Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Karawang Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Karawang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $818 per month in Jakarta vs $508 in Karawang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,343 per month in Jakarta vs $755 in Karawang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,869 per month in Jakarta vs $1,001 in Karawang, rent included.

Jakarta costs about 61% more than Karawang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Jakarta and Karawang are more affordable than the global median – Jakarta 39% lower, Karawang 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.13 Rp 56.0K

$1.27 Rp 22.8K

146.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.46 Rp 330.8K

$8.97 Rp 160.7K

105.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 Rp 65.1K

$3.36 Rp 60.3K

8.33%

Cappuccino

$2.10 Rp 37.6K

$1.45 Rp 26.0K

44.83%

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

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

$0.47 Rp 8,442

21.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,600

$0.24 Rp 4,314

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 Rp 48.5K

$3.47 Rp 62.2K

-21.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 Rp 78.6K

$3.46 Rp 62.0K

26.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 Rp 23.8K

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

9.92%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.06 Rp 19.0K

9.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 Rp 18.4K

$0.89 Rp 15.9K

15.73%

Eggs

$1.80 Rp 32.3K

$1.52 Rp 27.3K

18.42%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.51 Rp 116.7K

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

117.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.23 Rp 57.9K

$2.98 Rp 53.4K

8.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 Rp 136.1K

$7.65 Rp 137.0K

-0.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.85 Rp 51.1K

$1.96 Rp 35.2K

45.41%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 Rp 29.2K

$1.20 Rp 21.4K

35.83%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$1.39 Rp 25.0K

58.27%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

$0.53 Rp 9,546

196.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.75 Rp 31.3K

$1.03 Rp 18.5K

69.90%

Onion (1kg)

$2.56 Rp 45.8K

$1.66 Rp 29.7K

54.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.07 Rp 19.1K

$0.96 Rp 17.2K

11.46%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 Rp 8,212

$0.42 Rp 7,530

9.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.07 Rp 55.0K

$2.61 Rp 46.8K

17.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.00 Rp 376.3K

$21.71 Rp 388.9K

-3.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 Rp 39.5K

$2.10 Rp 37.5K

5.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.11 Rp 55.7K

$3.46 Rp 61.9K

-10.12%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 Rp 3,754

$0.71 Rp 12.6K

-70.42%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.06 Rp 216.0K

$10.08 Rp 180.6K

19.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.53 Rp 9,496

$0.71 Rp 12.8K

-25.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 Rp 6,729

$0.77 Rp 13.8K

-50.65%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 Rp 56.3K

$1.19 Rp 21.4K

163.87%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

$0.85 Rp 15.3K

-9.41%

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

$30.6K Rp 548.8M

$24.7K Rp 442.6M

23.99%

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

$33.3K Rp 596.1M

$25.8K Rp 462.5M

28.88%

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

$90.1 Rp 1.6M

$43.12 Rp 772.6K

109.04%

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

$6.55 Rp 117.4K

$4.55 Rp 81.5K

43.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.54 Rp 493.4K

$13.66 Rp 244.7K

101.61%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.46 Rp 545.8K

$22.04 Rp 394.9K

38.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.41 Rp 222.3K

$15.13 Rp 271.1K

-17.98%

Cinema Ticket

$3.02 Rp 54.0K

$3.00 Rp 53.8K

0.67%

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

$171 Rp 3.1M

$48.25 Rp 864.4K

254.24%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,571 Rp 171.5M

$7,474 Rp 133.9M

28.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.4 Rp 1.0M

$18.29 Rp 327.6K

213.56%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.58 Rp 601.7K

$30.36 Rp 543.9K

10.61%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.2 Rp 1.5M

$52.8 Rp 945.6K

59.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$90.7 Rp 1.6M

$54.4 Rp 974.5K

66.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$380 Rp 6.8M

$154 Rp 2.8M

147.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$235 Rp 4.2M

$77.6 Rp 1.4M

203.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,184 Rp 21.2M

$245 Rp 4.4M

383.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$647 Rp 11.6M

$123 Rp 2.2M

426.53%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,872 Rp 51.5M

$1,141 Rp 20.4M

151.62%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,400 Rp 25.1M

$643 Rp 11.5M

117.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$448 Rp 8.0M

$408 Rp 7.3M

9.81%

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 Karawang: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $380 in Jakarta versus $154 in Karawang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 10% higher in Jakarta, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $18.00 in Jakarta versus $9.00 in Karawang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $181 – making Karawang 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 Karawang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jakarta costs about 61% more than Karawang, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,227 per month in Jakarta and $763 in Karawang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karawang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $171 per month in Jakarta and $48.25 in Karawang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 19% more in Jakarta, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $818 in Jakarta and $508 in Karawang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Karawang costs $508 versus $818 in Jakarta. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Karawang. 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.