Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Ambon Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Ambon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $815 in Jakarta versus $658 in Ambon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,325 in Jakarta versus $1,038 in Ambon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,834 in Jakarta versus $1,417 in Ambon.

Living in Jakarta is roughly 24% more expensive than in Ambon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jakarta 40% lower, Ambon 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.49 Rp 44.0K

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

122.32%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.86 Rp 280.9K

$13.95 Rp 247.0K

13.69%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.43 Rp 60.8K

$3.91 Rp 69.3K

-12.28%

Cappuccino

$2.06 Rp 36.5K

$1.50 Rp 26.6K

37.33%

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

$0.42 Rp 7,520

$0.47 Rp 8,319

-10.64%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,614

$0.29 Rp 5,068

-10.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.65 Rp 47.0K

$2.48 Rp 43.8K

6.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 Rp 68.9K

$3.49 Rp 61.8K

11.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 Rp 25.8K

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

39.05%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 Rp 20.4K

$1.04 Rp 18.4K

10.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 Rp 14.9K

$0.88 Rp 15.5K

-4.55%

Eggs

$1.76 Rp 31.1K

$1.39 Rp 24.6K

26.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 Rp 173.8K

$7.25 Rp 128.4K

35.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 Rp 53.0K

$2.93 Rp 51.9K

2.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.67 Rp 135.7K

$7.64 Rp 135.3K

0.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 Rp 50.8K

$2.28 Rp 40.3K

25.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 Rp 24.2K

$1.32 Rp 23.4K

3.79%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.65 Rp 46.9K

$1.70 Rp 30.2K

55.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 Rp 24.3K

$1.29 Rp 22.8K

6.20%

Potato (1kg)

$1.35 Rp 23.9K

$1.31 Rp 23.2K

3.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 Rp 37.2K

$1.97 Rp 34.8K

6.60%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 Rp 16.5K

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

19.23%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 Rp 9,092

$0.41 Rp 7,302

24.39%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 Rp 50.4K

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

27.80%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.74 Rp 384.9K

$21.27 Rp 376.6K

2.21%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 Rp 37.5K

$1.94 Rp 34.3K

9.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 Rp 57.0K

$2.98 Rp 52.8K

8.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,206

$0.24 Rp 4,243

20.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 Rp 207.6K

$16.99 Rp 300.9K

-31.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.53 Rp 9,420

$0.50 Rp 8,778

6.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 Rp 6,293

$0.31 Rp 5,435

16.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 Rp 58.4K

$3.34 Rp 59.2K

-1.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

2.63%

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

$28.7K Rp 507.9M

$23.0K Rp 406.6M

24.92%

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

$33.4K Rp 590.9M

$31.1K Rp 550.3M

7.38%

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

$108 Rp 1.9M

$77.5 Rp 1.4M

39.11%

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

$6.07 Rp 107.5K

$5.82 Rp 103.1K

4.30%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.01 Rp 336.7K

$19.77 Rp 350.1K

-3.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.63 Rp 471.5K

$18.75 Rp 332.0K

42.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.81 Rp 244.5K

$7.70 Rp 136.3K

79.35%

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$1.38 Rp 24.5K

149.28%

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

$155 Rp 2.7M

$94.2 Rp 1.7M

64.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,224 Rp 145.6M

$7,888 Rp 139.7M

4.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 Rp 1.1M

$43.70 Rp 773.8K

37.48%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.63 Rp 506.9K

$31.00 Rp 548.9K

-7.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.3 Rp 1.3M

$74.3 Rp 1.3M

-1.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 Rp 1.9M

$73.1 Rp 1.3M

50.13%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 Rp 6.4M

$262 Rp 4.6M

38.89%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 Rp 3.6M

$161 Rp 2.9M

26.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,179 Rp 20.9M

$571 Rp 10.1M

106.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$581 Rp 10.3M

$359 Rp 6.4M

61.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,009 Rp 53.3M

$1,120 Rp 19.8M

168.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 Rp 26.2M

$618 Rp 10.9M

139.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$460 Rp 8.1M

$126 Rp 2.2M

265.61%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.46

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

Last update for Jakarta: September 12, 2026

Last update for Ambon: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $363 in Jakarta and $262 in Ambon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jakarta pays 266% 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: $16.00 in Jakarta vs $14.00 in Ambon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $223 vs $196 per month, with Ambon 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

Jakarta vs Ambon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ambon wins on cost – living expenses run 24% lower than in Jakarta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ambon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 266% higher in Jakarta, 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: $363 in Jakarta versus $262 in Ambon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $815 per month in Jakarta versus $658 in Ambon – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 45% less than in Jakarta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ambon 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 Ambon delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $658 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ambon hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Jakarta and Ambon 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 Ambon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Jakarta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.