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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Jakarta 37% lower, Makassar 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.11 Rp 55.9K
$3.03 Rp 54.3K
2.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.11 Rp 324.8K
$9.36 Rp 167.9K
93.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.46 Rp 62.1K
$3.00 Rp 53.9K
15.33%
Cappuccino
$2.10 Rp 37.7K
$1.80 Rp 32.4K
16.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,890
$0.65 Rp 11.7K
-15.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 Rp 5,077
$0.40 Rp 7,137
-30.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.82 Rp 50.7K
$3.61 Rp 64.7K
-21.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21 Rp 75.5K
$3.63 Rp 65.1K
15.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.34 Rp 24.1K
$1.63 Rp 29.3K
-17.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.16 Rp 20.8K
$1.08 Rp 19.4K
7.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.95 Rp 17.0K
$0.64 Rp 11.4K
48.44%
Eggs
$1.80 Rp 32.3K
$1.43 Rp 25.7K
25.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.49 Rp 116.4K
$5.37 Rp 96.4K
20.86%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.23 Rp 58.0K
$2.83 Rp 50.8K
14.13%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.55 Rp 135.4K
$4.26 Rp 76.4K
77.23%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 Rp 52.5K
$2.23 Rp 40.1K
31.39%
Banana (1kg)
$1.61 Rp 28.8K
$1.59 Rp 28.5K
1.26%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.27 Rp 40.8K
$1.83 Rp 32.7K
24.04%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 28.0K
$1.57 Rp 28.1K
-0.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.79 Rp 32.1K
$1.25 Rp 22.5K
43.20%
Onion (1kg)
$2.61 Rp 46.9K
$1.56 Rp 28.0K
67.31%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.06 Rp 19.0K
$0.45 Rp 7,996
135.56%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 8,269
$0.47 Rp 8,467
-2.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.99 Rp 53.7K
$2.52 Rp 45.2K
18.65%
Wine (Bottle)
$20.56 Rp 368.8K
$22.33 Rp 400.6K
-7.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21 Rp 39.7K
$2.02 Rp 36.2K
9.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24 Rp 58.2K
$2.43 Rp 43.5K
33.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.21 Rp 3,754
$0.30 Rp 5,294
-30.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.21 Rp 219.0K
$4.56 Rp 81.9K
167.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.54 Rp 9,605
$0.56 Rp 10.1K
-3.57%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 Rp 6,669
$0.29 Rp 5,126
27.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.12 Rp 55.9K
$3.13 Rp 56.1K
-0.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.4K
$0.78 Rp 14.0K
2.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2K Rp 541.7M
$16.7K Rp 299.7M
80.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K Rp 586.9M
$18.4K Rp 330.9M
77.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.4 Rp 1.6M
$66.8 Rp 1.2M
33.82%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.51 Rp 116.7K
$3.59 Rp 64.4K
81.34%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.21 Rp 488.0K
$32.49 Rp 582.8K
-16.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$29.97 Rp 537.6K
$23.23 Rp 416.7K
29.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.61 Rp 226.3K
$6.09 Rp 109.3K
107.06%
Cinema Ticket
$3.10 Rp 55.6K
$3.15 Rp 56.5K
-1.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$166 Rp 3.0M
$106 Rp 1.9M
56.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,566 Rp 171.6M
$4,103 Rp 73.6M
133.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.5 Rp 1.0M
$29.14 Rp 522.7K
97.25%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.85 Rp 607.2K
$25.17 Rp 451.6K
34.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.3 Rp 1.5M
$83.2 Rp 1.5M
-1.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.3 Rp 1.6M
$43.19 Rp 774.8K
109.01%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$381 Rp 6.8M
$214 Rp 3.8M
77.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$236 Rp 4.2M
$168 Rp 3.0M
40.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,152 Rp 20.7M
$425 Rp 7.6M
170.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$660 Rp 11.8M
$338 Rp 6.1M
95.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,958 Rp 53.1M
$1,355 Rp 24.3M
118.39%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,431 Rp 25.7M
$545 Rp 9.8M
162.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jakarta
Makassar
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$421 Rp 7.6M
$209 Rp 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.

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