😐A single person spends $834 per month in Jakarta vs $711 in Samarinda, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,382 per month in Jakarta vs $1,092 in Samarinda, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,930 per month in Jakarta vs $1,474 in Samarinda, rent included.
😐Jakarta costs about 17% more than Samarinda, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Jakarta and Samarinda are more affordable than the global median – Jakarta37% lower, Samarinda47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.13Rp 55.4K
$1.57Rp 27.8K
99.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.16Rp 321.7K
$12.17Rp 215.6K
49.22%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.46Rp 61.4K
$5.76Rp 102.0K
-39.93%
Cappuccino
$2.15Rp 38.1K
$1.72Rp 30.4K
25.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,287
$0.53Rp 9,357
-1.89%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,551
$0.42Rp 7,398
-38.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.79Rp 49.3K
$2.50Rp 44.3K
11.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.18Rp 74.1K
$3.48Rp 61.6K
20.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.33Rp 23.5K
$1.22Rp 21.6K
9.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10Rp 19.5K
$0.97Rp 17.1K
13.40%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01Rp 17.9K
$0.76Rp 13.5K
32.89%
Eggs
$1.85Rp 32.9K
$1.60Rp 28.4K
15.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.50Rp 115.1K
$8.19Rp 145.0K
-20.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.19Rp 56.5K
$4.00Rp 70.8K
-20.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.79Rp 138.1K
$11.17Rp 197.9K
-30.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.93Rp 51.9K
$5.70Rp 101.0K
-48.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63Rp 28.9K
$1.22Rp 21.5K
33.61%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.27Rp 40.1K
$1.16Rp 20.6K
95.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51Rp 26.8K
$1.61Rp 28.6K
-6.21%
Potato(1kg)
$1.78Rp 31.6K
$1.51Rp 26.8K
17.88%
Onion(1kg)
$2.62Rp 46.5K
$1.97Rp 34.9K
32.99%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.06Rp 18.7K
$0.95Rp 16.9K
11.58%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,089
$0.56Rp 9,899
-17.86%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05Rp 54.0K
$2.27Rp 40.2K
34.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.12Rp 374.1K
$21.72Rp 384.8K
-2.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.32Rp 41.1K
$2.05Rp 36.4K
13.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21Rp 56.9K
$3.19Rp 56.4K
0.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21Rp 3,711
$0.30Rp 5,310
-30.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$12.28Rp 217.5K
$10.02Rp 177.5K
22.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57Rp 10.1K
$0.94Rp 16.7K
-39.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,629
$0.34Rp 6,077
8.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.05Rp 54.0K
$2.96Rp 52.5K
3.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.4K
$0.63Rp 11.2K
28.57%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KRp 547.6M
$24.2KRp 429.4M
27.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4KRp 574.2M
$27.7KRp 491.5M
16.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$91.1Rp 1.6M
$69.2Rp 1.2M
31.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.55Rp 116.1K
$4.21Rp 74.6K
55.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.59Rp 488.7K
$22.53Rp 399.1K
22.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.35Rp 537.6K
$22.64Rp 401.1K
34.05%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.45Rp 220.5K
$5.98Rp 106.0K
108.19%
Cinema Ticket
$2.99Rp 53.0K
$3.09Rp 54.8K
-3.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$170Rp 3.0M
$92.5Rp 1.6M
83.21%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,599Rp 170.0M
$7,495Rp 132.8M
28.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.5Rp 1.0M
$41.12Rp 728.4K
39.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.89Rp 600.4K
$30.13Rp 533.8K
12.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.1Rp 1.5M
$67.4Rp 1.2M
24.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.1Rp 1.6M
$73.1Rp 1.3M
22.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$381Rp 6.7M
$257Rp 4.6M
47.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$232Rp 4.1M
$156Rp 2.8M
48.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,197Rp 21.2M
$577Rp 10.2M
107.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$652Rp 11.5M
$337Rp 6.0M
93.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,999Rp 53.1M
$1,177Rp 20.9M
154.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,468Rp 26.0M
$645Rp 11.4M
127.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jakarta
Samarinda
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$449Rp 8.0M
$331Rp 5.9M
35.61%
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 16, 2026
Last update for Samarinda: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $381 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 36% 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 – $216 in Jakarta vs $237 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 17% 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 vs Samarinda?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,251 per month in Jakarta and $1,067 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 Samarinda?
Kindergarten costs $170 per month in Jakarta and $92.5 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 Samarinda?
Interestingly, groceries are about 10% 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 Samarinda?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $834 in Jakarta and $711 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 $711 versus $834 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 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.