Cost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and TimikaCost of Living Comparison Between Bandung and Timika
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $628 in Bandung versus $654 in Timika.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $937 in Bandung versus $1,006 in Timika.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,247 in Bandung versus $1,359 in Timika.
🌍Living in Bandung costs roughly 4% less than in Timika, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Bandung53% lower, Timika51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bandung
Timika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.30Rp 23.5K
$1.55Rp 28.1K
-16.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.27Rp 167.5K
$12.09Rp 218.5K
-23.33%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.42Rp 61.9K
$3.32Rp 60.1K
3.01%
Cappuccino
$1.45Rp 26.2K
$1.65Rp 29.8K
-12.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50Rp 8,969
$0.51Rp 9,212
-1.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,472
$0.28Rp 5,125
-10.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36Rp 60.7K
$2.40Rp 43.4K
40.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.61Rp 65.2K
$3.54Rp 64.0K
1.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bandung
Timika
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Rp 21.9K
$1.18Rp 21.3K
2.54%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07Rp 19.4K
$1.17Rp 21.2K
-8.55%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.8K
$0.93Rp 16.8K
-
Eggs
$1.58Rp 28.6K
$1.58Rp 28.5K
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.26Rp 167.5K
$7.97Rp 144.2K
16.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01Rp 54.5K
$3.14Rp 56.8K
-4.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.86Rp 142.1K
$7.82Rp 141.3K
0.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31Rp 41.7K
$2.37Rp 42.9K
-2.53%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29Rp 23.4K
$1.51Rp 27.3K
-14.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.70Rp 30.7K
$1.80Rp 32.6K
-5.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.60Rp 28.9K
$1.55Rp 28.0K
3.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48Rp 26.8K
$1.38Rp 24.9K
7.25%
Onion(1kg)
$2.65Rp 47.9K
$1.91Rp 34.5K
38.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96Rp 17.4K
$0.90Rp 16.3K
6.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,342
$0.45Rp 8,091
2.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.48Rp 44.8K
$2.46Rp 44.4K
0.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.80Rp 394.2K
$19.41Rp 351.0K
12.31%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.09Rp 37.8K
$2.11Rp 38.1K
-0.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43Rp 62.0K
$3.06Rp 55.4K
12.09%
🚌 Getting Around
Bandung
Timika
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,354
$0.30Rp 5,365
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.23Rp 185.0K
$9.72Rp 175.8K
5.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.70Rp 12.7K
$0.57Rp 10.2K
22.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77Rp 13.9K
$0.37Rp 6,779
108.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.58Rp 46.6K
$2.90Rp 52.4K
-11.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.3K
$0.83Rp 15.1K
-4.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0KRp 451.7M
$24.6KRp 444.8M
1.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KRp 472.3M
$28.0KRp 506.2M
-6.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bandung
Timika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.55Rp 805.5K
$69.6Rp 1.3M
-35.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.69Rp 84.9K
$4.34Rp 78.5K
8.06%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.48Rp 406.4K
$22.55Rp 407.8K
-0.31%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bandung
Timika
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.87Rp 395.4K
$23.18Rp 419.2K
-5.65%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.58Rp 119.0K
$6.20Rp 112.1K
6.13%
Cinema Ticket
$3.11Rp 56.2K
$3.02Rp 54.6K
2.98%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bandung
Timika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.2Rp 1.7M
$93.3Rp 1.7M
1.02%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,688Rp 139.0M
$7,621Rp 137.8M
0.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bandung
Timika
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.35Rp 747.6K
$41.17Rp 744.4K
0.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.15Rp 563.2K
$30.46Rp 550.7K
2.27%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.2Rp 1.1M
$67.2Rp 1.2M
-13.38%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.6Rp 1.1M
$72.5Rp 1.3M
-12.31%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bandung
Timika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$240Rp 4.3M
$260Rp 4.7M
-7.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$154Rp 2.8M
$158Rp 2.9M
-2.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$454Rp 8.2M
$594Rp 10.7M
-23.58%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$246Rp 4.5M
$332Rp 6.0M
-25.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$727Rp 13.1M
$1,194Rp 21.6M
-39.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$308Rp 5.6M
$709Rp 12.8M
-56.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bandung
Timika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$283Rp 5.1M
-
-
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 Timika: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $240 in Bandung and $260 in Timika. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $9.00 in Bandung vs $12.00 in Timika. Groceries flip the comparison at $213 vs $205, with Timika 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 Timika: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bandung or Timika?
Bandung wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Timika. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bandung the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bandung and in Timika?
You'd need roughly $942 in Bandung and $982 in Timika to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bandung compared to Timika?
Rent for a central apartment: $240 in Bandung versus $260 in Timika. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Bandung or in Timika?
Shoppers in Timika pay roughly 4% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
How do dining costs compare in Bandung and in Timika?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandung – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $12.00 in Timika. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Bandung or in Timika?
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 Timika?
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 Timika?
Safety-wise, Bandung and Timika 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 4% less than in Timika. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.