😐A single person spends $807 per month in Jakarta vs $627 in Pontianak, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,308 per month in Jakarta vs $986 in Pontianak, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,810 per month in Jakarta vs $1,346 in Pontianak, rent included.
😐Jakarta costs about 29% more than Pontianak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Jakarta and Pontianak are more affordable than the global median – Jakarta41% lower, Pontianak55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.62Rp 46.1K
$1.68Rp 29.5K
55.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.36Rp 270.5K
$14.10Rp 248.2K
8.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.31Rp 58.3K
$3.31Rp 58.4K
-
Cappuccino
$2.00Rp 35.2K
$1.15Rp 20.3K
73.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,567
$0.51Rp 9,010
-15.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24Rp 4,202
$0.25Rp 4,406
-4.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.76Rp 48.6K
$3.15Rp 55.4K
-12.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.08Rp 71.8K
$2.91Rp 51.3K
40.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.40Rp 24.6K
$1.18Rp 20.8K
18.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10Rp 19.3K
$1.06Rp 18.7K
3.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.89Rp 15.7K
$0.86Rp 15.2K
3.49%
Eggs
$1.75Rp 30.9K
$1.43Rp 25.1K
22.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.64Rp 169.8K
$7.94Rp 139.7K
21.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.03Rp 53.4K
$2.74Rp 48.3K
10.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.92Rp 139.5K
$6.61Rp 116.4K
19.82%
Apples(1kg)
$2.98Rp 52.5K
$2.21Rp 39.0K
34.84%
Banana(1kg)
$1.36Rp 23.9K
$1.32Rp 23.2K
3.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.67Rp 47.1K
$1.70Rp 30.0K
57.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36Rp 24.0K
$1.17Rp 20.6K
16.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.41Rp 24.9K
$1.24Rp 21.9K
13.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.11Rp 37.2K
$2.10Rp 36.9K
0.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97Rp 17.0K
$0.85Rp 15.0K
14.12%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,102
$0.41Rp 7,241
26.83%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.94Rp 51.8K
$2.84Rp 50.0K
3.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.38Rp 376.4K
$20.36Rp 358.4K
5.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.17Rp 38.2K
$1.93Rp 33.9K
12.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10Rp 54.6K
$2.93Rp 51.6K
5.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,742
$0.29Rp 5,174
-6.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.99Rp 211.0K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,287
$0.46Rp 8,103
15.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,208
$0.32Rp 5,605
9.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.29Rp 58.0K
$2.94Rp 51.7K
11.90%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.7K
$0.77Rp 13.6K
1.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7KRp 488.2M
$20.3KRp 357.6M
36.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6KRp 591.0M
$30.0KRp 527.7M
12.00%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$107Rp 1.9M
$67.7Rp 1.2M
57.48%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.09Rp 107.2K
$5.67Rp 99.9K
7.41%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.62Rp 345.5K
$22.67Rp 399.1K
-13.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.95Rp 474.4K
$20.51Rp 361.2K
31.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$14.22Rp 250.4K
$8.37Rp 147.4K
69.89%
Cinema Ticket
$3.48Rp 61.2K
$2.76Rp 48.5K
26.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$152Rp 2.7M
$97.7Rp 1.7M
55.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,459Rp 148.9M
$6,709Rp 118.1M
26.09%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.2Rp 1.1M
$43.49Rp 765.7K
38.47%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.04Rp 511.3K
$29.60Rp 521.1K
-1.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.0Rp 1.3M
$79.4Rp 1.4M
-8.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$106Rp 1.9M
$76.3Rp 1.3M
38.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$363Rp 6.4M
$237Rp 4.2M
53.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$200Rp 3.5M
$158Rp 2.8M
26.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,147Rp 20.2M
$542Rp 9.5M
111.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$575Rp 10.1M
$369Rp 6.5M
55.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,077Rp 54.2M
$1,189Rp 20.9M
158.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,439Rp 25.3M
$719Rp 12.7M
100.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$454Rp 8.0M
$274Rp 4.8M
65.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
10
-5.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jakarta: September 5, 2026
Last update for Pontianak: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $363 in Jakarta versus $237 in Pontianak. 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 66% 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 $15.00 in Jakarta versus $14.00 in Pontianak. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $222 vs $193 – making Pontianak 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 Pontianak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jakarta or Pontianak?
Jakarta costs about 29% more than Pontianak, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Pontianak?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,211 per month in Jakarta and $940 in Pontianak. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Jakarta or Pontianak?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Pontianak, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Jakarta and in Pontianak?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Jakarta and $14.00 in Pontianak. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Jakarta or in Pontianak?
Groceries cost about 15% 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 $1,000/month in Jakarta or in Pontianak?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $807 in Jakarta and $627 in Pontianak, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Jakarta or Pontianak?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Pontianak costs $627 versus $807 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 Pontianak?
If budget matters most, go with Pontianak. 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.