palangkaraya pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Bandung and in Palangkaraya?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandung – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $12.00 in Palangkaraya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Bandung or in Palangkaraya?
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 Palangkaraya?
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 Palangkaraya?
Safety-wise, Bandung and Palangkaraya 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 Palangkaraya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.