Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Makassar Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Makassar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $825 per month in Jakarta vs $662 in Makassar, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,356 per month in Jakarta vs $1,005 in Makassar, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,888 per month in Jakarta vs $1,347 in Makassar, rent included.

Jakarta costs about 25% more than Makassar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Jakarta and Makassar are more affordable than the global median – Jakarta 38% lower, Makassar 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.99 Rp 53.4K
$3.13 Rp 55.9K
-4.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.68 Rp 333.6K
$9.45 Rp 168.8K
97.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.64 Rp 64.9K
$2.98 Rp 53.2K
22.15%
Cappuccino
$2.17 Rp 38.8K
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
24.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52 Rp 9,263
$0.71 Rp 12.7K
-26.76%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 Rp 4,627
$0.39 Rp 6,976
-33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.72 Rp 48.5K
$3.67 Rp 65.5K
-25.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.34 Rp 77.5K
$3.72 Rp 66.4K
16.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 Rp 24.7K
$1.63 Rp 29.1K
-15.34%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 Rp 20.6K
$1.09 Rp 19.4K
6.42%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.98 Rp 17.5K
$0.64 Rp 11.5K
53.12%
Eggs
$1.81 Rp 32.4K
$1.44 Rp 25.8K
25.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.57 Rp 117.3K
$5.49 Rp 98.0K
19.67%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.23 Rp 57.6K
$2.77 Rp 49.5K
16.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.78 Rp 139.0K
$4.36 Rp 77.8K
78.44%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 Rp 50.5K
$2.29 Rp 40.9K
23.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 28.0K
$1.64 Rp 29.3K
-4.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.19 Rp 39.2K
$1.85 Rp 33.0K
18.38%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 Rp 26.7K
$1.57 Rp 28.0K
-5.10%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 Rp 32.0K
$1.26 Rp 22.5K
42.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.62 Rp 46.8K
$1.56 Rp 27.9K
67.95%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 18.4K
$0.41 Rp 7,381
151.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,209
$0.47 Rp 8,440
-2.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.09 Rp 55.2K
$2.56 Rp 45.8K
20.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.09 Rp 376.6K
$22.53 Rp 402.4K
-6.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 Rp 39.5K
$2.10 Rp 37.4K
5.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 Rp 55.9K
$2.48 Rp 44.3K
26.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.23 Rp 4,122
$0.32 Rp 5,720
-28.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.12 Rp 216.4K
$4.51 Rp 80.5K
168.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.58 Rp 10.3K
$0.56 Rp 10.0K
3.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.34 Rp 6,146
$0.29 Rp 5,115
17.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.05 Rp 54.5K
$3.03 Rp 54.1K
0.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.3K
$0.78 Rp 13.9K
2.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.3K Rp 558.7M
$16.8K Rp 299.6M
86.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.6K Rp 582.9M
$18.7K Rp 334.7M
74.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.4 Rp 1.6M
$66.5 Rp 1.2M
34.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.44 Rp 115.0K
$3.50 Rp 62.5K
84.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.04 Rp 482.9K
$32.44 Rp 579.2K
-16.65%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.82 Rp 532.6K
$23.28 Rp 415.8K
28.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.45 Rp 222.3K
$6.03 Rp 107.6K
106.47%
Cinema Ticket
$3.05 Rp 54.5K
$3.16 Rp 56.4K
-3.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$167 Rp 3.0M
$106 Rp 1.9M
57.01%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,722 Rp 173.6M
$4,097 Rp 73.2M
137.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.1 Rp 1.0M
$30.05 Rp 536.6K
89.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.94 Rp 588.2K
$25.17 Rp 449.4K
30.87%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.9 Rp 1.5M
$81.8 Rp 1.5M
2.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$88.0 Rp 1.6M
$43.93 Rp 784.5K
100.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$385 Rp 6.9M
$212 Rp 3.8M
81.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$238 Rp 4.3M
$168 Rp 3.0M
41.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,152 Rp 20.6M
$438 Rp 7.8M
162.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$646 Rp 11.5M
$333 Rp 5.9M
94.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,787 Rp 49.8M
$1,167 Rp 20.8M
138.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,422 Rp 25.4M
$737 Rp 13.2M
92.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$453 Rp 8.1M
$218 Rp 3.9M
107.85%
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: June 2, 2026

Last update for Makassar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $385 in Jakarta versus $212 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 108% 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 $19.00 in Jakarta versus $9.00 in Makassar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $190 – 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 25% 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 vs Makassar?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,237 per month in Jakarta and $993 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 Makassar?
Kindergarten costs $167 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 Makassar?
Groceries cost about 13% 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 Makassar?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $825 in Jakarta and $662 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 $662 versus $825 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 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.

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