🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $626 in Bandung versus $658 in Pampanga.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $941 in Bandung versus $1,101 in Pampanga.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,255 in Bandung versus $1,543 in Pampanga.
🌍Living in Bandung costs roughly 5% less than in Pampanga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bandung53% lower, Pampanga51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.32Rp 23.5K
$3.17₱195
-58.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.48Rp 169.6K
$17.59₱1,083
-46.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.31Rp 59.1K
$3.21₱198
3.12%
Cappuccino
$1.49Rp 26.6K
$2.62₱161
-43.13%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,331
$0.43₱26.19
20.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27Rp 4,866
$0.35₱21.72
-22.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.31Rp 59.3K
$1.15₱70.6
187.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52Rp 62.9K
$2.45₱151
43.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Rp 21.7K
$1.49₱91.7
-18.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07Rp 19.1K
$1.14₱70.0
-6.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95Rp 17.1K
$0.85₱52.6
11.76%
Eggs
$1.59Rp 28.5K
$1.51₱92.7
5.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.96Rp 160.3K
$4.41₱272
103.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.14Rp 56.2K
$2.96₱182
6.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.08Rp 144.5K
$7.15₱440
13.01%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37Rp 42.5K
$2.19₱135
8.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29Rp 23.2K
$1.04₱63.9
24.04%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.73Rp 30.9K
$2.33₱144
-25.75%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58Rp 28.3K
$1.00₱61.4
58.00%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46Rp 26.0K
$1.65₱101
-11.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.70Rp 48.3K
$1.73₱107
56.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90Rp 16.2K
$0.96₱58.9
-6.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,563
$0.63₱38.58
-33.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53Rp 45.2K
$2.17₱134
16.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.74Rp 389.0K
$5.93₱365
266.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12Rp 37.9K
$0.79₱48.91
168.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54Rp 63.4K
$1.45₱89.2
144.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,345
$0.29₱17.93
3.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.26Rp 183.5K
$11.58₱713
-11.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70Rp 12.6K
$0.81₱50.0
-13.58%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76Rp 13.6K
$0.27₱16.53
181.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.59Rp 46.3K
$2.19₱135
18.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.5K
$1.10₱67.7
-26.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4KRp 436.8M
$18.0K₱1.1M
35.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KRp 460.7M
$17.6K₱1.1M
45.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.02Rp 787.6K
$129₱7,924
-65.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.47Rp 80.0K
$26.34₱1,622
-83.03%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.86Rp 409.0K
$27.12₱1,670
-15.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.68Rp 387.9K
$50.6₱3,117
-57.18%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.60Rp 118.1K
$4.37₱269
51.03%
Cinema Ticket
$3.13Rp 56.1K
$4.55₱280
-31.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.0Rp 1.7M
$123₱7,599
-24.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,512Rp 134.4M
$1,770₱109.0K
324.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.31Rp 739.1K
$28.88₱1,778
43.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.79Rp 550.8K
$26.76₱1,647
15.06%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.6Rp 1.0M
$60.6₱3,733
-3.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.3Rp 1.2M
$42.33₱2,606
51.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$235Rp 4.2M
$149₱9,148
58.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$152Rp 2.7M
$98.1₱6,038
54.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$464Rp 8.3M
$594₱36.6K
-22.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$247Rp 4.4M
$412₱25.4K
-39.92%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$705Rp 12.6M
$2,354₱144.9K
-70.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$305Rp 5.5M
$964₱59.3K
-68.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$277Rp 5.0M
$302₱18.6K
-8.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
6.17
48.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Bandung: July 12, 2026
Last update for Pampanga: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $235 in Bandung and $149 in Pampanga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pampanga pays 9% 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 $18.00 in Pampanga. Groceries flip the comparison at $214 vs $155, with Pampanga 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 Pampanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bandung or Pampanga?
Bandung wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Pampanga. 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 Pampanga?
On paper, salaries run 9% lower in Pampanga. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bandung compared to Pampanga?
Rent for a central apartment: $235 in Bandung versus $149 in Pampanga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Bandung or in Pampanga?
Shoppers in Pampanga pay roughly 38% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Bandung and in Pampanga?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandung – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $18.00 in Pampanga. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Bandung or in Pampanga?
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 Pampanga?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bandung delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $626 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 Pampanga?
Safety-wise, Bandung and Pampanga 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 Pampanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.