For one person, living is cheaper in India: $399 a month against $638 in Indonesia, rent and utilities included – about $2,900 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in India and in Indonesia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
Monthly costs for one person with rent: $399 in India versus $638 in Indonesia.
India $399
Indonesia $638
Estimated couple costs with rent: $639 in India versus $1,014 in Indonesia.
India $639
Indonesia $1,014
Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $879 in India versus $1,390 in Indonesia.
India $879
Indonesia $1,390
📏
Internal cost variation is higher in Indonesia: monthly costs span $318 to $1,649, compared to $230–$813 in India. City choice carries more weight in Indonesia.
🌍
Living in India costs about 37% less than in Indonesia on average.
📊
Both countries sit below the global median: India 71% lower, Indonesia 53% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
India
Indonesia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.14₹204
$1.61Rp 29.1K
32.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.46₹996
$11.79Rp 213.7K
-11.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.80₹362
$3.26Rp 59.0K
16.56%
Cappuccino
$1.68₹160
$1.58Rp 28.7K
6.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38₹36.03
$0.49Rp 8,892
-22.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.15₹14.62
$0.23Rp 4,168
-34.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.87₹178
$2.19Rp 39.6K
-14.61%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18₹303
$3.40Rp 61.6K
-6.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
India
Indonesia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.62₹59.3
$1.22Rp 22.2K
-49.18%
White Bread(500g)
$0.50₹47.82
$1.11Rp 20.2K
-54.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.63₹60.4
$0.87Rp 15.8K
-27.59%
Eggs
$0.96₹91.4
$1.51Rp 27.4K
-36.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.85₹462
$8.23Rp 149.2K
-41.07%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.84₹271
$2.96Rp 53.7K
-4.05%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
-
$7.49Rp 135.8K
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.00₹191
$2.44Rp 44.2K
-18.03%
Banana(1kg)
$0.65₹61.5
$1.31Rp 23.7K
-50.38%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.97₹92.4
$1.81Rp 32.9K
-46.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.47₹44.35
$1.17Rp 21.2K
-59.83%
Potato(1kg)
$0.34₹31.91
$1.27Rp 23.1K
-73.23%
Onion(1kg)
$0.42₹39.77
$1.92Rp 34.8K
-78.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47₹44.44
$0.81Rp 14.6K
-41.98%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31₹29.71
$0.41Rp 7,343
-24.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.08₹483
$2.41Rp 43.7K
110.79%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.31₹696
$16.71Rp 302.9K
-56.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.63₹155
$1.99Rp 36.0K
-18.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76₹263
$2.78Rp 50.3K
-0.72%
Buffalo Round(or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat)(1kg)
$5.11₹487
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
India
Indonesia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26₹24.88
$0.27Rp 4,845
-3.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.58₹817
$11.52Rp 208.9K
-25.52%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.00₹94.8
$0.53Rp 9,607
88.68%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.27₹25.77
$0.37Rp 6,739
-27.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.54₹146
$3.08Rp 55.8K
-50.00%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07₹102
$0.75Rp 13.5K
42.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$11.2K₹1.1M
$22.4KRp 406.7M
-50.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.1K₹1.9M
$31.6KRp 572.3M
-36.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
Indonesia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$37.08₹3,531
$64.7Rp 1.2M
-42.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.58₹341
$4.30Rp 78.0K
-16.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$7.15₹681
$19.61Rp 355.6K
-63.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
India
Indonesia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.00₹1,428
$18.02Rp 326.8K
-16.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.17₹683
$10.71Rp 194.2K
-33.05%
Cinema Ticket
$3.20₹304
$2.78Rp 50.4K
15.11%
🧸 Childcare & Education
India
Indonesia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$58.8₹5,599
$117Rp 2.1M
-49.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$1,667₹158.7K
$5,547Rp 100.6M
-69.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
India
Indonesia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$23.03₹2,193
$40.37Rp 731.9K
-42.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.17₹2,301
$26.09Rp 473.0K
-7.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$41.20₹3,923
$68.3Rp 1.2M
-39.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$29.62₹2,820
$62.7Rp 1.1M
-52.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
India
Indonesia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$146₹13.9K
$288Rp 5.2M
-49.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$96.4₹9,175
$168Rp 3.0M
-42.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$343₹32.6K
$758Rp 13.7M
-54.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$234₹22.3K
$406Rp 7.4M
-42.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,177₹112.1K
$1,946Rp 35.3M
-39.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$633₹60.3K
$1,142Rp 20.7M
-44.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
India
Indonesia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$409₹38.9K
$257Rp 4.7M
59.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.93
9.46
-5.60%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for India: October 25, 2026
Last update for Indonesia: October 25, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$102 25.6%
Indonesia
$193 30.2% ↑ 88.5%$90
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$96 24.1%
Indonesia
$168 26.2% ↑ 73.9%$71
🍽Eating Out
India
$67 16.7%
Indonesia
$62 9.8% ↓ 6.4%$4.3
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$53 13.3%
Indonesia
$89 13.9% ↑ 67.2%$36
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$48 12%
Indonesia
$89 13.9% ↑ 85.4%$41
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$21 5.4%
Indonesia
$24 3.7% ↑ 10.3%$2.2
🚌Getting Around
India
$12 3%
Indonesia
$15 2.4% ↑ 25%$3
🛒Groceries & Markets
India
$220 25.1%
Indonesia
$427 30.7% ↑ 93.8%$207
🏠Accommodation & Living
India
$234 26.6%
Indonesia
$406 29.2% ↑ 73.8%$173
🍽Eating Out
India
$181 20.6%
Indonesia
$178 12.8% ↓ 1.9%$3.4
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
India
$118 13.4%
Indonesia
$197 14.2% ↑ 67.2%$79
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
India
$51 5.9%
Indonesia
$93 6.7% ↑ 80.9%$42
🎉Sport & Entertainment
India
$50 5.7%
Indonesia
$58 4.2% ↑ 15.9%$7.9
🚌Getting Around
India
$24 2.8%
Indonesia
$31 2.2% ↑ 24.6%$6
Cost Breakdown
🏠National rent averages: $120 in India, $370 in Indonesia. Capital cities: $277 in Delhi vs $355 in Jakarta.
💰National salary averages: $412 in India, $221 in Indonesia. Higher pay doesn’t always mean more spending money – weigh income against local costs.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 208% higher in Indonesia.
⭐Dining out costs 45% more in Indonesia.
⭐Public transport is 38% more expensive in Indonesia.
⭐Salaries are 86% higher in India, and purchasing power comes out stronger in India.
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
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
India vs Indonesia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost difference between India and Indonesia?
At $399 per month in India and $638 in Indonesia, India comes out about 37% cheaper. Keep in mind it varies by city – the difference can be bigger or smaller depending on where you settle within each country.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Day-to-day life is cheaper in India: lower grocery prices, cheaper commutes, and more affordable meals out. Over time, those daily savings make a real difference to your monthly budget and ability to put money away.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Rent for a central one-bedroom averages $370 in Indonesia and $120 in India. Rents vary a lot between cities, so the gap depends on where you settle.
Should I move to India or to Indonesia?
It depends on what you’re after: India wins on affordability, while salaries, visas, language, and lifestyle can tip the balance either way.