Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Banda Aceh Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Banda Aceh

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $818 per month in Jakarta vs $583 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,343 per month in Jakarta vs $903 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,869 per month in Jakarta vs $1,223 in Banda Aceh, rent included.

Jakarta costs about 40% more than Banda Aceh, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Jakarta and Banda Aceh are more affordable than the global median – Jakarta 39% lower, Banda Aceh 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jakarta
Banda Aceh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.13 Rp 56.0K
$1.55 Rp 27.8K
101.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.46 Rp 330.8K
$12.53 Rp 224.5K
47.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.64 Rp 65.1K
$3.42 Rp 61.2K
6.43%
Cappuccino
$2.10 Rp 37.6K
$1.14 Rp 20.4K
84.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 Rp 10.2K
$0.51 Rp 9,196
11.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 Rp 4,600
$0.28 Rp 5,070
-7.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.71 Rp 48.5K
$2.42 Rp 43.3K
11.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39 Rp 78.6K
$3.44 Rp 61.7K
27.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jakarta
Banda Aceh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.33 Rp 23.8K
$1.22 Rp 21.9K
9.02%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
-1.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.03 Rp 18.4K
$0.58 Rp 10.4K
77.59%
Eggs
$1.80 Rp 32.3K
$1.60 Rp 28.6K
12.50%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.51 Rp 116.7K
$8.13 Rp 145.7K
-19.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.23 Rp 57.9K
$3.22 Rp 57.6K
0.31%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 Rp 136.1K
$7.74 Rp 138.7K
-1.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 Rp 51.1K
$2.41 Rp 43.2K
18.26%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 Rp 29.2K
$1.43 Rp 25.7K
13.99%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.5K
$1.86 Rp 33.3K
18.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.1K
$1.52 Rp 27.2K
3.29%
Potato (1kg)
$1.75 Rp 31.3K
$1.33 Rp 23.8K
31.58%
Onion (1kg)
$2.56 Rp 45.8K
$1.89 Rp 33.8K
35.45%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.07 Rp 19.1K
$0.90 Rp 16.1K
18.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,212
$0.41 Rp 7,426
12.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07 Rp 55.0K
$2.56 Rp 45.9K
19.92%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.00 Rp 376.3K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 Rp 39.5K
$2.05 Rp 36.7K
7.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 Rp 55.7K
$3.16 Rp 56.7K
-1.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Jakarta
Banda Aceh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.21 Rp 3,754
$0.30 Rp 5,318
-30.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.06 Rp 216.0K
$10.10 Rp 180.9K
19.41%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 Rp 9,496
$0.53 Rp 9,424
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 Rp 6,729
$0.38 Rp 6,741
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.14 Rp 56.3K
$2.99 Rp 53.5K
5.02%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
$0.60 Rp 10.7K
28.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6K Rp 548.8M
$24.9K Rp 445.3M
23.25%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K Rp 596.1M
$27.4K Rp 491.5M
21.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jakarta
Banda Aceh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.1 Rp 1.6M
$68.5 Rp 1.2M
31.59%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.55 Rp 117.4K
$4.40 Rp 78.8K
48.86%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54 Rp 493.4K
$23.25 Rp 416.6K
18.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jakarta
Banda Aceh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.46 Rp 545.8K
$22.74 Rp 407.4K
33.95%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.41 Rp 222.3K
$6.18 Rp 110.8K
100.81%
Cinema Ticket
$3.02 Rp 54.0K
$3.12 Rp 55.8K
-3.21%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jakarta
Banda Aceh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$171 Rp 3.1M
$94.1 Rp 1.7M
81.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,571 Rp 171.5M
$7,656 Rp 137.2M
25.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jakarta
Banda Aceh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.4 Rp 1.0M
$32.50 Rp 582.2K
76.46%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.58 Rp 601.7K
$23.01 Rp 412.2K
45.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.2 Rp 1.5M
$35.01 Rp 627.3K
140.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.7 Rp 1.6M
$33.18 Rp 594.4K
173.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jakarta
Banda Aceh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$380 Rp 6.8M
$256 Rp 4.6M
48.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$235 Rp 4.2M
$160 Rp 2.9M
46.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,184 Rp 21.2M
$595 Rp 10.7M
98.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$647 Rp 11.6M
$339 Rp 6.1M
90.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,872 Rp 51.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,400 Rp 25.1M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jakarta
Banda Aceh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$448 Rp 8.0M
-
-
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: June 6, 2026

Last update for Banda Aceh: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $380 in Jakarta versus $256 in Banda Aceh. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Jakarta versus $13.00 in Banda Aceh. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $165 – making Banda Aceh the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Banda Aceh: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Banda Aceh cheaper than Jakarta?
Yes – Jakarta is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,227 per month in Jakarta and $875 in Banda Aceh. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Banda Aceh, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $171 per month in Jakarta and $94.1 in Banda Aceh. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Jakarta and Banda Aceh?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Jakarta, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 enough for either Jakarta or Banda Aceh?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $818 in Jakarta and $583 in Banda Aceh, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Jakarta or Banda Aceh more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Banda Aceh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Jakarta or Banda Aceh?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Banda Aceh. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jakarta makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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