😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $840 in Jakarta versus $626 in Bandung.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,379 in Jakarta versus $941 in Bandung.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,919 in Jakarta versus $1,255 in Bandung.
🌍Living in Jakarta is roughly 34% more expensive than in Bandung, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Jakarta37% lower, Bandung53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jakarta
Bandung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.11Rp 55.9K
$1.32Rp 23.6K
135.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.11Rp 324.8K
$9.48Rp 170.1K
91.03%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.46Rp 62.1K
$3.31Rp 59.3K
4.53%
Cappuccino
$2.10Rp 37.7K
$1.49Rp 26.7K
40.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,890
$0.52Rp 9,356
5.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,077
$0.27Rp 4,880
3.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.82Rp 50.7K
$3.31Rp 59.4K
-14.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21Rp 75.5K
$3.52Rp 63.1K
19.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jakarta
Bandung
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34Rp 24.1K
$1.21Rp 21.8K
10.74%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16Rp 20.8K
$1.07Rp 19.2K
8.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95Rp 17.0K
$0.95Rp 17.1K
-
Eggs
$1.80Rp 32.3K
$1.59Rp 28.6K
13.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.49Rp 116.4K
$8.96Rp 160.7K
-27.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.23Rp 58.0K
$3.14Rp 56.3K
2.87%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.55Rp 135.4K
$8.08Rp 144.9K
-6.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.93Rp 52.5K
$2.37Rp 42.6K
23.63%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 28.8K
$1.29Rp 23.2K
24.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27Rp 40.8K
$1.73Rp 31.0K
31.21%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56Rp 28.0K
$1.58Rp 28.3K
-1.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79Rp 32.1K
$1.46Rp 26.1K
22.60%
Onion(1kg)
$2.61Rp 46.9K
$2.70Rp 48.4K
-3.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.0K
$0.90Rp 16.2K
17.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,269
$0.42Rp 7,584
9.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99Rp 53.7K
$2.53Rp 45.3K
18.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.56Rp 368.8K
$21.74Rp 390.1K
-5.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21Rp 39.7K
$2.12Rp 38.0K
4.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24Rp 58.2K
$3.54Rp 63.5K
-8.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Jakarta
Bandung
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21Rp 3,754
$0.30Rp 5,360
-30.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.21Rp 219.0K
$10.26Rp 184.0K
19.01%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54Rp 9,605
$0.70Rp 12.6K
-22.86%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,669
$0.76Rp 13.7K
-51.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.12Rp 55.9K
$2.59Rp 46.5K
20.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.4K
$0.81Rp 14.5K
-1.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KRp 541.7M
$24.4KRp 438.0M
23.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7KRp 586.9M
$25.8KRp 461.9M
27.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jakarta
Bandung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.4Rp 1.6M
$44.02Rp 789.7K
103.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.51Rp 116.7K
$4.47Rp 80.3K
45.64%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.21Rp 488.0K
$22.86Rp 410.1K
19.03%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jakarta
Bandung
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.97Rp 537.6K
$21.68Rp 388.9K
38.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.61Rp 226.3K
$6.60Rp 118.5K
91.06%
Cinema Ticket
$3.10Rp 55.6K
$3.13Rp 56.2K
-0.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jakarta
Bandung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$166Rp 3.0M
$93.0Rp 1.7M
79.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,566Rp 171.6M
$7,512Rp 134.8M
27.34%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jakarta
Bandung
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.5Rp 1.0M
$41.31Rp 741.1K
39.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.85Rp 607.2K
$30.79Rp 552.3K
9.94%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.3Rp 1.5M
$58.6Rp 1.1M
40.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3Rp 1.6M
$64.3Rp 1.2M
40.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jakarta
Bandung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$381Rp 6.8M
$235Rp 4.2M
61.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$236Rp 4.2M
$152Rp 2.7M
55.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,152Rp 20.7M
$464Rp 8.3M
148.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$660Rp 11.8M
$247Rp 4.4M
166.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,958Rp 53.1M
$705Rp 12.6M
319.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,431Rp 25.7M
$305Rp 5.5M
369.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jakarta
Bandung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$421Rp 7.6M
$277Rp 5.0M
52.18%
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: July 13, 2026
Last update for Bandung: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $381 in Jakarta and $235 in Bandung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Jakarta pays 52% 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 $9.00 in Bandung. Groceries flip the comparison at $214 vs $214, with Jakarta cheaper for home cooking.
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 Bandung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jakarta or Bandung?
Bandung wins on cost – living expenses run 34% lower than in Jakarta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bandung the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Jakarta or in Bandung?
Average pay runs 52% higher in Jakarta, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Jakarta compared to Bandung?
Rent for a central apartment: $381 in Jakarta versus $235 in Bandung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Jakarta or in Bandung?
Supermarket bills run roughly 0% higher in Jakarta. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Jakarta and in Bandung?
Dining out is cheaper in Bandung – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $18.00 in Jakarta. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Jakarta or in Bandung?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Bandung gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Jakarta or Bandung?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bandung delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $626 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bandung hard to pass up.
How safe is Jakarta compared to Bandung?
Safety-wise, Jakarta and Bandung are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bandung gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Jakarta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.