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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $825 per month in Jakarta vs $480 in Malang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,356 per month in Jakarta vs $755 in Malang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,888 per month in Jakarta vs $1,030 in Malang, rent included.

Jakarta costs about 72% more than Malang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jakarta and Malang are more affordable than the global median – Jakarta 38% lower, Malang 64% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.99 Rp 53.6K

$1.27 Rp 22.7K

135.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.68 Rp 334.9K

$12.35 Rp 221.4K

51.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.64 Rp 65.2K

$3.06 Rp 54.8K

18.95%

Cappuccino

$2.17 Rp 38.9K

$1.41 Rp 25.2K

53.90%

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

$0.52 Rp 9,298

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

-8.77%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,645

$0.22 Rp 3,937

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.72 Rp 48.7K

$2.40 Rp 43.1K

13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.34 Rp 77.8K

$3.10 Rp 55.5K

40.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$1.13 Rp 20.2K

22.12%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.52 Rp 27.2K

-23.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 Rp 17.5K

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

12.64%

Eggs

$1.81 Rp 32.5K

$1.45 Rp 26.0K

24.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.57 Rp 117.8K

$6.47 Rp 115.9K

1.55%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.23 Rp 57.8K

$3.18 Rp 56.9K

1.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.78 Rp 139.5K

$7.16 Rp 128.4K

8.66%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.7K

$2.33 Rp 41.7K

21.46%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

$1.51 Rp 27.0K

3.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 39.3K

$1.75 Rp 31.4K

25.14%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 Rp 26.8K

$1.45 Rp 25.9K

2.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 Rp 32.1K

$1.32 Rp 23.6K

35.61%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 Rp 47.0K

$1.77 Rp 31.8K

48.02%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.03 Rp 18.4K

$0.51 Rp 9,070

101.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 Rp 8,240

$0.41 Rp 7,329

12.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.09 Rp 55.4K

$2.47 Rp 44.3K

25.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.09 Rp 378.0K

$12.73 Rp 228.1K

65.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.21 Rp 39.7K

$1.83 Rp 32.8K

20.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 Rp 56.1K

$3.31 Rp 59.4K

-5.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 Rp 4,138

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

-62.90%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.12 Rp 217.2K

$6.23 Rp 111.7K

94.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 Rp 10.3K

$0.47 Rp 8,512

23.40%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 Rp 6,169

$0.31 Rp 5,635

9.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.05 Rp 54.7K

$6.26 Rp 112.3K

-51.28%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

$0.76 Rp 13.7K

5.26%

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

$31.3K Rp 560.8M

$20.6K Rp 368.8M

52.06%

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

$32.6K Rp 585.1M

$27.2K Rp 486.7M

20.22%

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

$89.4 Rp 1.6M

$33.63 Rp 602.9K

165.83%

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

$6.44 Rp 115.5K

$2.55 Rp 45.7K

152.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.04 Rp 484.7K

$19.60 Rp 351.4K

37.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$29.82 Rp 534.6K

$14.59 Rp 261.6K

104.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.45 Rp 223.2K

$4.90 Rp 87.9K

154.08%

Cinema Ticket

$3.05 Rp 54.7K

$2.17 Rp 38.9K

40.55%

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

$167 Rp 3.0M

$34.05 Rp 610.5K

390.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,722 Rp 174.3M

$9,339 Rp 167.4M

4.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.1 Rp 1.0M

$42.84 Rp 767.9K

33.17%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.94 Rp 590.4K

$30.31 Rp 543.3K

8.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.9 Rp 1.5M

$60.4 Rp 1.1M

38.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.0 Rp 1.6M

$82.3 Rp 1.5M

6.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$385 Rp 6.9M

$160 Rp 2.9M

140.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$238 Rp 4.3M

$50.0 Rp 896.8K

376.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,152 Rp 20.6M

$276 Rp 5.0M

317.05%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 Rp 11.6M

$91.2 Rp 1.6M

609.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,787 Rp 50.0M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,422 Rp 25.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$453 Rp 8.1M

$198 Rp 3.6M

128.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.59

139.75%

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

Last update for Jakarta: June 2, 2026

Last update for Malang: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $385 in Jakarta versus $160 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 129% 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 $12.00 in Malang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $183 – 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 72% 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 $1,237 per month in Jakarta and $721 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 $167 per month in Jakarta and $34.05 in Malang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 18% 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 $825 in Jakarta and $480 in Malang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Malang costs $480 versus $825 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.