Cost of Living Comparison Between Batam and Jiaxing Cost of Living Comparison Between Batam and Jiaxing

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $616 in Batam versus $644 in Jiaxing.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,017 in Batam versus $1,084 in Jiaxing.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,418 in Batam versus $1,523 in Jiaxing.

Living in Batam costs roughly 4% less than in Jiaxing, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Batam 55% lower, Jiaxing 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.01 Rp 35.5K

$2.96 ¥19.84

-32.09%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.68 Rp 153.7K

$22.45 ¥150

-61.34%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.07 Rp 72.0K

$5.56 ¥37.25

-26.80%

Cappuccino

$2.14 Rp 38.0K

$4.02 ¥26.94

-46.77%

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

$0.62 Rp 11.1K

$0.48 ¥3.24

29.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 Rp 5,506

$0.29 ¥1.93

6.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.60 Rp 46.0K

$0.77 ¥5.12

237.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 Rp 65.9K

$2.27 ¥15.24

63.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 Rp 20.6K

$1.87 ¥12.50

-37.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 Rp 19.3K

$1.96 ¥13.10

-44.39%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.58 ¥3.90

34.48%

Eggs

$1.30 Rp 23.1K

$1.85 ¥12.40

-29.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.71 Rp 136.5K

$7.26 ¥48.61

6.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.54 Rp 45.0K

$3.49 ¥23.40

-27.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.61 Rp 81.6K

$7.52 ¥50.4

-38.70%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 38.7K

$1.69 ¥11.31

29.59%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 Rp 37.0K

$1.09 ¥7.31

91.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.6K

$1.01 ¥6.76

103.96%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 Rp 18.8K

$0.69 ¥4.64

53.62%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 Rp 17.2K

$0.54 ¥3.60

79.63%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 Rp 35.3K

$0.81 ¥5.45

145.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 Rp 23.6K

$0.49 ¥3.29

171.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 8,033

$0.55 ¥3.70

-18.18%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 Rp 48.8K

$5.24 ¥35.08

-47.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.89 Rp 245.9K

$11.79 ¥78.9

17.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

$0.71 ¥4.78

146.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 Rp 44.1K

$1.38 ¥9.22

80.43%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 Rp 7,309

$0.23 ¥1.55

78.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.64 ¥111

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 Rp 20.2K

$1.17 ¥7.83

-2.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 Rp 10.6K

$0.42 ¥2.83

42.86%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 Rp 63.3K

$7.40 ¥49.58

-51.62%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.0K

$1.18 ¥7.92

-33.05%

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

$28.5K Rp 504.0M

$19.4K ¥129.9K

46.80%

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

$24.7K Rp 438.2M

$18.7K ¥125.0K

32.64%

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

$72.0 Rp 1.3M

$36.81 ¥247

95.52%

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

$4.16 Rp 73.6K

$11.58 ¥77.6

-64.08%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.70 Rp 419.6K

$5.11 ¥34.22

363.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.92 Rp 476.7K

$37.91 ¥254

-28.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.63 Rp 99.7K

$7.32 ¥49.01

-23.09%

Cinema Ticket

$2.66 Rp 47.0K

$5.26 ¥35.25

-49.43%

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

$83.4 Rp 1.5M

$429 ¥2,874

-80.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,257 Rp 57.7M

$12.4K ¥83.3K

-73.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.47 Rp 574.9K

$34.56 ¥232

-6.05%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.15 Rp 339.0K

$21.81 ¥146

-12.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.0 Rp 1.2M

$64.1 ¥429

4.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.03 Rp 443.1K

$44.73 ¥300

-44.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$274 Rp 4.8M

$282 ¥1,886

-2.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 Rp 2.6M

$182 ¥1,217

-18.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$823 Rp 14.6M

$745 ¥4,987

10.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$514 Rp 9.1M

$441 ¥2,955

16.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$556 Rp 9.8M

$3,825 ¥25.6K

-85.46%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,104 ¥14.1K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$354 Rp 6.3M

$744 ¥4,985

-52.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.17

3.13

320.77%

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

Last update for Batam: September 13, 2026

Last update for Jiaxing: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $274 in Batam and $282 in Jiaxing. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jiaxing pays 110% 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 $22.00 in Jiaxing. Groceries flip the comparison at $177 vs $174, with Jiaxing 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

Batam vs Jiaxing: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Batam is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 110% lower in Jiaxing. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $274 in Batam versus $282 in Jiaxing. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Jiaxing pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $616 per month in Batam versus $644 in Jiaxing – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Batam gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Batam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Jiaxing. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.