😐A single person spends $840 per month in Jakarta vs $671 in Pontianak, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,379 per month in Jakarta vs $1,030 in Pontianak, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,918 per month in Jakarta vs $1,390 in Pontianak, rent included.
😐Jakarta costs about 25% more than Pontianak, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Jakarta and Pontianak are more affordable than the global median – Jakarta37% lower, Pontianak50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.01Rp 54.0K
$1.44Rp 25.8K
109.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.06Rp 324.0K
$12.43Rp 222.9K
45.29%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.48Rp 62.4K
$3.28Rp 58.9K
6.10%
Cappuccino
$2.07Rp 37.2K
$1.71Rp 30.7K
21.05%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,952
$0.52Rp 9,269
5.77%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,055
$0.28Rp 5,037
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.81Rp 50.4K
$3.02Rp 54.2K
-6.95%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.40Rp 78.8K
$2.43Rp 43.6K
81.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39Rp 24.9K
$1.17Rp 21.0K
18.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.12Rp 20.1K
$1.12Rp 20.1K
-
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95Rp 17.1K
$0.95Rp 17.1K
-
Eggs
$1.88Rp 33.7K
$1.53Rp 27.5K
22.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.65Rp 119.2K
$8.25Rp 147.9K
-19.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.21Rp 57.6K
$3.14Rp 56.4K
2.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.73Rp 138.7K
$8.07Rp 144.8K
-4.21%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86Rp 51.3K
$2.40Rp 43.0K
19.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61Rp 28.9K
$1.48Rp 26.6K
8.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19Rp 39.3K
$1.86Rp 33.4K
17.74%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.8K
$1.57Rp 28.1K
-1.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.79Rp 32.1K
$1.38Rp 24.7K
29.71%
Onion(1kg)
$2.64Rp 47.4K
$1.97Rp 35.4K
34.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 19.0K
$0.90Rp 16.1K
17.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,580
$0.45Rp 8,009
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.03Rp 54.4K
$1.79Rp 32.1K
69.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.63Rp 387.9K
$20.42Rp 366.2K
5.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.29Rp 41.0K
$2.12Rp 38.0K
8.02%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11Rp 55.9K
$3.13Rp 56.2K
-0.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23Rp 4,129
$0.32Rp 5,789
-28.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.17Rp 218.3K
$9.92Rp 177.8K
22.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54Rp 9,604
$0.57Rp 10.3K
-5.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,233
$0.34Rp 6,161
2.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.10Rp 55.6K
$2.89Rp 51.8K
7.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.75Rp 13.5K
$0.85Rp 15.2K
-11.76%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KRp 541.9M
$24.7KRp 442.4M
22.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6KRp 603.3M
$27.3KRp 488.9M
23.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$92.1Rp 1.7M
$68.7Rp 1.2M
34.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.58Rp 118.0K
$4.28Rp 76.7K
53.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.36Rp 490.7K
$22.72Rp 407.5K
20.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.49Rp 546.9K
$23.19Rp 415.9K
31.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.62Rp 226.4K
$6.30Rp 112.9K
100.32%
Cinema Ticket
$3.03Rp 54.3K
$3.11Rp 55.8K
-2.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$168Rp 3.0M
$93.7Rp 1.7M
79.16%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,845Rp 176.6M
$7,587Rp 136.1M
29.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.0Rp 1.0M
$41.20Rp 738.9K
38.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.39Rp 598.9K
$30.11Rp 540.1K
10.89%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.7Rp 1.5M
$66.6Rp 1.2M
25.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.0Rp 1.6M
$73.7Rp 1.3M
22.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$386Rp 6.9M
$257Rp 4.6M
50.13%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$232Rp 4.2M
$159Rp 2.8M
46.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,190Rp 21.3M
$595Rp 10.7M
99.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653Rp 11.7M
$334Rp 6.0M
95.25%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,935Rp 52.6M
$1,214Rp 21.8M
141.83%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,458Rp 26.1M
$784Rp 14.1M
85.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$436Rp 7.8M
$333Rp 6.0M
31.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.59
9.15
4.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jakarta: July 19, 2026
Last update for Pontianak: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $386 in Jakarta versus $257 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 31% 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 $12.00 in Pontianak. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $208 – 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 25% more than Pontianak, 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 Pontianak?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,260 per month in Jakarta and $1,006 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 childcare costs compare in Jakarta and in Pontianak?
Kindergarten costs $168 per month in Jakarta and $93.7 in Pontianak. 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 Pontianak?
Groceries cost about 4% 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 $840 in Jakarta and $671 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 $671 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 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.