😐A single person spends $830 per month in Jakarta vs $661 in Pontianak, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,366 per month in Jakarta vs $1,020 in Pontianak, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,903 per month in Jakarta vs $1,379 in Pontianak, rent included.
😐Jakarta costs about 26% more than Pontianak, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Jakarta and Pontianak are more affordable than the global median – Jakarta38% lower, Pontianak51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.11Rp 53.5K
$1.45Rp 25.0K
114.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.74Rp 322.0K
$12.20Rp 209.7K
53.61%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.59Rp 61.7K
$3.32Rp 57.0K
8.13%
Cappuccino
$2.09Rp 35.9K
$1.67Rp 28.7K
25.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,021
$0.51Rp 8,849
1.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,465
$0.28Rp 4,836
-7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.72Rp 46.7K
$3.12Rp 53.6K
-12.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22Rp 72.6K
$2.40Rp 41.2K
75.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39Rp 24.0K
$1.18Rp 20.2K
17.80%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10Rp 18.9K
$1.18Rp 20.3K
-6.78%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.96Rp 16.5K
$0.93Rp 15.9K
3.23%
Eggs
$1.79Rp 30.7K
$1.60Rp 27.6K
11.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.42Rp 110.4K
$7.88Rp 135.5K
-18.53%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.10Rp 53.2K
$3.13Rp 53.8K
-0.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.54Rp 129.6K
$7.98Rp 137.2K
-5.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.80Rp 48.1K
$2.42Rp 41.5K
15.70%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 27.9K
$1.43Rp 24.5K
13.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.28Rp 39.2K
$1.87Rp 32.1K
21.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50Rp 25.7K
$1.51Rp 25.9K
-0.66%
Potato(1kg)
$1.71Rp 29.4K
$1.33Rp 22.9K
28.57%
Onion(1kg)
$2.66Rp 45.8K
$1.94Rp 33.3K
37.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 18.2K
$0.94Rp 16.2K
12.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,812
$0.45Rp 7,656
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.97Rp 51.1K
$1.80Rp 30.9K
65.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.52Rp 387.1K
$22.63Rp 388.8K
-0.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.28Rp 39.2K
$2.03Rp 34.9K
12.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06Rp 52.6K
$3.24Rp 55.7K
-5.56%
🚌 Getting Around
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21Rp 3,604
$0.30Rp 5,080
-30.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.05Rp 207.1K
$9.80Rp 168.4K
22.96%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,194
$0.53Rp 9,027
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,374
$0.37Rp 6,379
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.09Rp 53.0K
$2.88Rp 49.5K
7.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.2K
$0.84Rp 14.4K
-1.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.6KRp 525.7M
$24.3KRp 417.5M
25.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0KRp 567.1M
$27.8KRp 477.2M
18.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$92.1Rp 1.6M
$70.1Rp 1.2M
31.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46Rp 110.9K
$4.32Rp 74.3K
49.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.72Rp 476.3K
$22.55Rp 387.6K
22.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.79Rp 512.0K
$22.69Rp 390.0K
31.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.77Rp 219.5K
$6.02Rp 103.4K
112.13%
Cinema Ticket
$3.00Rp 51.5K
$3.01Rp 51.7K
-0.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$168Rp 2.9M
$92.2Rp 1.6M
82.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,767Rp 167.9M
$7,613Rp 130.8M
28.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.8Rp 959.4K
$42.22Rp 725.6K
32.21%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.90Rp 565.5K
$31.31Rp 538.0K
5.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.6Rp 1.4M
$67.9Rp 1.2M
21.61%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.5Rp 1.6M
$73.8Rp 1.3M
22.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$388Rp 6.7M
$255Rp 4.4M
52.30%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$235Rp 4.0M
$160Rp 2.7M
47.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,167Rp 20.1M
$581Rp 10.0M
100.94%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$654Rp 11.2M
$333Rp 5.7M
96.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,829Rp 48.6M
$1,374Rp 23.6M
105.87%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,413Rp 24.3M
$749Rp 12.9M
88.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jakarta
Pontianak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$473Rp 8.1M
$345Rp 5.9M
37.11%
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: April 20, 2026
Last update for Pontianak: April 22, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $388 in Jakarta versus $255 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 37% 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 in Jakarta versus $12 in Pontianak. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $216 vs $212 – 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 26% 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 $1,245 per month in Jakarta and $991 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 $168 per month in Jakarta and $92.2 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 2% 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 $830 in Jakarta and $661 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 $661 versus $830 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.