Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and BinjaiCost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Binjai
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $818 in Jakarta versus $674 in Binjai.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,343 in Jakarta versus $1,018 in Binjai.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,869 in Jakarta versus $1,363 in Binjai.
😐Living in Jakarta is roughly 21% more expensive than Binjai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Jakarta39% lower, Binjai50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jakarta
Binjai
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.13Rp 56.0K
$1.53Rp 27.3K
104.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.46Rp 330.8K
$12.52Rp 224.3K
47.44%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.64Rp 65.1K
$3.39Rp 60.8K
7.37%
Cappuccino
$2.10Rp 37.6K
$1.67Rp 30.0K
25.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57Rp 10.2K
$0.55Rp 9,916
3.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,600
$0.28Rp 5,036
-7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71Rp 48.5K
$2.51Rp 45.0K
7.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39Rp 78.6K
$3.51Rp 62.9K
25.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jakarta
Binjai
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33Rp 23.8K
$1.23Rp 22.1K
8.13%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16Rp 20.7K
$1.13Rp 20.3K
2.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03Rp 18.4K
$0.89Rp 16.0K
15.73%
Eggs
$1.80Rp 32.3K
$1.51Rp 27.1K
19.21%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.51Rp 116.7K
$8.34Rp 149.5K
-21.94%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.23Rp 57.9K
$3.25Rp 58.3K
-0.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60Rp 136.1K
$7.93Rp 142.1K
-4.16%
Apples(1kg)
$2.85Rp 51.1K
$2.37Rp 42.4K
20.25%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$1.46Rp 26.1K
11.64%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.5K
$1.89Rp 33.9K
16.40%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 28.1K
$1.51Rp 27.0K
3.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75Rp 31.3K
$1.32Rp 23.7K
32.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.56Rp 45.8K
$1.88Rp 33.7K
36.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07Rp 19.1K
$0.91Rp 16.2K
17.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,212
$0.41Rp 7,380
12.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07Rp 55.0K
$2.52Rp 45.2K
21.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.00Rp 376.3K
$20.24Rp 362.6K
3.75%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21Rp 39.5K
$2.08Rp 37.3K
6.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11Rp 55.7K
$3.06Rp 54.8K
1.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Jakarta
Binjai
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21Rp 3,754
$0.29Rp 5,278
-27.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.06Rp 216.0K
$9.98Rp 178.8K
20.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,496
$0.56Rp 10.1K
-5.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,729
$0.35Rp 6,252
8.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.14Rp 56.3K
$2.97Rp 53.1K
5.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77Rp 13.7K
$0.83Rp 14.9K
-7.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6KRp 548.8M
$24.4KRp 437.2M
25.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3KRp 596.1M
$27.8KRp 497.3M
19.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jakarta
Binjai
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.1Rp 1.6M
$68.6Rp 1.2M
31.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.55Rp 117.4K
$4.32Rp 77.4K
51.62%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54Rp 493.4K
$22.56Rp 404.3K
22.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jakarta
Binjai
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.46Rp 545.8K
$22.96Rp 411.4K
32.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.41Rp 222.3K
$6.13Rp 109.9K
102.45%
Cinema Ticket
$3.02Rp 54.0K
$3.13Rp 56.1K
-3.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jakarta
Binjai
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$171Rp 3.1M
$95.2Rp 1.7M
79.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,571Rp 171.5M
$7,473Rp 133.9M
28.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jakarta
Binjai
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.4Rp 1.0M
$40.89Rp 732.6K
40.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.58Rp 601.7K
$30.93Rp 554.2K
8.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.2Rp 1.5M
$66.8Rp 1.2M
25.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.7Rp 1.6M
$72.7Rp 1.3M
24.68%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jakarta
Binjai
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$380Rp 6.8M
$258Rp 4.6M
47.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235Rp 4.2M
$160Rp 2.9M
47.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,184Rp 21.2M
$577Rp 10.3M
105.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$647Rp 11.6M
$339Rp 6.1M
90.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,872Rp 51.5M
$1,189Rp 21.3M
141.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,400Rp 25.1M
$611Rp 10.9M
129.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jakarta
Binjai
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$448Rp 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 Binjai: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $380 in Jakarta and $258 in Binjai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $18.00 in Jakarta vs $13.00 in Binjai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $207 per month, with Binjai 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 Binjai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Binjai cheaper than Jakarta?
Binjai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,227 in Jakarta and $1,011 in Binjai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Jakarta and Binjai?
Rent for a central apartment: $380 in Jakarta versus $258 in Binjai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Jakarta vs Binjai?
All in, you'll spend $818 per month in Jakarta versus $674 in Binjai – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Binjai runs roughly 21% less than in Jakarta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Jakarta or Binjai?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Binjai gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is Jakarta or Binjai more family-friendly?
For families, Binjai 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Binjai 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.