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: $849 in Jakarta versus $675 in Ambon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,389 in Jakarta versus $1,036 in Ambon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,929 in Jakarta versus $1,397 in Ambon.

Living in Jakarta is roughly 26% more expensive than Ambon, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jakarta 37% lower, Ambon 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 Rp 52.3K

$0.87 Rp 15.2K

247.13%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.34 Rp 317.8K

$12.06 Rp 209.0K

52.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.51 Rp 60.8K

$3.41 Rp 59.0K

2.93%

Cappuccino

$2.14 Rp 37.2K

$1.65 Rp 28.7K

29.70%

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

$0.52 Rp 8,949

$0.54 Rp 9,371

-3.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 4,873

$0.26 Rp 4,521

7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 Rp 47.2K

$2.51 Rp 43.5K

8.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 Rp 73.8K

$3.45 Rp 59.7K

23.48%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 Rp 24.2K

$1.23 Rp 21.3K

13.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 Rp 20.1K

$1.12 Rp 19.5K

3.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 Rp 17.8K

$0.95 Rp 16.4K

8.42%

Eggs

$1.87 Rp 32.4K

$1.57 Rp 27.2K

19.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 Rp 109.0K

$8.04 Rp 139.4K

-21.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 Rp 54.1K

$3.15 Rp 54.6K

-0.95%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.86 Rp 136.2K

$7.76 Rp 134.6K

1.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 Rp 49.5K

$2.39 Rp 41.4K

19.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 26.9K

$1.49 Rp 25.9K

4.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 38.0K

$1.88 Rp 32.6K

16.49%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 Rp 25.8K

$1.50 Rp 26.0K

-0.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 31.4K

$1.36 Rp 23.6K

33.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.63 Rp 45.6K

$1.89 Rp 32.7K

39.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.4K

$0.95 Rp 16.5K

11.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,277

$0.42 Rp 7,255

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 Rp 51.3K

$2.55 Rp 44.2K

16.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.32 Rp 386.9K

$22.04 Rp 381.9K

1.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 Rp 38.7K

$2.11 Rp 36.5K

5.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 Rp 53.0K

$3.20 Rp 55.4K

-4.38%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 Rp 3,624

$0.30 Rp 5,145

-30.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.42 Rp 215.3K

$10.12 Rp 175.4K

22.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.54 Rp 9,305

$0.53 Rp 9,197

1.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 Rp 6,497

$0.37 Rp 6,478

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 Rp 54.5K

$2.95 Rp 51.1K

6.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.4K

$0.83 Rp 14.4K

-6.02%

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

$30.1K Rp 522.5M

$25.0K Rp 432.7M

20.75%

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

$32.4K Rp 561.6M

$27.4K Rp 475.7M

18.06%

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

$89.7 Rp 1.6M

$70.6 Rp 1.2M

27.09%

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

$6.56 Rp 113.8K

$4.32 Rp 74.9K

51.85%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.10 Rp 469.6K

$22.52 Rp 390.3K

20.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.54 Rp 529.3K

$23.17 Rp 401.5K

31.81%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.74 Rp 220.9K

$6.09 Rp 105.6K

109.20%

Cinema Ticket

$3.04 Rp 52.6K

$3.13 Rp 54.2K

-2.88%

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

$169 Rp 2.9M

$91.9 Rp 1.6M

84.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,651 Rp 167.3M

$7,453 Rp 129.2M

29.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 Rp 978.4K

$40.91 Rp 709.1K

37.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.55 Rp 581.5K

$30.37 Rp 526.4K

10.47%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 Rp 1.5M

$66.5 Rp 1.2M

26.92%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.3 Rp 1.5M

$72.8 Rp 1.3M

21.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$377 Rp 6.5M

$262 Rp 4.5M

44.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 Rp 4.1M

$157 Rp 2.7M

52.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,176 Rp 20.4M

$586 Rp 10.2M

100.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.4M

$333 Rp 5.8M

97.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,777 Rp 48.1M

$1,052 Rp 18.2M

163.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,418 Rp 24.6M

$883 Rp 15.3M

60.64%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$476 Rp 8.3M

$177 Rp 3.1M

169.45%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.59

9.15

4.81%

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

Last update for Jakarta: April 28, 2026

Last update for Ambon: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $377 in Jakarta and $262 in Ambon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jakarta pays 169% 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: $18.00 in Jakarta vs $12.00 in Ambon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $217 vs $210 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 26% 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.

Jakarta pays 169% 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: $377 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 $849 per month in Jakarta versus $675 in Ambon – a 26% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 23% 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 $675 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 26% less than in Jakarta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.