For one person, living is cheaper in Indonesia: $638 a month against $2,734 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $25,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
How much you'll spend in Indonesia and in the United States
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Indonesia and in the United States actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $638 per month in Indonesia vs $2,734 in the United States, rent included.
Indonesia $638
United States $2,734
A couple spends around $1,014 per month in Indonesia vs $3,985 in the United States, rent included.
Indonesia $1,014
United States $3,985
A family of three spends $1,390 per month in Indonesia vs $5,235 in the United States, rent included.
Indonesia $1,390
United States $5,235
📏
The regional cost range is wider in the United States ($979–$5,160) than in Indonesia ($318–$1,649), so city choice matters more there.
🌍
The cost of living in Indonesia is roughly 77% lower than in the United States on average.
📊
Indonesia sits 53% below the global median, while the United States is 101% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Indonesia
United States
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.61Rp 29.1K
$20.03$20.03
-91.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.79Rp 213.7K
$80.0$80.0
-85.27%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.26Rp 59.0K
$11.80$11.80
-72.37%
Cappuccino
$1.58Rp 28.7K
$5.55$5.55
-71.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,891
$2.66$2.66
-81.58%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23Rp 4,167
$2.17$2.17
-89.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.19Rp 39.6K
$6.12$6.12
-64.22%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40Rp 61.6K
$7.94$7.94
-57.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Indonesia
United States
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 22.2K
$1.04$1.04
17.31%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11Rp 20.2K
$3.59$3.59
-69.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.8K
$4.52$4.52
-80.75%
Eggs
$1.51Rp 27.4K
$4.28$4.28
-64.72%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.23Rp 149.2K
$13.22$13.22
-37.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.96Rp 53.7K
$12.60$12.60
-76.51%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.49Rp 135.8K
$17.60$17.60
-57.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.44Rp 44.2K
$5.30$5.30
-53.96%
Banana(1kg)
$1.31Rp 23.7K
$1.69$1.69
-22.49%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.81Rp 32.9K
$4.44$4.44
-59.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.17Rp 21.2K
$4.77$4.77
-75.47%
Potato(1kg)
$1.27Rp 23.1K
$2.97$2.97
-57.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.8K
$3.15$3.15
-39.05%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$2.20$2.20
-63.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,341
$2.35$2.35
-82.55%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.41Rp 43.7K
$10.98$10.98
-78.05%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.71Rp 302.9K
$15.05$15.05
11.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99Rp 36.0K
$2.06$2.06
-3.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.78Rp 50.3K
$3.79$3.79
-26.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Indonesia
United States
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,844
$1.94$1.94
-86.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.52Rp 208.9K
$59.4$59.4
-80.60%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,606
$3.58$3.58
-85.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,738
$1.88$1.88
-80.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.08Rp 55.8K
$29.84$29.84
-89.68%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75Rp 13.5K
$1.02$1.02
-26.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.4KRp 406.7M
$28.8K$28.8K
-21.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.6KRp 572.2M
$26.2K$26.2K
20.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Indonesia
United States
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$64.7Rp 1.2M
$218$218
-70.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.30Rp 78.0K
$62.5$62.5
-93.12%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.61Rp 355.5K
$74.5$74.5
-73.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Indonesia
United States
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.02Rp 326.7K
$41.86$41.86
-56.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$10.71Rp 194.2K
$22.81$22.81
-53.05%
Cinema Ticket
$2.78Rp 50.4K
$14.70$14.70
-81.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Indonesia
United States
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$117Rp 2.1M
$1,489$1,489
-92.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,547Rp 100.5M
$25.3K$25.3K
-78.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Indonesia
United States
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.37Rp 731.8K
$54.3$54.3
-25.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$26.09Rp 472.9K
$42.71$42.71
-38.91%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$68.3Rp 1.2M
$94.1$94.1
-27.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.7Rp 1.1M
$114$114
-44.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Indonesia
United States
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$288Rp 5.2M
$1,659$1,659
-82.62%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$168Rp 3.0M
$1,348$1,348
-87.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$758Rp 13.7M
$2,682$2,682
-71.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$406Rp 7.4M
$2,169$2,169
-81.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,946Rp 35.3M
$3,283$3,283
-40.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,142Rp 20.7M
$2,482$2,482
-53.98%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Indonesia
United States
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$257Rp 4.7M
$4,296$4,296
-94.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
6.55
44.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Indonesia: October 25, 2026
Last update for the United States: 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
Indonesia
$193 30.2%
United States
$415 15.2% ↑ 116%$223
🏠Accommodation & Living
Indonesia
$168 26.2%
United States
$1.3K 49.3% ↑ 704%$1.2K
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Indonesia
$89 13.9%
United States
$137 5% ↑ 54.4%$48
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Indonesia
$89 13.9%
United States
$355 13% ↑ 300%$266
🍽Eating Out
Indonesia
$62 9.8%
United States
$328 12% ↑ 427%$266
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Indonesia
$24 3.7%
United States
$71 2.6% ↑ 202%$48
🚌Getting Around
Indonesia
$15 2.4%
United States
$80 2.9% ↑ 435%$65
🛒Groceries & Markets
Indonesia
$427 30.7%
United States
$953 18.2% ↑ 123%$526
🏠Accommodation & Living
Indonesia
$406 29.2%
United States
$2.2K 41.4% ↑ 434%$1.8K
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Indonesia
$197 14.2%
United States
$305 5.8% ↑ 54.4%$107
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Indonesia
$93 6.7%
United States
$417 8% ↑ 349%$324
🍽Eating Out
Indonesia
$178 12.8%
United States
$1.1K 20.3% ↑ 498%$885
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Indonesia
$58 4.2%
United States
$165 3.2% ↑ 186%$107
🚌Getting Around
Indonesia
$31 2.2%
United States
$164 3.1% ↑ 438%$134
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $370 in Indonesia vs $1,620 in the United States. For reference, capital cities sit at $355 in Jakarta and $2,768 in Washington, DC.
💰Average salary: $221 in Indonesia vs $4,549 in the United States. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 338% higher in the United States.
⭐Dining out costs 369% more in the United States.
⭐Public transport is 473% more expensive in the United States.
⭐Salaries are about 21 times higher in the United States, and purchasing power comes out stronger in the United States.
Indonesia→United States16,450 km≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
Indonesia
United States
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
Indonesia vs United States: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Indonesia more expensive than the United States?
Indonesia is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 77% lower on average.
Which country has higher housing costs?
Housing costs more in the United States: a central one-bedroom averages $1,620 versus $370 in Indonesia.
Which country is cheaper for everyday spending?
Groceries, public transport, and eating out all cost less in Indonesia – part of why living there is about 77% cheaper overall.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget in Indonesia or in the United States?
$2,500 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Indonesia, but in the United States it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
Should I move to Indonesia or to the United States?
Indonesia is the budget-friendly choice for expats. But cost isn’t everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.