😐A single person spends $818 per month in Jakarta vs $662 in Pontianak, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,343 per month in Jakarta vs $1,032 in Pontianak, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,869 per month in Jakarta vs $1,403 in Pontianak, rent included.
😐Jakarta costs about 24% more than Pontianak, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Jakarta and Pontianak are more affordable than the global median – Jakarta39% lower, Pontianak51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.13Rp 56.2K
$1.48Rp 26.7K
111.49%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.46Rp 331.7K
$12.25Rp 220.1K
50.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.64Rp 65.3K
$3.32Rp 59.6K
9.64%
Cappuccino
$2.10Rp 37.7K
$1.70Rp 30.6K
23.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57Rp 10.2K
$0.51Rp 9,225
11.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,613
$0.28Rp 5,084
-7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.71Rp 48.6K
$3.01Rp 54.0K
-9.97%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.39Rp 78.8K
$2.48Rp 44.5K
77.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33Rp 23.9K
$1.17Rp 21.0K
13.68%
White Bread(500g)
$1.16Rp 20.8K
$1.13Rp 20.4K
2.65%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.03Rp 18.5K
$0.88Rp 15.8K
17.05%
Eggs
$1.80Rp 32.3K
$1.54Rp 27.7K
16.88%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.51Rp 117.0K
$8.05Rp 144.7K
-19.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.23Rp 58.0K
$3.21Rp 57.7K
0.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60Rp 136.5K
$8.00Rp 143.8K
-5.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.85Rp 51.3K
$2.38Rp 42.8K
19.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.3K
$1.45Rp 26.0K
12.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.6K
$1.81Rp 32.6K
21.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 28.2K
$1.54Rp 27.7K
1.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.75Rp 31.4K
$1.32Rp 23.8K
32.58%
Onion(1kg)
$2.56Rp 45.9K
$1.97Rp 35.4K
29.95%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.07Rp 19.2K
$0.97Rp 17.4K
10.31%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,235
$0.41Rp 7,401
12.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.07Rp 55.2K
$1.87Rp 33.6K
64.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.00Rp 377.4K
$21.18Rp 380.5K
-0.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.21Rp 39.6K
$2.08Rp 37.4K
6.25%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11Rp 55.9K
$3.23Rp 57.9K
-3.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21Rp 3,765
$0.32Rp 5,781
-34.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.06Rp 216.6K
$9.97Rp 179.0K
20.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,523
$0.56Rp 10.1K
-5.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,748
$0.38Rp 6,738
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.14Rp 56.5K
$2.88Rp 51.8K
9.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77Rp 13.8K
$0.86Rp 15.4K
-10.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6KRp 550.4M
$25.0KRp 448.3M
22.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3KRp 597.8M
$27.1KRp 487.2M
22.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$90.1Rp 1.6M
$69.6Rp 1.3M
29.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.55Rp 117.7K
$4.36Rp 78.3K
50.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.54Rp 494.8K
$23.01Rp 413.5K
19.69%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.46Rp 547.3K
$22.69Rp 407.6K
34.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.41Rp 222.9K
$6.05Rp 108.7K
105.12%
Cinema Ticket
$3.02Rp 54.2K
$3.00Rp 53.9K
0.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$171Rp 3.1M
$92.9Rp 1.7M
83.94%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,571Rp 171.9M
$7,731Rp 138.9M
23.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.4Rp 1.0M
$41.79Rp 750.8K
37.23%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.58Rp 603.3K
$30.69Rp 551.3K
9.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.2Rp 1.5M
$66.7Rp 1.2M
26.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.7Rp 1.6M
$73.7Rp 1.3M
23.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$380Rp 6.8M
$259Rp 4.7M
46.67%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235Rp 4.2M
$159Rp 2.9M
48.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,184Rp 21.3M
$595Rp 10.7M
99.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$647Rp 11.6M
$334Rp 6.0M
93.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,872Rp 51.6M
$1,207Rp 21.7M
137.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,400Rp 25.2M
$734Rp 13.2M
90.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$448Rp 8.0M
$335Rp 6.0M
33.60%
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: June 6, 2026
Last update for Pontianak: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $380 in Jakarta versus $259 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 34% 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: $215 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 24% 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 vs Pontianak?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,227 per month in Jakarta and $993 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 Pontianak?
Kindergarten costs $171 per month in Jakarta and $92.9 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 Pontianak?
Groceries cost about 3% 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 Pontianak?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $818 in Jakarta and $662 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 $662 versus $818 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 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.