Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Batam Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Batam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $815 in Jakarta versus $616 in Batam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,325 in Jakarta versus $1,017 in Batam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,834 in Jakarta versus $1,418 in Batam.

Living in Jakarta is roughly 32% more expensive than in Batam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jakarta 40% lower, Batam 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.49 Rp 44.0K

$2.01 Rp 35.5K

23.88%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.86 Rp 280.9K

$8.68 Rp 153.7K

82.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.43 Rp 60.8K

$4.07 Rp 72.0K

-15.72%

Cappuccino

$2.06 Rp 36.5K

$2.14 Rp 38.0K

-3.74%

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

$0.42 Rp 7,520

$0.62 Rp 11.1K

-32.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,614

$0.31 Rp 5,506

-16.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.65 Rp 47.0K

$2.60 Rp 46.0K

1.92%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.89 Rp 68.9K

$3.72 Rp 65.9K

4.57%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.46 Rp 25.8K

$1.16 Rp 20.6K

25.86%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 Rp 20.4K

$1.09 Rp 19.3K

5.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 Rp 14.9K

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

7.69%

Eggs

$1.76 Rp 31.1K

$1.30 Rp 23.1K

35.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.81 Rp 173.8K

$7.71 Rp 136.5K

27.24%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.99 Rp 53.0K

$2.54 Rp 45.0K

17.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.67 Rp 135.7K

$4.61 Rp 81.6K

66.38%

Apples (1kg)

$2.87 Rp 50.8K

$2.19 Rp 38.7K

31.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.37 Rp 24.2K

$2.09 Rp 37.0K

-34.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.65 Rp 46.9K

$2.06 Rp 36.6K

28.64%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 Rp 24.3K

$1.06 Rp 18.8K

29.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.35 Rp 23.9K

$0.97 Rp 17.2K

39.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 Rp 37.2K

$1.99 Rp 35.3K

5.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 Rp 16.5K

$1.33 Rp 23.6K

-30.08%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 Rp 9,092

$0.45 Rp 8,033

13.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 Rp 50.4K

$2.76 Rp 48.8K

3.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.74 Rp 384.9K

$13.89 Rp 245.9K

56.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.12 Rp 37.5K

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

21.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 Rp 57.0K

$2.49 Rp 44.1K

29.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,206

$0.41 Rp 7,309

-29.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.72 Rp 207.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.53 Rp 9,420

$1.14 Rp 20.2K

-53.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.36 Rp 6,293

$0.60 Rp 10.6K

-40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.30 Rp 58.4K

$3.58 Rp 63.3K

-7.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.79 Rp 14.0K

-1.27%

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

$28.7K Rp 507.9M

$28.5K Rp 504.0M

0.77%

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

$33.4K Rp 590.9M

$24.7K Rp 438.2M

34.86%

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

$108 Rp 1.9M

$72.0 Rp 1.3M

49.84%

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

$6.07 Rp 107.5K

$4.16 Rp 73.6K

45.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.01 Rp 336.7K

$23.70 Rp 419.6K

-19.79%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.63 Rp 471.5K

$26.92 Rp 476.7K

-1.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$13.81 Rp 244.5K

$5.63 Rp 99.7K

145.29%

Cinema Ticket

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

$2.66 Rp 47.0K

29.32%

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

$155 Rp 2.7M

$83.4 Rp 1.5M

85.58%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,224 Rp 145.6M

$3,257 Rp 57.7M

152.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.1 Rp 1.1M

$32.47 Rp 574.9K

85.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.63 Rp 506.9K

$19.15 Rp 339.0K

49.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.3 Rp 1.3M

$67.0 Rp 1.2M

9.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$110 Rp 1.9M

$25.03 Rp 443.1K

338.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 Rp 6.4M

$274 Rp 4.8M

32.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$204 Rp 3.6M

$149 Rp 2.6M

36.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,179 Rp 20.9M

$823 Rp 14.6M

43.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$581 Rp 10.3M

$514 Rp 9.1M

13.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,009 Rp 53.3M

$556 Rp 9.8M

441.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,477 Rp 26.2M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$460 Rp 8.1M

$354 Rp 6.3M

29.81%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.46

13.17

-28.17%

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

Last update for Jakarta: September 12, 2026

Last update for Batam: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $363 in Jakarta and $274 in Batam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Jakarta pays 30% 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 $9.00 in Batam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $223 vs $177 per month, with Batam 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 Batam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Batam is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 32% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 30% 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 $274 in Batam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Jakarta. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $815 per month in Jakarta versus $616 in Batam – a 32% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Batam gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Batam is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Jakarta, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Batam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 32% less than in Jakarta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.