😐A single person spends $840 per month in Jakarta vs $665 in Makassar, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,379 per month in Jakarta vs $1,003 in Makassar, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,919 per month in Jakarta vs $1,341 in Makassar, rent included.
😐Jakarta costs about 26% more than Makassar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Jakarta and Makassar are more affordable than the global median – Jakarta37% lower, Makassar50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.11Rp 55.9K
$3.03Rp 54.3K
2.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.11Rp 324.8K
$9.36Rp 167.9K
93.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.46Rp 62.1K
$3.00Rp 53.9K
15.33%
Cappuccino
$2.10Rp 37.7K
$1.80Rp 32.4K
16.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,890
$0.65Rp 11.7K
-15.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,077
$0.40Rp 7,137
-30.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.82Rp 50.7K
$3.61Rp 64.7K
-21.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21Rp 75.5K
$3.63Rp 65.1K
15.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.34Rp 24.1K
$1.63Rp 29.3K
-17.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16Rp 20.8K
$1.08Rp 19.4K
7.41%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95Rp 17.0K
$0.64Rp 11.4K
48.44%
Eggs
$1.80Rp 32.3K
$1.43Rp 25.7K
25.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.49Rp 116.4K
$5.37Rp 96.4K
20.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.23Rp 58.0K
$2.83Rp 50.8K
14.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.55Rp 135.4K
$4.26Rp 76.4K
77.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.93Rp 52.5K
$2.23Rp 40.1K
31.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 28.8K
$1.59Rp 28.5K
1.26%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27Rp 40.8K
$1.83Rp 32.7K
24.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56Rp 28.0K
$1.57Rp 28.1K
-0.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79Rp 32.1K
$1.25Rp 22.5K
43.20%
Onion(1kg)
$2.61Rp 46.9K
$1.56Rp 28.0K
67.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.0K
$0.45Rp 7,996
135.56%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,269
$0.47Rp 8,467
-2.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99Rp 53.7K
$2.52Rp 45.2K
18.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.56Rp 368.8K
$22.33Rp 400.6K
-7.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21Rp 39.7K
$2.02Rp 36.2K
9.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24Rp 58.2K
$2.43Rp 43.5K
33.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21Rp 3,754
$0.30Rp 5,294
-30.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.21Rp 219.0K
$4.56Rp 81.9K
167.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54Rp 9,605
$0.56Rp 10.1K
-3.57%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,669
$0.29Rp 5,126
27.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.12Rp 55.9K
$3.13Rp 56.1K
-0.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.4K
$0.78Rp 14.0K
2.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KRp 541.7M
$16.7KRp 299.7M
80.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7KRp 586.9M
$18.4KRp 330.9M
77.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.4Rp 1.6M
$66.8Rp 1.2M
33.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.51Rp 116.7K
$3.59Rp 64.4K
81.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.21Rp 488.0K
$32.49Rp 582.8K
-16.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.97Rp 537.6K
$23.23Rp 416.7K
29.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.61Rp 226.3K
$6.09Rp 109.3K
107.06%
Cinema Ticket
$3.10Rp 55.6K
$3.15Rp 56.5K
-1.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$166Rp 3.0M
$106Rp 1.9M
56.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,566Rp 171.6M
$4,103Rp 73.6M
133.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.5Rp 1.0M
$29.14Rp 522.7K
97.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.85Rp 607.2K
$25.17Rp 451.6K
34.49%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.3Rp 1.5M
$83.2Rp 1.5M
-1.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3Rp 1.6M
$43.19Rp 774.8K
109.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$381Rp 6.8M
$214Rp 3.8M
77.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$236Rp 4.2M
$168Rp 3.0M
40.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,152Rp 20.7M
$425Rp 7.6M
170.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$660Rp 11.8M
$338Rp 6.1M
95.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,958Rp 53.1M
$1,355Rp 24.3M
118.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,431Rp 25.7M
$545Rp 9.8M
162.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$421Rp 7.6M
$209Rp 3.7M
101.80%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.59
6
59.83%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jakarta: July 13, 2026
Last update for Makassar: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $381 in Jakarta versus $214 in Makassar. 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 102% 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 Makassar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $188 – making Makassar 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 Makassar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jakarta or Makassar?
Jakarta costs about 26% more than Makassar, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Jakarta and in Makassar?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,260 per month in Jakarta and $997 in Makassar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Jakarta or Makassar?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Makassar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Jakarta and in Makassar?
Kindergarten costs $166 per month in Jakarta and $106 in Makassar. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Jakarta or in Makassar?
Groceries cost about 14% more in Jakarta, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Jakarta or in Makassar?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $840 in Jakarta and $665 in Makassar, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Jakarta or Makassar?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Makassar costs $665 versus $840 in Jakarta. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Jakarta or to Makassar?
If budget matters most, go with Makassar. 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.