Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Balikpapan Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Balikpapan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $815 in Jakarta versus $672 in Balikpapan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,325 in Jakarta versus $1,070 in Balikpapan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,834 in Jakarta versus $1,468 in Balikpapan.

Living in Jakarta is roughly 21% more expensive than in Balikpapan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jakarta 40% lower, Balikpapan 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.49 Rp 44.0K

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

80.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.86 Rp 280.9K

$11.14 Rp 197.3K

42.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.43 Rp 60.8K

$3.17 Rp 56.1K

8.20%

Cappuccino

$2.06 Rp 36.5K

$1.45 Rp 25.8K

42.07%

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

$0.42 Rp 7,520

$0.38 Rp 6,782

10.53%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,614

$0.37 Rp 6,529

-29.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.65 Rp 47.0K

$2.40 Rp 42.5K

10.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 Rp 68.9K

$3.53 Rp 62.5K

10.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 Rp 25.8K

$1.19 Rp 21.0K

22.69%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 Rp 20.4K

$1.11 Rp 19.7K

3.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 Rp 14.9K

$1.17 Rp 20.7K

-28.21%

Eggs

$1.76 Rp 31.1K

$2.59 Rp 45.9K

-32.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 Rp 173.8K

$7.34 Rp 130.0K

33.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 Rp 53.0K

$2.97 Rp 52.6K

0.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.67 Rp 135.7K

$6.78 Rp 120.1K

13.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 Rp 50.8K

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

25.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 Rp 24.2K

$1.27 Rp 22.4K

7.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.65 Rp 46.9K

$1.70 Rp 30.1K

55.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 Rp 24.3K

$1.25 Rp 22.1K

9.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.35 Rp 23.9K

$1.31 Rp 23.3K

3.05%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 Rp 37.2K

$2.01 Rp 35.6K

4.48%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 Rp 16.5K

$0.73 Rp 13.0K

27.40%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 Rp 9,092

$0.69 Rp 12.3K

-26.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 Rp 50.4K

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

50.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.74 Rp 384.9K

$20.60 Rp 364.7K

5.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 Rp 37.5K

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

10.99%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 Rp 57.0K

$3.00 Rp 53.0K

7.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,206

$0.55 Rp 9,817

-47.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 Rp 207.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.53 Rp 9,420

$1.15 Rp 20.4K

-53.91%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 Rp 6,293

$0.34 Rp 5,944

5.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 Rp 58.4K

$2.89 Rp 51.2K

14.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

2.63%

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

$28.7K Rp 507.9M

$23.5K Rp 416.3M

22.02%

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

$33.4K Rp 590.9M

$31.2K Rp 552.0M

7.04%

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

$108 Rp 1.9M

$69.9 Rp 1.2M

54.32%

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

$6.07 Rp 107.5K

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

34.29%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.01 Rp 336.7K

$29.58 Rp 523.8K

-35.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.63 Rp 471.5K

$24.45 Rp 433.0K

8.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.81 Rp 244.5K

$8.64 Rp 153.1K

59.84%

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$2.85 Rp 50.5K

20.70%

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

$155 Rp 2.7M

$94.7 Rp 1.7M

63.36%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,224 Rp 145.6M

$6,923 Rp 122.6M

18.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 Rp 1.1M

$38.44 Rp 680.6K

56.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.63 Rp 506.9K

$19.51 Rp 345.5K

46.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.3 Rp 1.3M

$141 Rp 2.5M

-48.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 Rp 1.9M

$70.9 Rp 1.3M

54.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 Rp 6.4M

$203 Rp 3.6M

78.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 Rp 3.6M

$156 Rp 2.8M

30.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,179 Rp 20.9M

$557 Rp 9.9M

111.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$581 Rp 10.3M

$367 Rp 6.5M

58.34%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,009 Rp 53.3M

$1,079 Rp 19.1M

178.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 Rp 26.2M

$709 Rp 12.6M

108.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$460 Rp 8.1M

$245 Rp 4.3M

87.22%

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 Balikpapan: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $363 in Jakarta and $203 in Balikpapan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jakarta pays 87% 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 $11.00 in Balikpapan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $223 vs $203 per month, with Balikpapan 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 Balikpapan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jakarta and Balikpapan differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($815 vs $672 including rent). Balikpapan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 87% 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 $203 in Balikpapan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $155 in Jakarta versus $94.7 in Balikpapan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Balikpapan – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $16.00 in Jakarta. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Balikpapan 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, Jakarta and Balikpapan 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 Balikpapan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Jakarta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.