😐A single person spends $815 per month in Jakarta vs $668 in Samarinda, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,325 per month in Jakarta vs $1,042 in Samarinda, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,834 per month in Jakarta vs $1,417 in Samarinda, rent included.
😐Jakarta costs about 22% more than Samarinda, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Jakarta and Samarinda are more affordable than the global median – Jakarta40% lower, Samarinda51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.49Rp 44.0K
$1.67Rp 29.6K
49.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.86Rp 280.9K
$14.45Rp 255.8K
9.76%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.43Rp 60.8K
$3.33Rp 59.0K
3.00%
Cappuccino
$2.06Rp 36.5K
$1.51Rp 26.7K
36.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,520
$0.45Rp 8,041
-6.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,614
$0.23Rp 4,096
13.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.65Rp 47.0K
$2.41Rp 42.8K
9.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89Rp 68.9K
$3.55Rp 62.8K
9.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.46Rp 25.8K
$1.08Rp 19.1K
35.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.15Rp 20.4K
$0.86Rp 15.3K
33.72%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.84Rp 14.9K
$0.66Rp 11.7K
27.27%
Eggs
$1.76Rp 31.1K
$1.47Rp 26.0K
19.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.81Rp 173.8K
$7.62Rp 134.9K
28.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99Rp 53.0K
$3.58Rp 63.4K
-16.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.67Rp 135.7K
$10.18Rp 180.2K
-24.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.87Rp 50.8K
$5.14Rp 91.1K
-44.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.37Rp 24.2K
$1.12Rp 19.8K
22.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.65Rp 46.9K
$1.12Rp 19.8K
136.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37Rp 24.3K
$1.44Rp 25.5K
-4.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.35Rp 23.9K
$1.33Rp 23.5K
1.50%
Onion(1kg)
$2.10Rp 37.2K
$1.89Rp 33.5K
11.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.93Rp 16.5K
$0.73Rp 12.9K
27.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,092
$0.56Rp 9,912
-8.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.85Rp 50.4K
$2.09Rp 37.1K
36.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.74Rp 384.9K
$20.88Rp 369.8K
4.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12Rp 37.5K
$1.73Rp 30.7K
22.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22Rp 57.0K
$2.95Rp 52.3K
9.15%
🚌 Getting Around
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,206
$0.31Rp 5,563
-6.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.72Rp 207.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,420
$0.50Rp 8,867
6.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.36Rp 6,293
$0.29Rp 5,160
24.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.30Rp 58.4K
$2.95Rp 52.2K
11.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.8K
$0.81Rp 14.3K
-3.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.7KRp 507.9M
$26.2KRp 464.2M
9.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4KRp 590.9M
$30.6KRp 542.1M
9.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$108Rp 1.9M
$69.6Rp 1.2M
55.03%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.07Rp 107.5K
$4.76Rp 84.3K
27.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.01Rp 336.7K
$19.69Rp 348.7K
-3.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.63Rp 471.5K
$20.10Rp 355.8K
32.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.81Rp 244.5K
$7.41Rp 131.2K
86.37%
Cinema Ticket
$3.44Rp 60.9K
$2.77Rp 49.1K
24.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$155Rp 2.7M
$98.8Rp 1.7M
56.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,224Rp 145.6M
$6,725Rp 119.1M
22.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.1Rp 1.1M
$41.32Rp 731.7K
45.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.63Rp 506.9K
$29.85Rp 528.5K
-4.09%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.3Rp 1.3M
$74.9Rp 1.3M
-2.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$110Rp 1.9M
$79.4Rp 1.4M
38.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$363Rp 6.4M
$198Rp 3.5M
83.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$204Rp 3.6M
$135Rp 2.4M
50.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,179Rp 20.9M
$483Rp 8.5M
144.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$581Rp 10.3M
$358Rp 6.3M
62.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,009Rp 53.3M
$1,143Rp 20.2M
163.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,477Rp 26.2M
$687Rp 12.2M
115.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$460Rp 8.1M
$340Rp 6.0M
35.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
9.46
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jakarta: September 12, 2026
Last update for Samarinda: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $363 in Jakarta versus $198 in Samarinda. 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 35% 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 $16.00 in Jakarta versus $14.00 in Samarinda. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $223 vs $217 – making Samarinda 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 Samarinda: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Jakarta or Samarinda?
Jakarta costs about 22% more than Samarinda, 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 Samarinda?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,223 per month in Jakarta and $1,001 in Samarinda. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Jakarta or Samarinda?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Samarinda, 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 Samarinda?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $16.00 in Jakarta and $14.00 in Samarinda. 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 Samarinda?
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 $1,200/month in Jakarta or in Samarinda?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $815 in Jakarta and $668 in Samarinda, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Jakarta or Samarinda?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Samarinda costs $668 versus $815 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 Samarinda?
If budget matters most, go with Samarinda. 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.