Cost of Living Comparison Between Encarnacion and Semarang Cost of Living Comparison Between Encarnacion and Semarang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $766 in Encarnacion versus $652 in Semarang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,044 in Encarnacion versus $1,022 in Semarang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,322 in Encarnacion versus $1,391 in Semarang.

Living in Encarnacion is roughly 18% more expensive than Semarang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Encarnacion 43% lower, Semarang 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.31 ₲20.1K

$1.80 Rp 32.2K

83.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.76 ₲175.3K

$12.32 Rp 220.0K

133.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.68 ₲28.5K

$3.69 Rp 65.8K

26.83%

Cappuccino

$1.03 ₲6,257

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

-31.33%

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

$1.51 ₲9,221

$0.52 Rp 9,317

190.38%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 ₲3,083

$0.27 Rp 4,815

88.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.16 ₲13.2K

$1.99 Rp 35.5K

8.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.11 ₲12.8K

$3.01 Rp 53.7K

-29.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.87 ₲5,306

$1.02 Rp 18.3K

-14.71%

White Bread (500g)

$0.47 ₲2,871

$1.03 Rp 18.4K

-54.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 ₲4,946

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

1.25%

Eggs

$1.65 ₲10.1K

$1.52 Rp 27.2K

8.55%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.38 ₲32.8K

$6.11 Rp 109.1K

-11.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.35 ₲20.4K

$2.93 Rp 52.4K

14.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.57 ₲34.0K

$8.73 Rp 155.9K

-36.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.14 ₲13.1K

$2.59 Rp 46.2K

-17.37%

Banana (1kg)

$0.82 ₲5,013

$1.59 Rp 28.4K

-48.43%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.86 ₲5,239

$1.88 Rp 33.6K

-54.26%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.72 ₲10.5K

$1.58 Rp 28.2K

8.86%

Potato (1kg)

$0.86 ₲5,264

$1.30 Rp 23.2K

-33.85%

Onion (1kg)

$0.89 ₲5,411

$1.88 Rp 33.6K

-52.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 ₲3,369

$0.91 Rp 16.2K

-39.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 ₲3,338

$0.41 Rp 7,272

34.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.48 ₲9,002

$2.26 Rp 40.3K

-34.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.37 ₲32.7K

$14.10 Rp 251.8K

-61.91%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 ₲4,897

$2.58 Rp 46.1K

-68.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.47 ₲8,985

$2.88 Rp 51.3K

-48.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₲2,826

$0.26 Rp 4,643

76.92%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$35.10 ₲213.9K

$13.11 Rp 234.0K

167.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 ₲7,756

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

36.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 ₲4,023

$0.31 Rp 5,613

112.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.70 ₲40.8K

$2.88 Rp 51.4K

132.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 ₲6,215

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

18.60%

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

$14.2K ₲86.7M

$24.5K Rp 438.2M

-42.05%

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

$25.8K ₲157.3M

$31.2K Rp 556.5M

-17.15%

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

$44.78 ₲272.9K

$94.0 Rp 1.7M

-52.35%

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

$2.74 Rp 48.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.95 ₲103.3K

$23.89 Rp 426.6K

-29.05%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.20 ₲165.8K

$23.84 Rp 425.7K

14.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.87 ₲78.4K

$5.06 Rp 90.3K

154.35%

Cinema Ticket

$5.88 ₲35.8K

$3.05 Rp 54.4K

92.79%

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

$195 ₲1.2M

$44.50 Rp 794.6K

338.38%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,258 ₲19.9M

$2,399 Rp 42.8M

35.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.2 ₲342.5K

$37.42 Rp 668.3K

50.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.81 ₲169.5K

$32.67 Rp 583.4K

-14.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.9 ₲407.4K

$66.9 Rp 1.2M

-0.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$69.8 ₲425.6K

$43.76 Rp 781.5K

59.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$392 ₲2.4M

$255 Rp 4.6M

53.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$307 ₲1.9M

$154 Rp 2.7M

99.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 ₲2.3M

$536 Rp 9.6M

-28.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$277 ₲1.7M

$413 Rp 7.4M

-32.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,498 ₲9.1M

$1,187 Rp 21.2M

26.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,090 ₲6.6M

$564 Rp 10.1M

93.37%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$307 ₲1.9M

$184 Rp 3.3M

67.02%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.5

7.83

21.33%

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

Last update for Encarnacion: June 1, 2026

Last update for Semarang: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $392 in Encarnacion and $255 in Semarang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Encarnacion pays 67% 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: $29.00 in Encarnacion vs $12.00 in Semarang. Groceries flip the comparison at $131 vs $190, with Encarnacion 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

Encarnacion vs Semarang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Encarnacion and Semarang differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($766 vs $652 including rent). Semarang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Encarnacion pays 67% more on average, 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: $392 in Encarnacion versus $255 in Semarang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $766 per month in Encarnacion versus $652 in Semarang – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Semarang runs roughly 168% less than in Encarnacion. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Semarang 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.

Safety-wise, Encarnacion and Semarang 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 Semarang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Encarnacion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.