🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $647 in Bandung versus $669 in Pampanga.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $949 in Bandung versus $1,107 in Pampanga.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,251 in Bandung versus $1,545 in Pampanga.
🙂Living in Bandung costs roughly 3% less than in Pampanga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bandung52% lower, Pampanga50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.28Rp 22.8K
$3.03₱187
-57.76%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.42Rp 168.2K
$17.80₱1,098
-47.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.43Rp 61.3K
$3.23₱199
6.19%
Cappuccino
$1.44Rp 25.7K
$2.68₱165
-46.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,684
$0.39₱24.16
25.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,435
$0.38₱23.55
-34.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.28Rp 58.6K
$1.20₱74.0
173.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.57Rp 63.7K
$2.41₱149
48.13%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18Rp 21.1K
$1.43₱88.3
-17.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07Rp 19.2K
$1.14₱70.3
-6.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94Rp 16.8K
$0.84₱51.9
11.90%
Eggs
$1.58Rp 28.1K
$1.44₱88.9
9.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.33Rp 166.6K
$4.45₱275
109.66%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.02Rp 54.0K
$3.10₱191
-2.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.92Rp 141.5K
$7.30₱450
8.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37Rp 42.2K
$2.17₱134
9.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.8K
$1.03₱63.4
29.13%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69Rp 30.2K
$2.33₱144
-27.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52Rp 27.1K
$0.92₱56.9
65.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48Rp 26.4K
$1.71₱105
-13.45%
Onion(1kg)
$2.67Rp 47.6K
$1.75₱108
52.57%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96Rp 17.2K
$0.97₱59.9
-1.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,203
$0.65₱40.12
-29.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.57Rp 45.8K
$2.15₱133
19.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.35Rp 399.2K
$6.14₱378
264.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10Rp 37.5K
$0.79₱48.97
165.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.49Rp 62.3K
$1.44₱89.0
142.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,342
$0.29₱17.99
3.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.57Rp 188.8K
$11.67₱720
-9.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.76Rp 13.6K
$0.82₱50.7
-7.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71Rp 12.6K
$0.29₱17.96
144.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.59Rp 46.2K
$2.07₱127
25.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.4K
$1.12₱69.1
-27.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4KRp 435.3M
$17.8K₱1.1M
36.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4KRp 471.5M
$17.5K₱1.1M
51.22%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.12Rp 770.0K
$132₱8,111
-67.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.52Rp 80.8K
$26.11₱1,610
-82.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.94Rp 409.7K
$26.86₱1,657
-14.59%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.48Rp 383.6K
$51.9₱3,201
-58.63%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.62Rp 118.3K
$4.32₱266
53.24%
Cinema Ticket
$3.16Rp 56.4K
$4.31₱266
-26.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.4Rp 1.7M
$126₱7,797
-25.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,577Rp 135.3M
$1,773₱109.3K
327.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.84Rp 747.3K
$28.91₱1,782
44.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.57Rp 545.8K
$26.63₱1,642
14.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.2Rp 1.1M
$59.9₱3,692
-1.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.7Rp 1.1M
$42.40₱2,614
50.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$234Rp 4.2M
$150₱9,223
56.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.8M
$99.1₱6,110
57.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$447Rp 8.0M
$596₱36.7K
-25.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$247Rp 4.4M
$422₱26.0K
-41.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$723Rp 12.9M
$2,309₱142.4K
-68.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$309Rp 5.5M
$1,281₱79.0K
-75.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Pampanga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$284Rp 5.1M
$321₱19.8K
-11.66%
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: June 2, 2026
Last update for Pampanga: June 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $234 in Bandung and $150 in Pampanga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pampanga pays 13% 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 $215 vs $156, 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 3% 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 Pampanga?
On paper, Pampanga earns 13% less. 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 vs Pampanga?
Rent for a central apartment: $234 in Bandung versus $150 in Pampanga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Bandung or 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 vs 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 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 $647 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 3% less than in Pampanga. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.