Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Binjai Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Binjai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $849 in Jakarta versus $656 in Binjai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,389 in Jakarta versus $1,018 in Binjai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,929 in Jakarta versus $1,380 in Binjai.

Living in Jakarta is roughly 29% more expensive than Binjai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jakarta 37% lower, Binjai 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 Rp 52.3K

$1.57 Rp 27.2K

92.36%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.34 Rp 317.8K

$12.22 Rp 211.8K

50.08%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.51 Rp 60.8K

$3.47 Rp 60.1K

1.15%

Cappuccino

$2.14 Rp 37.2K

$1.67 Rp 28.9K

28.14%

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

$0.52 Rp 8,949

$0.52 Rp 8,991

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 4,873

$0.26 Rp 4,492

7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 Rp 47.2K

$2.51 Rp 43.6K

8.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 Rp 73.8K

$3.56 Rp 61.6K

19.66%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 Rp 24.2K

$1.22 Rp 21.2K

13.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 Rp 20.1K

$1.13 Rp 19.6K

2.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 Rp 17.8K

$0.88 Rp 15.2K

17.05%

Eggs

$1.87 Rp 32.4K

$1.53 Rp 26.4K

22.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 Rp 109.0K

$8.10 Rp 140.5K

-22.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 Rp 54.1K

$3.14 Rp 54.4K

-0.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.86 Rp 136.2K

$8.11 Rp 140.5K

-3.08%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 Rp 49.5K

$2.36 Rp 40.9K

21.19%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 26.9K

$1.45 Rp 25.1K

6.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 38.0K

$1.82 Rp 31.5K

20.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 Rp 25.8K

$1.56 Rp 27.0K

-4.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 31.4K

$1.36 Rp 23.6K

33.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.63 Rp 45.6K

$1.94 Rp 33.6K

35.57%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.4K

$0.92 Rp 15.9K

15.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,277

$0.45 Rp 7,726

-6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 Rp 51.3K

$2.51 Rp 43.4K

17.93%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.32 Rp 386.9K

$20.98 Rp 363.6K

6.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 Rp 38.7K

$2.01 Rp 34.9K

10.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 Rp 53.0K

$3.08 Rp 53.3K

-0.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 Rp 3,624

$0.32 Rp 5,576

-34.38%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.42 Rp 215.3K

$9.64 Rp 167.1K

28.84%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.54 Rp 9,305

$0.57 Rp 9,952

-5.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 Rp 6,497

$0.34 Rp 5,942

8.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 Rp 54.5K

$2.95 Rp 51.2K

6.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.4K

$0.84 Rp 14.5K

-7.14%

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

$30.1K Rp 522.5M

$24.9K Rp 432.0M

20.94%

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

$32.4K Rp 561.6M

$27.7K Rp 480.8M

16.82%

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

$89.7 Rp 1.6M

$70.9 Rp 1.2M

26.52%

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

$6.56 Rp 113.8K

$4.37 Rp 75.7K

50.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.10 Rp 469.6K

$22.73 Rp 394.0K

19.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.54 Rp 529.3K

$22.86 Rp 396.3K

33.60%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.74 Rp 220.9K

$6.12 Rp 106.0K

108.17%

Cinema Ticket

$3.04 Rp 52.6K

$3.04 Rp 52.7K

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

$169 Rp 2.9M

$94.8 Rp 1.6M

78.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,651 Rp 167.3M

$7,443 Rp 129.0M

29.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 Rp 978.4K

$41.01 Rp 710.7K

37.65%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.55 Rp 581.5K

$30.78 Rp 533.4K

9.00%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 Rp 1.5M

$66.6 Rp 1.2M

26.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.3 Rp 1.5M

$73.3 Rp 1.3M

20.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$377 Rp 6.5M

$255 Rp 4.4M

47.95%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 Rp 4.1M

$158 Rp 2.7M

51.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,176 Rp 20.4M

$575 Rp 10.0M

104.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.4M

$329 Rp 5.7M

99.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,777 Rp 48.1M

$1,258 Rp 21.8M

120.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,418 Rp 24.6M

$858 Rp 14.9M

65.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$476 Rp 8.3M

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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Binjai: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $377 in Jakarta and $255 in Binjai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $18.00 in Jakarta vs $12.00 in Binjai for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $217 vs $208 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

Binjai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 29% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,274 in Jakarta and $985 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.

Rent for a central apartment: $377 in Jakarta versus $255 in Binjai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $849 per month in Jakarta versus $656 in Binjai – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Binjai runs roughly 29% less than in Jakarta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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.

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.

Expats usually find Binjai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Jakarta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.