🙂A single person spends $454 per month in Karawang vs $807 in Jakarta, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $830 per month in Karawang vs $1,308 in Jakarta, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,205 per month in Karawang vs $1,810 in Jakarta, rent included.
🙂Karawang is about 44% cheaper than Jakarta, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Karawang and Jakarta are more affordable than the global median – Karawang67% lower, Jakarta41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.38Rp 24.3K
$2.62Rp 46.1K
-47.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.27Rp 198.4K
$15.36Rp 270.5K
-26.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.48Rp 61.3K
$3.31Rp 58.3K
5.14%
Cappuccino
$1.54Rp 27.1K
$2.00Rp 35.2K
-23.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,686
$0.43Rp 7,567
2.33%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22Rp 3,874
$0.24Rp 4,202
-8.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.15Rp 55.5K
$2.76Rp 48.6K
14.13%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.04Rp 53.6K
$4.08Rp 71.8K
-25.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10Rp 19.3K
$1.40Rp 24.6K
-21.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.99Rp 17.5K
$1.10Rp 19.3K
-10.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.82Rp 14.5K
$0.89Rp 15.7K
-7.87%
Eggs
$1.43Rp 25.3K
$1.75Rp 30.9K
-18.29%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$2.75Rp 48.4K
$9.64Rp 169.8K
-71.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.90Rp 51.0K
$3.03Rp 53.4K
-4.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.83Rp 137.8K
$7.92Rp 139.5K
-1.14%
Apples(1kg)
$1.85Rp 32.6K
$2.98Rp 52.5K
-37.92%
Banana(1kg)
$1.04Rp 18.3K
$1.36Rp 23.9K
-23.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.28Rp 22.6K
$2.67Rp 47.1K
-52.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52Rp 9,198
$1.36Rp 24.0K
-61.76%
Potato(1kg)
$0.97Rp 17.1K
$1.41Rp 24.9K
-31.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.58Rp 27.8K
$2.11Rp 37.2K
-25.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67Rp 11.7K
$0.97Rp 17.0K
-30.93%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,702
$0.52Rp 9,102
-15.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79Rp 49.1K
$2.94Rp 51.8K
-5.10%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.16Rp 390.1K
$21.38Rp 376.4K
3.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87Rp 32.9K
$2.17Rp 38.2K
-13.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24Rp 57.1K
$3.10Rp 54.6K
4.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.59Rp 10.4K
$0.27Rp 4,742
118.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.99Rp 211.0K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.86Rp 15.2K
$0.53Rp 9,287
62.26%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.53Rp 9,298
$0.35Rp 6,208
51.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.14Rp 20.1K
$3.29Rp 58.0K
-65.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.7K
$0.78Rp 13.7K
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KRp 371.8M
$27.7KRp 488.2M
-23.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.7KRp 505.9M
$33.6KRp 591.0M
-14.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.67Rp 592.8K
$107Rp 1.9M
-68.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.45Rp 78.4K
$6.09Rp 107.2K
-26.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.80Rp 225.3K
$19.62Rp 345.5K
-34.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.43Rp 359.7K
$26.95Rp 474.4K
-24.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.71Rp 153.3K
$14.22Rp 250.4K
-38.75%
Cinema Ticket
$2.77Rp 48.8K
$3.48Rp 61.2K
-20.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$44.35Rp 780.8K
$152Rp 2.7M
-70.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,466Rp 149.0M
$8,459Rp 148.9M
0.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$17.04Rp 300.0K
$60.2Rp 1.1M
-71.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$28.73Rp 505.9K
$29.04Rp 511.3K
-1.07%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.3Rp 885.5K
$73.0Rp 1.3M
-31.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.96Rp 861.9K
$106Rp 1.9M
-53.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$142Rp 2.5M
$363Rp 6.4M
-60.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$71.5Rp 1.3M
$200Rp 3.5M
-64.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$558Rp 9.8M
$1,147Rp 20.2M
-51.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$372Rp 6.6M
$575Rp 10.1M
-35.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,185Rp 20.9M
$3,077Rp 54.2M
-61.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$675Rp 11.9M
$1,439Rp 25.3M
-53.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$415Rp 7.3M
$454Rp 8.0M
-8.62%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.38
9.46
20.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karawang: September 7, 2026
Last update for Jakarta: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $142 in Karawang versus $363 in Jakarta. 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 9% 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 $11.00 in Karawang versus $15.00 in Jakarta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $174 vs $222 – making Karawang 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
Karawang vs Jakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Karawang or Jakarta?
Jakarta costs about 78% more than Karawang, 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 Karawang and in Jakarta?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $681 per month in Karawang and $1,211 in Jakarta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Karawang or Jakarta?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Karawang, 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 Karawang and in Jakarta?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Karawang and $15.00 in Jakarta. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Karawang or in Jakarta?
Groceries cost about 28% 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 $800/month in Karawang or in Jakarta?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $454 in Karawang and $807 in Jakarta, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Karawang or Jakarta?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Karawang costs $454 versus $807 in Jakarta. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Karawang compared to Jakarta?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Karawang or to Jakarta?
If budget matters most, go with Karawang. 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.