Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Malang Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Malang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $799 per month in Jakarta vs $473 in Malang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,304 per month in Jakarta vs $725 in Malang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,809 per month in Jakarta vs $976 in Malang, rent included.

Jakarta costs about 69% more than Malang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jakarta and Malang are more affordable than the global median – Jakarta 42% lower, Malang 66% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.61 Rp 46.2K

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

135.14%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.12 Rp 302.7K

$11.13 Rp 196.8K

53.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.46 Rp 61.2K

$2.76 Rp 48.8K

25.36%

Cappuccino

$1.96 Rp 34.7K

$1.31 Rp 23.2K

49.62%

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

$0.42 Rp 7,433

$0.57 Rp 10.1K

-26.32%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 Rp 4,780

$0.22 Rp 3,872

22.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.63 Rp 46.5K

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

18.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 Rp 69.4K

$4.33 Rp 76.6K

-9.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 Rp 25.1K

$0.94 Rp 16.6K

51.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 Rp 19.5K

$1.15 Rp 20.3K

-4.35%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 Rp 16.3K

$0.84 Rp 14.9K

9.52%

Eggs

$1.80 Rp 31.9K

$1.19 Rp 21.1K

51.26%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.72 Rp 171.9K

$6.02 Rp 106.4K

61.46%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.01 Rp 53.3K

$3.04 Rp 53.7K

-0.99%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.78 Rp 137.5K

$7.01 Rp 124.0K

10.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.92 Rp 51.7K

$2.02 Rp 35.8K

44.55%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 Rp 23.6K

$1.28 Rp 22.7K

3.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 Rp 47.0K

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

64.20%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 Rp 24.1K

$1.43 Rp 25.3K

-4.90%

Potato (1kg)

$1.41 Rp 24.9K

$1.32 Rp 23.4K

6.82%

Onion (1kg)

$2.10 Rp 37.1K

$1.94 Rp 34.2K

8.25%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 Rp 17.4K

$0.48 Rp 8,484

106.25%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 Rp 8,518

$0.44 Rp 7,703

9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.88 Rp 51.0K

$2.78 Rp 49.2K

3.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.58 Rp 381.6K

$12.51 Rp 221.2K

72.50%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.15 Rp 38.1K

$1.76 Rp 31.2K

22.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.05 Rp 53.9K

$3.03 Rp 53.6K

0.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,762

$0.64 Rp 11.3K

-57.81%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.93 Rp 211.0K

$5.59 Rp 98.8K

113.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,642

$0.47 Rp 8,303

4.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 Rp 6,271

$0.41 Rp 7,319

-14.63%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.42 Rp 60.5K

$5.79 Rp 102.3K

-40.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.67 Rp 11.9K

16.42%

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

$27.9K Rp 494.0M

$25.3K Rp 446.6M

10.60%

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

$34.1K Rp 602.2M

$27.6K Rp 487.6M

23.49%

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

$110 Rp 1.9M

$31.57 Rp 558.2K

247.29%

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

$5.82 Rp 103.0K

$2.44 Rp 43.1K

138.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.33 Rp 341.9K

$19.81 Rp 350.3K

-2.42%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.69 Rp 472.0K

$14.75 Rp 260.8K

80.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.24 Rp 251.8K

$4.68 Rp 82.8K

204.27%

Cinema Ticket

$3.29 Rp 58.3K

$1.96 Rp 34.7K

67.86%

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

$156 Rp 2.8M

$31.63 Rp 559.3K

392.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,348 Rp 147.6M

$9,547 Rp 168.8M

-12.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.2 Rp 1.1M

$56.7 Rp 1.0M

6.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.59 Rp 540.9K

$22.28 Rp 394.1K

37.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.8 Rp 1.3M

$52.8 Rp 933.4K

39.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 Rp 1.9M

$36.82 Rp 651.2K

189.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$364 Rp 6.4M

$142 Rp 2.5M

156.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$199 Rp 3.5M

$91.8 Rp 1.6M

116.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,178 Rp 20.8M

$201 Rp 3.5M

487.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$577 Rp 10.2M

$153 Rp 2.7M

277.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,054 Rp 54.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,485 Rp 26.3M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$454 Rp 8.0M

$206 Rp 3.6M

119.93%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.46

136.50%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Jakarta: August 29, 2026

Last update for Malang: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $364 in Jakarta versus $142 in Malang. 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 120% 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 $17.00 in Jakarta versus $11.00 in Malang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $170 – making Malang 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 Malang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jakarta costs about 69% more than Malang, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,198 per month in Jakarta and $710 in Malang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $156 per month in Jakarta and $31.63 in Malang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 31% more in Jakarta, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $799 in Jakarta and $473 in Malang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Malang costs $473 versus $799 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 Malang. 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.