🙂A single person spends $500 per month in Karawang vs $836 in Jakarta, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $745 per month in Karawang vs $1,355 in Jakarta, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $991 per month in Karawang vs $1,875 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
$1.28Rp 23.1K
$3.00Rp 54.2K
-57.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.36Rp 169.2K
$18.33Rp 331.4K
-48.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.48Rp 62.9K
$3.50Rp 63.4K
-0.57%
Cappuccino
$1.43Rp 25.9K
$2.14Rp 38.7K
-33.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48Rp 8,724
$0.56Rp 10.1K
-14.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24Rp 4,343
$0.26Rp 4,699
-7.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.34Rp 60.3K
$2.69Rp 48.6K
24.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.52Rp 63.6K
$4.36Rp 78.9K
-19.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23Rp 22.3K
$1.32Rp 23.9K
-6.82%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07Rp 19.3K
$1.11Rp 20.0K
-3.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.89Rp 16.2K
$1.02Rp 18.5K
-12.75%
Eggs
$1.59Rp 28.8K
$1.82Rp 33.0K
-12.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.01Rp 54.5K
$6.36Rp 115.1K
-52.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.11Rp 56.2K
$3.15Rp 56.9K
-1.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.02Rp 145.0K
$7.89Rp 142.6K
1.65%
Apples(1kg)
$1.95Rp 35.3K
$2.92Rp 52.8K
-33.22%
Banana(1kg)
$1.14Rp 20.6K
$1.63Rp 29.5K
-30.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.35Rp 24.5K
$2.24Rp 40.4K
-39.73%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.52Rp 9,462
$1.49Rp 27.0K
-65.10%
Potato(1kg)
$0.99Rp 17.9K
$1.74Rp 31.5K
-43.10%
Onion(1kg)
$1.67Rp 30.2K
$2.52Rp 45.6K
-33.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90Rp 16.3K
$1.05Rp 19.0K
-14.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,740
$0.45Rp 8,172
-4.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.58Rp 46.6K
$2.96Rp 53.5K
-12.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.29Rp 403.0K
$21.43Rp 387.6K
4.01%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02Rp 36.4K
$2.24Rp 40.5K
-9.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56Rp 64.3K
$3.17Rp 57.2K
12.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.65Rp 11.8K
$0.23Rp 4,166
182.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.73Rp 176.0K
$12.16Rp 219.8K
-19.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.75Rp 13.6K
$0.53Rp 9,544
41.51%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71Rp 12.9K
$0.38Rp 6,795
86.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.20Rp 21.7K
$2.99Rp 54.0K
-59.87%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.6K
$0.80Rp 14.5K
1.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4KRp 442.1M
$30.2KRp 546.5M
-19.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.7KRp 464.5M
$33.6KRp 608.0M
-23.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.10Rp 797.4K
$93.0Rp 1.7M
-52.58%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.48Rp 81.0K
$6.50Rp 117.5K
-31.08%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$13.61Rp 246.1K
$26.87Rp 485.8K
-49.35%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.08Rp 399.2K
$29.66Rp 536.2K
-25.56%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.14Rp 110.9K
$12.31Rp 222.6K
-50.12%
Cinema Ticket
$3.14Rp 56.8K
$3.04Rp 55.0K
3.29%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$47.75Rp 863.4K
$165Rp 3.0M
-71.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,453Rp 134.8M
$9,773Rp 176.7M
-23.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$18.52Rp 334.9K
$56.2Rp 1.0M
-67.02%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.21Rp 564.3K
$32.95Rp 595.9K
-5.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.7Rp 989.2K
$82.6Rp 1.5M
-33.80%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$52.9Rp 956.3K
$90.6Rp 1.6M
-41.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$154Rp 2.8M
$386Rp 7.0M
-59.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$76.5Rp 1.4M
$232Rp 4.2M
-67.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.4M
$1,171Rp 21.2M
-79.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$123Rp 2.2M
$649Rp 11.7M
-81.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,135Rp 20.5M
$2,979Rp 53.9M
-61.90%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$767Rp 13.9M
$1,426Rp 25.8M
-46.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Karawang
Jakarta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$411Rp 7.4M
$419Rp 7.6M
-1.93%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Jakarta: July 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $154 in Karawang versus $386 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 2% 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: $183 vs $215 – 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 67% 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 $751 per month in Karawang and $1,254 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 in Jakarta?
Kindergarten costs $47.75 per month in Karawang and $165 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 in Jakarta?
Groceries cost about 18% 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 $500 in Karawang and $836 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 $500 versus $836 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.