Cost of Living Comparison Between Makassar and Jakarta Cost of Living Comparison Between Makassar and Jakarta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $644 per month in Makassar vs $815 in Jakarta, rent included.

A couple spends around $980 per month in Makassar vs $1,325 in Jakarta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,317 per month in Makassar vs $1,834 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 – Makassar 53% lower, Jakarta 40% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.65 Rp 29.3K
$2.49 Rp 44.0K
-33.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.03 Rp 159.8K
$15.86 Rp 280.9K
-43.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.21 Rp 56.9K
$3.43 Rp 60.8K
-6.41%
Cappuccino
$1.99 Rp 35.3K
$2.06 Rp 36.5K
-3.40%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.50 Rp 8,874
$0.42 Rp 7,520
19.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 Rp 6,003
$0.26 Rp 4,614
30.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.59 Rp 45.8K
$2.65 Rp 47.0K
-2.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 Rp 58.0K
$3.89 Rp 68.9K
-15.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.62 Rp 28.6K
$1.46 Rp 25.8K
10.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.00 Rp 17.7K
$1.15 Rp 20.4K
-13.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.61 Rp 10.8K
$0.84 Rp 14.9K
-27.38%
Eggs
$1.50 Rp 26.6K
$1.76 Rp 31.1K
-14.77%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.60 Rp 116.8K
$9.81 Rp 173.8K
-32.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.51 Rp 62.1K
$2.99 Rp 53.0K
17.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.28 Rp 93.6K
$7.67 Rp 135.7K
-31.16%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 Rp 42.3K
$2.87 Rp 50.8K
-16.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.39 Rp 24.7K
$1.37 Rp 24.2K
1.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.94 Rp 34.4K
$2.65 Rp 46.9K
-26.79%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.79 Rp 31.6K
$1.37 Rp 24.3K
30.66%
Potato (1kg)
$1.14 Rp 20.2K
$1.35 Rp 23.9K
-15.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.60 Rp 28.3K
$2.10 Rp 37.2K
-23.81%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$0.93 Rp 16.5K
-13.98%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 Rp 7,020
$0.51 Rp 9,092
-21.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.69 Rp 47.6K
$2.85 Rp 50.4K
-5.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.97 Rp 406.7K
$21.74 Rp 384.9K
5.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.84 Rp 32.6K
$2.12 Rp 37.5K
-13.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.30 Rp 40.7K
$3.22 Rp 57.0K
-28.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,734
$0.29 Rp 5,206
-6.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$4.35 Rp 77.0K
$11.72 Rp 207.6K
-62.88%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.51 Rp 9,032
$0.53 Rp 9,420
-3.77%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.36 Rp 6,314
$0.36 Rp 6,293
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.89 Rp 51.2K
$3.30 Rp 58.4K
-12.42%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 Rp 14.0K
$0.78 Rp 13.8K
1.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$15.7K Rp 277.8M
$28.7K Rp 507.9M
-45.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$16.9K Rp 299.4M
$33.4K Rp 590.9M
-49.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$90.0 Rp 1.6M
$108 Rp 1.9M
-16.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.61 Rp 46.2K
$6.07 Rp 107.5K
-57.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.25 Rp 447.2K
$19.01 Rp 336.7K
32.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.32 Rp 377.5K
$26.63 Rp 471.5K
-19.94%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.06 Rp 408.3K
$13.81 Rp 244.5K
66.98%
Cinema Ticket
$3.50 Rp 62.0K
$3.44 Rp 60.9K
1.74%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.9 Rp 1.7M
$155 Rp 2.7M
-38.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,893 Rp 68.9M
$8,224 Rp 145.6M
-52.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$27.74 Rp 491.2K
$60.1 Rp 1.1M
-53.83%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.02 Rp 425.4K
$28.63 Rp 506.9K
-16.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.9 Rp 1.3M
$73.3 Rp 1.3M
2.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.90 Rp 724.2K
$110 Rp 1.9M
-62.74%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$195 Rp 3.4M
$363 Rp 6.4M
-46.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$152 Rp 2.7M
$204 Rp 3.6M
-25.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$403 Rp 7.1M
$1,179 Rp 20.9M
-65.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$313 Rp 5.5M
$581 Rp 10.3M
-46.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,438 Rp 25.5M
$3,009 Rp 53.3M
-52.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$572 Rp 10.1M
$1,477 Rp 26.2M
-61.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makassar
Jakarta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$218 Rp 3.9M
$460 Rp 8.1M
-52.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6
9.46
-36.58%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Makassar: September 15, 2026

Last update for Jakarta: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $195 in Makassar 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 111% 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 $16.00 in Jakarta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $199 vs $223 – 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 27% 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 $966 per month in Makassar and $1,223 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 $94.9 per month in Makassar and $155 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 12% 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 $644 in Makassar and $815 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 $644 versus $815 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.

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