Cost of Living Comparison Between Batam and Bandung Cost of Living Comparison Between Batam and Bandung

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $660 in Batam versus $626 in Bandung.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,103 in Batam versus $941 in Bandung.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,546 in Batam versus $1,255 in Bandung.

Living in Batam is roughly 5% more expensive than in Bandung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Batam 51% lower, Bandung 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.79 Rp 50.1K

$1.32 Rp 23.6K

111.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.30 Rp 167.2K

$9.48 Rp 170.4K

-1.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.54 Rp 63.5K

$3.31 Rp 59.4K

6.95%

Cappuccino

$2.21 Rp 39.7K

$1.49 Rp 26.7K

48.32%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.33 Rp 24.0K

$0.52 Rp 9,373

155.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,356

$0.27 Rp 4,888

51.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.80 Rp 50.4K

$3.31 Rp 59.5K

-15.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 Rp 72.3K

$3.52 Rp 63.2K

14.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

$1.07 Rp 19.2K

13.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.85 Rp 15.3K

$0.95 Rp 17.1K

-10.53%

Eggs

$1.36 Rp 24.4K

$1.59 Rp 28.6K

-14.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.11 Rp 145.7K

$8.96 Rp 161.0K

-9.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.66 Rp 47.7K

$3.14 Rp 56.4K

-15.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.82 Rp 86.7K

$8.08 Rp 145.1K

-40.35%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 Rp 42.7K

$2.37 Rp 42.7K

0.42%

Banana (1kg)

$2.26 Rp 40.6K

$1.29 Rp 23.3K

75.19%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 Rp 39.2K

$1.73 Rp 31.0K

26.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.10 Rp 19.8K

$1.58 Rp 28.4K

-30.38%

Potato (1kg)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$1.46 Rp 26.2K

-30.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.16 Rp 38.8K

$2.70 Rp 48.5K

-20.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.46 Rp 26.3K

$0.90 Rp 16.3K

62.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 Rp 7,100

$0.42 Rp 7,597

-4.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 Rp 47.7K

$2.53 Rp 45.4K

4.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.68 Rp 245.8K

$21.74 Rp 390.8K

-37.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 Rp 35.5K

$2.12 Rp 38.1K

-7.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.64 Rp 47.4K

$3.54 Rp 63.7K

-25.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 Rp 8,417

$0.30 Rp 5,370

56.67%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.91 Rp 303.8K

$10.26 Rp 184.4K

64.81%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 Rp 22.6K

$0.70 Rp 12.7K

80.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.65 Rp 11.7K

$0.76 Rp 13.7K

-14.47%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.72 Rp 66.9K

$2.59 Rp 46.5K

43.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 Rp 14.9K

$0.81 Rp 14.5K

2.47%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$29.7K Rp 533.1M

$24.4K Rp 438.8M

21.49%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.2K Rp 344.2M

$25.8K Rp 462.8M

-25.63%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$77.8 Rp 1.4M

$44.02 Rp 791.2K

76.67%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.96 Rp 71.2K

$4.47 Rp 80.4K

-11.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.92 Rp 465.8K

$22.86 Rp 410.8K

13.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.33 Rp 545.1K

$21.68 Rp 389.6K

39.90%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.04 Rp 144.6K

$6.60 Rp 118.7K

21.82%

Cinema Ticket

$3.08 Rp 55.4K

$3.13 Rp 56.3K

-1.60%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$93.3 Rp 1.7M

$93.0 Rp 1.7M

0.27%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,643 Rp 65.5M

$7,512 Rp 135.0M

-51.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$35.31 Rp 634.6K

$41.31 Rp 742.5K

-14.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.55 Rp 369.3K

$30.79 Rp 553.3K

-33.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.4 Rp 1.3M

$58.6 Rp 1.1M

23.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$26.40 Rp 474.4K

$64.3 Rp 1.2M

-58.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$294 Rp 5.3M

$235 Rp 4.2M

25.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$166 Rp 3.0M

$152 Rp 2.7M

9.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$890 Rp 16.0M

$464 Rp 8.3M

91.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$560 Rp 10.1M

$247 Rp 4.4M

126.30%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$550 Rp 9.9M

$705 Rp 12.7M

-21.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$305 Rp 5.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$334 Rp 6.0M

$277 Rp 5.0M

20.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.88

9.15

51.69%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Batam: July 13, 2026

Last update for Bandung: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $294 in Batam and $235 in Bandung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Batam pays 21% 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 Batam vs $9.00 in Bandung for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $214 per month, with Batam cheaper across the board.

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

Batam vs Bandung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bandung wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Batam. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bandung the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 21% higher in Batam, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $294 in Batam versus $235 in Bandung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Batam pay roughly 15% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

Dining out is cheaper in Bandung – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $9.00 in Batam. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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.

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.

Safety-wise, Batam and Bandung are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bandung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Batam. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.