🙂A single person spends $511 per month in Karawang vs $849 in Jakarta, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $774 per month in Karawang vs $1,389 in Jakarta, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,037 per month in Karawang vs $1,929 in Jakarta, rent included.
🙂Karawang is about 40% cheaper than Jakarta, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Karawang and Jakarta are more affordable than the global median – Karawang62% lower, Jakarta37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.33Rp 22.9K
$3.02Rp 52.1K
-55.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.19Rp 158.7K
$18.34Rp 316.6K
-49.89%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.30Rp 56.9K
$3.51Rp 60.5K
-5.98%
Cappuccino
$1.45Rp 25.0K
$2.14Rp 37.0K
-32.24%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47Rp 8,170
$0.52Rp 8,915
-9.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24Rp 4,158
$0.28Rp 4,854
-14.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.34Rp 57.7K
$2.73Rp 47.1K
22.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.45Rp 59.5K
$4.26Rp 73.5K
-19.01%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 21.1K
$1.39Rp 24.1K
-12.23%
White Bread(500g)
$1.06Rp 18.3K
$1.16Rp 20.0K
-8.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.1K
$1.03Rp 17.7K
-15.53%
Eggs
$1.57Rp 27.1K
$1.87Rp 32.3K
-16.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.02Rp 52.2K
$6.29Rp 108.6K
-51.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.08Rp 53.2K
$3.12Rp 53.9K
-1.28%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.65Rp 132.0K
$7.86Rp 135.6K
-2.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.05Rp 35.3K
$2.86Rp 49.3K
-28.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.19Rp 20.5K
$1.55Rp 26.8K
-23.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.41Rp 24.3K
$2.19Rp 37.9K
-35.62%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.58Rp 9,960
$1.49Rp 25.7K
-61.07%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99Rp 17.1K
$1.81Rp 31.3K
-45.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.75Rp 30.2K
$2.63Rp 45.4K
-33.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89Rp 15.4K
$1.06Rp 18.3K
-16.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,780
$0.42Rp 7,249
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53Rp 43.8K
$2.96Rp 51.1K
-14.53%
Wine(Bottle)
$23.18Rp 400.3K
$22.32Rp 385.5K
3.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04Rp 35.2K
$2.23Rp 38.5K
-8.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54Rp 61.1K
$3.06Rp 52.8K
15.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.65Rp 11.2K
$0.21Rp 3,610
209.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.88Rp 170.7K
$12.42Rp 214.4K
-20.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.72Rp 12.4K
$0.54Rp 9,270
33.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77Rp 13.3K
$0.37Rp 6,472
108.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.27Rp 21.9K
$3.14Rp 54.2K
-59.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 13.6K
$0.78Rp 13.4K
1.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2KRp 417.4M
$30.1KRp 520.5M
-19.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KRp 453.2M
$32.4KRp 559.5M
-18.99%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.20Rp 763.1K
$89.7Rp 1.5M
-50.72%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.63Rp 80.0K
$6.56Rp 113.3K
-29.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.79Rp 238.1K
$27.10Rp 467.9K
-49.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.20Rp 383.3K
$30.54Rp 527.3K
-27.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.09Rp 260.6K
$12.74Rp 220.0K
18.45%
Cinema Ticket
$3.14Rp 54.3K
$3.04Rp 52.4K
3.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$47.65Rp 822.8K
$169Rp 2.9M
-71.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,597Rp 131.2M
$9,651Rp 166.6M
-21.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.16Rp 313.6K
$56.5Rp 974.7K
-67.83%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.10Rp 537.0K
$33.55Rp 579.3K
-7.30%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.8Rp 946.5K
$84.5Rp 1.5M
-35.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$54.0Rp 932.2K
$88.3Rp 1.5M
-38.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.7M
$377Rp 6.5M
-58.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$76.4Rp 1.3M
$239Rp 4.1M
-67.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$249Rp 4.3M
$1,176Rp 20.3M
-78.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$123Rp 2.1M
$658Rp 11.4M
-81.29%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,198Rp 20.7M
$2,777Rp 48.0M
-56.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$722Rp 12.5M
$1,418Rp 24.5M
-49.06%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$426Rp 7.4M
$476Rp 8.2M
-10.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
9.59
-4.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Karawang: April 28, 2026
Last update for Jakarta: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $156 in Karawang versus $377 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 12% 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 $9.00 in Karawang versus $18.00 in Jakarta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $185 vs $217 – 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 66% 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 vs Jakarta?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $766 per month in Karawang and $1,274 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 childcare costs compare in Karawang and Jakarta?
Kindergarten costs $47.65 per month in Karawang and $169 in Jakarta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Karawang or Jakarta?
Groceries cost about 17% 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 Jakarta?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $511 in Karawang and $849 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 $511 versus $849 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 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.