🙂A single person spends $665 per month in Makassar vs $840 in Jakarta, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,003 per month in Makassar vs $1,379 in Jakarta, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,341 per month in Makassar vs $1,919 in Jakarta, rent included.
🙂Makassar is about 21% cheaper than Jakarta, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Makassar and Jakarta are more affordable than the global median – Makassar50% lower, Jakarta37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.03Rp 54.2K
$3.11Rp 55.7K
-2.57%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.36Rp 167.5K
$18.11Rp 323.9K
-48.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.00Rp 53.7K
$3.46Rp 62.0K
-13.29%
Cappuccino
$1.80Rp 32.3K
$2.10Rp 37.6K
-14.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65Rp 11.7K
$0.55Rp 9,863
18.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.40Rp 7,117
$0.28Rp 5,063
42.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.61Rp 64.6K
$2.82Rp 50.5K
28.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63Rp 64.9K
$4.21Rp 75.3K
-13.78%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.63Rp 29.2K
$1.34Rp 24.0K
21.64%
White Bread(500g)
$1.08Rp 19.3K
$1.16Rp 20.7K
-6.90%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.64Rp 11.4K
$0.95Rp 16.9K
-32.63%
Eggs
$1.43Rp 25.6K
$1.80Rp 32.2K
-20.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.37Rp 96.1K
$6.49Rp 116.1K
-17.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.83Rp 50.6K
$3.23Rp 57.8K
-12.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$4.26Rp 76.2K
$7.55Rp 135.1K
-43.58%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23Rp 40.0K
$2.93Rp 52.3K
-23.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.59Rp 28.4K
$1.61Rp 28.7K
-1.24%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.83Rp 32.7K
$2.27Rp 40.6K
-19.38%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 28.0K
$1.56Rp 27.9K
0.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.25Rp 22.4K
$1.79Rp 32.1K
-30.17%
Onion(1kg)
$1.56Rp 28.0K
$2.61Rp 46.8K
-40.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.45Rp 7,975
$1.06Rp 19.0K
-57.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47Rp 8,444
$0.46Rp 8,247
2.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52Rp 45.0K
$2.99Rp 53.6K
-15.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.33Rp 399.5K
$20.56Rp 367.8K
8.61%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02Rp 36.1K
$2.21Rp 39.5K
-8.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.43Rp 43.4K
$3.24Rp 58.0K
-25.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,280
$0.21Rp 3,743
42.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$4.56Rp 81.7K
$12.21Rp 218.4K
-62.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.56Rp 10.1K
$0.54Rp 9,579
3.70%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 5,112
$0.37Rp 6,650
-21.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.13Rp 55.9K
$3.12Rp 55.7K
0.32%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.9K
$0.80Rp 14.3K
-2.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.7KRp 298.9M
$30.2KRp 540.3M
-44.68%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.4KRp 330.0M
$32.7KRp 585.3M
-43.62%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$66.8Rp 1.2M
$89.4Rp 1.6M
-25.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.59Rp 64.2K
$6.51Rp 116.4K
-44.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.49Rp 581.2K
$27.21Rp 486.7K
19.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.23Rp 415.6K
$29.97Rp 536.2K
-22.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.09Rp 109.0K
$12.61Rp 225.7K
-51.70%
Cinema Ticket
$3.15Rp 56.4K
$3.10Rp 55.4K
1.61%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$106Rp 1.9M
$166Rp 3.0M
-36.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,103Rp 73.4M
$9,566Rp 171.1M
-57.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$29.14Rp 521.3K
$57.5Rp 1.0M
-49.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$25.17Rp 450.3K
$33.85Rp 605.5K
-25.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.2Rp 1.5M
$82.3Rp 1.5M
1.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$43.19Rp 772.7K
$90.3Rp 1.6M
-52.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$214Rp 3.8M
$381Rp 6.8M
-43.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$168Rp 3.0M
$236Rp 4.2M
-29.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$425Rp 7.6M
$1,152Rp 20.6M
-63.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338Rp 6.1M
$660Rp 11.8M
-48.74%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,355Rp 24.2M
$2,958Rp 52.9M
-54.21%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$545Rp 9.8M
$1,431Rp 25.6M
-61.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$209Rp 3.7M
$421Rp 7.5M
-50.45%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6
9.59
-37.43%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Makassar: July 12, 2026
Last update for Jakarta: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $214 in Makassar versus $381 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 102% 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 Makassar versus $18.00 in Jakarta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $214 – making Makassar 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
Makassar vs Jakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Makassar or Jakarta?
Jakarta costs about 26% more than Makassar, 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 Makassar and in Jakarta?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $997 per month in Makassar and $1,260 in Jakarta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Makassar or Jakarta?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Makassar, 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 Makassar and in Jakarta?
Kindergarten costs $106 per month in Makassar and $166 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 Makassar or in Jakarta?
Groceries cost about 14% 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 Makassar or in Jakarta?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $665 in Makassar and $840 in Jakarta, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Makassar or Jakarta?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Makassar costs $665 versus $840 in Jakarta. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Makassar or to Jakarta?
If budget matters most, go with Makassar. 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.