😐A single person spends $836 per month in Jakarta vs $696 in Samarinda, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,355 per month in Jakarta vs $1,067 in Samarinda, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,875 per month in Jakarta vs $1,439 in Samarinda, rent included.
😐Jakarta costs about 20% more than Samarinda, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Jakarta and Samarinda are more affordable than the global median – Jakarta37% lower, Samarinda48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.00Rp 54.1K
$1.52Rp 27.4K
97.37%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.33Rp 330.8K
$12.05Rp 217.5K
52.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.50Rp 63.3K
$5.87Rp 106.0K
-40.37%
Cappuccino
$2.14Rp 38.7K
$1.65Rp 29.8K
29.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56Rp 10.1K
$0.49Rp 8,909
14.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,691
$0.38Rp 6,902
-31.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.69Rp 48.5K
$2.47Rp 44.6K
8.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36Rp 78.8K
$3.58Rp 64.7K
21.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32Rp 23.9K
$1.17Rp 21.1K
12.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11Rp 20.0K
$0.93Rp 16.7K
19.35%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.02Rp 18.5K
$0.77Rp 13.9K
32.47%
Eggs
$1.82Rp 32.9K
$1.59Rp 28.6K
14.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.36Rp 114.9K
$7.96Rp 143.6K
-20.10%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.15Rp 56.8K
$3.98Rp 71.8K
-20.85%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.89Rp 142.4K
$10.94Rp 197.5K
-27.88%
Apples(1kg)
$2.92Rp 52.7K
$5.68Rp 102.6K
-48.59%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 29.4K
$1.26Rp 22.8K
29.37%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.24Rp 40.4K
$1.20Rp 21.6K
86.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49Rp 26.9K
$1.58Rp 28.5K
-5.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.74Rp 31.4K
$1.45Rp 26.1K
20.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.52Rp 45.5K
$2.02Rp 36.5K
24.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05Rp 19.0K
$0.91Rp 16.5K
15.38%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,159
$0.55Rp 10.0K
-18.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.96Rp 53.4K
$2.26Rp 40.9K
30.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.43Rp 386.9K
$20.14Rp 363.6K
6.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.24Rp 40.4K
$2.04Rp 36.7K
9.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17Rp 57.1K
$3.21Rp 58.0K
-1.25%
🚌 Getting Around
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.23Rp 4,159
$0.32Rp 5,810
-28.13%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.16Rp 219.5K
$10.05Rp 181.4K
21.00%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,528
$0.94Rp 17.0K
-43.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,784
$0.38Rp 6,821
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.99Rp 53.9K
$2.85Rp 51.4K
4.91%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.4K
$0.64Rp 11.5K
25.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.2KRp 545.6M
$24.5KRp 441.9M
23.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6KRp 607.0M
$27.4KRp 495.4M
22.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$93.0Rp 1.7M
$70.0Rp 1.3M
32.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.50Rp 117.3K
$4.32Rp 78.1K
50.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.87Rp 485.0K
$23.17Rp 418.2K
15.97%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.66Rp 535.4K
$23.10Rp 417.0K
28.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.31Rp 222.3K
$6.00Rp 108.3K
105.17%
Cinema Ticket
$3.04Rp 54.9K
$3.15Rp 56.8K
-3.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$165Rp 3.0M
$95.0Rp 1.7M
74.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,773Rp 176.4M
$7,587Rp 137.0M
28.82%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$56.2Rp 1.0M
$41.68Rp 752.4K
34.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.95Rp 594.9K
$30.38Rp 548.5K
8.46%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.6Rp 1.5M
$67.4Rp 1.2M
22.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$90.6Rp 1.6M
$75.3Rp 1.4M
20.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$386Rp 7.0M
$257Rp 4.6M
50.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$232Rp 4.2M
$156Rp 2.8M
49.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,171Rp 21.1M
$581Rp 10.5M
101.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$649Rp 11.7M
$337Rp 6.1M
92.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,979Rp 53.8M
$1,237Rp 22.3M
140.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,426Rp 25.7M
$667Rp 12.0M
113.72%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$419Rp 7.6M
$322Rp 5.8M
30.09%
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 25, 2026
Last update for Samarinda: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $386 in Jakarta versus $257 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 30% 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 Samarinda. Groceries tell a different story – $215 in Jakarta vs $231 in Samarinda – so Jakarta wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 20% 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 $1,254 per month in Jakarta and $1,044 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 childcare costs compare in Jakarta and in Samarinda?
Kindergarten costs $165 per month in Jakarta and $95.0 in Samarinda. 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 Samarinda?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Jakarta – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Jakarta or in Samarinda?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $836 in Jakarta and $696 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 $696 versus $836 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.