😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $628 in Bandung versus $610 in Purwokerto.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $937 in Bandung versus $944 in Purwokerto.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,247 in Bandung versus $1,278 in Purwokerto.
🌍Living in Bandung is roughly 3% more expensive than in Purwokerto, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bandung53% lower, Purwokerto54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Purwokerto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.30Rp 23.5K
$1.30Rp 23.5K
-
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.27Rp 167.3K
$8.99Rp 162.4K
3.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.42Rp 61.8K
$3.36Rp 60.7K
1.79%
Cappuccino
$1.45Rp 26.2K
$1.38Rp 25.0K
5.07%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50Rp 8,955
$0.35Rp 6,357
42.86%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,465
$0.17Rp 3,108
47.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36Rp 60.6K
$1.75Rp 31.5K
92.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61Rp 65.1K
$3.63Rp 65.5K
-0.55%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Purwokerto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Rp 21.9K
$1.17Rp 21.1K
3.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07Rp 19.4K
$1.11Rp 20.1K
-3.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.8K
$0.80Rp 14.4K
16.25%
Eggs
$1.58Rp 28.6K
$1.52Rp 27.4K
3.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.26Rp 167.2K
$9.15Rp 165.3K
1.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01Rp 54.4K
$3.01Rp 54.4K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.86Rp 141.9K
$8.05Rp 145.4K
-2.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31Rp 41.6K
$2.38Rp 43.0K
-2.94%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29Rp 23.3K
$1.33Rp 24.0K
-3.01%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70Rp 30.6K
$1.64Rp 29.5K
3.66%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60Rp 28.9K
$1.55Rp 28.0K
3.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48Rp 26.8K
$1.48Rp 26.7K
-
Onion(1kg)
$2.65Rp 47.9K
$2.70Rp 48.7K
-1.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96Rp 17.4K
$0.91Rp 16.4K
5.49%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,329
$0.32Rp 5,858
43.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.48Rp 44.7K
$2.52Rp 45.5K
-1.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.80Rp 393.6K
$21.90Rp 395.3K
-0.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09Rp 37.7K
$2.10Rp 37.9K
-0.48%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43Rp 61.9K
$3.46Rp 62.4K
-0.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Purwokerto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,346
$0.26Rp 4,719
15.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.23Rp 184.7K
$9.88Rp 178.3K
3.54%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70Rp 12.7K
$0.75Rp 13.5K
-6.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77Rp 13.9K
$0.76Rp 13.8K
1.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.58Rp 46.5K
$2.58Rp 46.5K
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.3K
$0.63Rp 11.4K
25.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 451.0M
$24.2KRp 437.8M
3.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KRp 471.5M
$25.5KRp 459.9M
2.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Purwokerto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.55Rp 804.2K
$44.42Rp 801.9K
0.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.69Rp 84.7K
$4.45Rp 80.4K
5.39%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.48Rp 405.8K
$22.78Rp 411.2K
-1.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Purwokerto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.87Rp 394.8K
$18.32Rp 330.7K
19.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.58Rp 118.8K
$6.24Rp 112.6K
5.45%
Cinema Ticket
$3.11Rp 56.1K
$2.71Rp 48.9K
14.76%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Purwokerto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.2Rp 1.7M
$93.4Rp 1.7M
0.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,688Rp 138.8M
$7,651Rp 138.1M
0.47%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Purwokerto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.35Rp 746.4K
$41.64Rp 751.8K
-0.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.15Rp 562.3K
$30.25Rp 546.1K
2.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.2Rp 1.1M
$58.2Rp 1.1M
-0.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.6Rp 1.1M
$65.3Rp 1.2M
-2.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Purwokerto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$240Rp 4.3M
$258Rp 4.7M
-6.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$154Rp 2.8M
$160Rp 2.9M
-3.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$454Rp 8.2M
$577Rp 10.4M
-21.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$246Rp 4.4M
$335Rp 6.1M
-26.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$727Rp 13.1M
$1,367Rp 24.7M
-46.82%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$308Rp 5.6M
$279Rp 5.0M
10.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Purwokerto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$283Rp 5.1M
$118Rp 2.1M
138.89%
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 Purwokerto: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Bandung and $258 in Purwokerto. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bandung pays 139% 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 $9.00 in Purwokerto. Groceries flip the comparison at $213 vs $212, with Purwokerto 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 Purwokerto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bandung or Purwokerto?
Purwokerto wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Bandung. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Purwokerto the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bandung or in Purwokerto?
Average pay runs 139% 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 Purwokerto?
Rent for a central apartment: $240 in Bandung versus $258 in Purwokerto. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Bandung or in Purwokerto?
Supermarket bills run roughly 1% higher in Bandung. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Bandung and in Purwokerto?
Dining out is cheaper in Purwokerto – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $9.00 in Bandung. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bandung or in Purwokerto?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Purwokerto 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 Purwokerto?
Both work as nomad bases, but Purwokerto delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $610 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Purwokerto hard to pass up.
How safe is Bandung compared to Purwokerto?
Safety-wise, Bandung and Purwokerto 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 Purwokerto gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Bandung. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.