Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Pontianak

For one person, living is cheaper in Pontianak: $480 a month against $772 in Jakarta, rent and utilities included – about $3,500 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Jakarta, Indonesia
Pontianak, Indonesia
Jakarta
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$772
/mo nomad
Pontianak
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$480
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Jakarta and in Pontianak

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Jakarta and in Pontianak actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $772 per month in Jakarta vs $480 in Pontianak, rent included.

  • Jakarta $772
  • Pontianak $480

A couple spends around $1,257 per month in Jakarta vs $596 in Pontianak, rent included.

  • Jakarta $1,257
  • Pontianak $596

A family of three spends $1,741 per month in Jakarta vs $712 in Pontianak, rent included.

  • Jakarta $1,741
  • Pontianak $712

Jakarta costs about 61% more than Pontianak, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Jakarta and Pontianak are more affordable than the global median – Jakarta 43% lower, Pontianak 65% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.71 Rp 49.2K
$1.70 Rp 30.8K
59.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.34 Rp 296.9K
$8.37 Rp 152.2K
95.22%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.24 Rp 58.9K
$2.84 Rp 51.6K
14.08%
Cappuccino
$2.02 Rp 36.7K
$1.22 Rp 22.1K
65.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,490
$0.48 Rp 8,791
-14.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 Rp 4,730
$0.23 Rp 4,183
13.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.49 Rp 45.3K
$2.77 Rp 50.3K
-10.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89 Rp 70.8K
$3.65 Rp 66.3K
6.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 Rp 25.1K
$1.08 Rp 19.6K
27.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.08 Rp 19.6K
$1.36 Rp 24.8K
-20.59%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.84 Rp 15.3K
$0.92 Rp 16.7K
-8.70%
Eggs
$1.76 Rp 32.1K
$1.42 Rp 25.8K
23.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.22 Rp 167.7K
-
-
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.95 Rp 53.7K
$3.39 Rp 61.6K
-12.98%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.34 Rp 133.5K
-
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.73 Rp 49.6K
$3.01 Rp 54.7K
-9.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.35 Rp 24.5K
$1.98 Rp 36.0K
-31.82%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.48 Rp 45.1K
$2.17 Rp 39.5K
14.29%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.38 Rp 25.1K
-
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 Rp 24.8K
-
-
Onion (1kg)
$2.04 Rp 37.0K
-
-
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 Rp 17.3K
-
-
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.50 Rp 9,049
$0.51 Rp 9,270
-1.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79 Rp 50.7K
$2.83 Rp 51.5K
-1.41%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.05 Rp 382.6K
$21.95 Rp 398.9K
-4.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 Rp 36.9K
$1.80 Rp 32.7K
12.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.97 Rp 54.0K
$2.09 Rp 38.0K
42.11%
🚌 Getting Around
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.16 Rp 2,948
$0.27 Rp 4,836
-40.74%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.69 Rp 212.5K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,972
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.32 Rp 5,797
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.28 Rp 59.7K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.7K
$0.70 Rp 12.8K
22.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.0K Rp 490.6M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K Rp 594.2M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$107 Rp 1.9M
$69.4 Rp 1.3M
54.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.99 Rp 108.8K
$5.48 Rp 99.7K
9.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.06 Rp 346.4K
$21.71 Rp 394.6K
-12.21%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.34 Rp 351.6K
$23.72 Rp 431.1K
-18.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.90 Rp 252.6K
$11.57 Rp 210.3K
20.14%
Cinema Ticket
$3.11 Rp 56.5K
$3.62 Rp 65.8K
-14.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$238 Rp 4.3M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,010 Rp 145.6M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.5 Rp 1.0M
$33.13 Rp 602.2K
73.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.82 Rp 505.7K
$33.40 Rp 607.0K
-16.71%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$70.5 Rp 1.3M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 Rp 1.9M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$355 Rp 6.4M
$167 Rp 3.0M
112.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$191 Rp 3.5M
$111 Rp 2.0M
71.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,123 Rp 20.4M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$544 Rp 9.9M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,742 Rp 49.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,506 Rp 27.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$441 Rp 8.0M
$265 Rp 4.8M
66.43%
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: October 25, 2026

Last update for Pontianak: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Jakarta
$214
Pontianak
–
Accommodation & Living
Jakarta
$191
Pontianak
–
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jakarta
$132
Pontianak
–
Clothing & Footwear
Jakarta
$116
Pontianak
–
Eating Out
Jakarta
$79
Pontianak
–
Sport & Entertainment
Jakarta
$26
Pontianak
–
Getting Around
Jakarta
$14
Pontianak
–

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $355 in Jakarta versus $167 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. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $16 in Jakarta versus $8 in Pontianak. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $150 – making Pontianak the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Jakarta
🇮🇩 Pontianak
🕒 Local time
05:12 5:12 AM
05:12 5:12 AM
Same time as Jakarta
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
11,337,563 Capital
672,440
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18,175 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD). 1 EUR = 20,233 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Jakarta Pontianak 740 km ≈ 1 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Jakarta
  • Pontianak

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 61% more than Pontianak, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. 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 $1,159 per month in Jakarta and $720 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $167 there versus $355 in Jakarta.
How much does it cost to live in Jakarta compared to Pontianak?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $772 in Jakarta and $480 in Pontianak. That makes Pontianak about 38% cheaper.
Are groceries more expensive in Jakarta or in Pontianak?
Groceries cost about 43% more in Jakarta, though the gap depends on what you buy.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Jakarta or in Pontianak?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $772 in Jakarta and $480 in Pontianak, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Jakarta or Pontianak?
It depends on your priorities. Jakarta has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $480 in Pontianak to $772 in Jakarta. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Should I move to Jakarta or to Pontianak?
If budget matters most, go with Pontianak. If higher salaries 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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