Cost of Living Comparison Between Malang and Bandung Cost of Living Comparison Between Malang and Bandung

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $476 in Malang versus $645 in Bandung.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $743 in Malang versus $942 in Bandung.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,010 in Malang versus $1,239 in Bandung.

Living in Malang costs roughly 26% less than in Bandung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Malang 65% lower, Bandung 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

$1.40 Rp 24.9K

-20.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.32 Rp 200.4K

$14.00 Rp 247.9K

-19.14%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.88 Rp 50.9K

$3.35 Rp 59.3K

-14.03%

Cappuccino

$1.29 Rp 22.9K

$1.55 Rp 27.5K

-16.77%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 Rp 10.6K

$0.45 Rp 8,040

33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 Rp 3,885

$0.23 Rp 4,043

-4.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.31 Rp 40.9K

$3.21 Rp 56.8K

-28.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.13 Rp 73.1K

$3.15 Rp 55.8K

31.11%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$1.10 Rp 19.5K

-8.18%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 Rp 19.4K

$1.04 Rp 18.4K

5.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$0.88 Rp 15.6K

-9.09%

Eggs

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

$1.44 Rp 25.5K

-11.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.04 Rp 107.0K

$7.32 Rp 129.6K

-17.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.11 Rp 55.1K

$2.85 Rp 50.5K

9.12%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.25 Rp 128.5K

$8.24 Rp 145.9K

-12.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.04 Rp 36.1K

$2.29 Rp 40.6K

-10.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 Rp 22.8K

$1.12 Rp 19.7K

15.18%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.5K

$1.49 Rp 26.4K

4.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 Rp 26.5K

$0.95 Rp 16.8K

56.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

14.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.51 Rp 8,976

$0.66 Rp 11.6K

-22.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,221

$0.41 Rp 7,252

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.75 Rp 48.7K

$2.79 Rp 49.4K

-1.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.54 Rp 222.1K

$22.80 Rp 403.8K

-45.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.76 Rp 31.2K

$1.93 Rp 34.1K

-8.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.96 Rp 52.4K

$3.35 Rp 59.3K

-11.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

$0.27 Rp 4,725

122.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$5.58 Rp 98.8K

$9.57 Rp 169.5K

-41.69%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,540

$0.81 Rp 14.4K

-40.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 Rp 6,837

$0.55 Rp 9,759

-29.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.69 Rp 100.7K

$2.34 Rp 41.5K

143.16%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.69 Rp 12.1K

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

-11.54%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.8K Rp 456.7M

$21.2K Rp 375.9M

21.48%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$28.1K Rp 497.3M

$29.5K Rp 522.2M

-4.77%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$31.73 Rp 561.8K

$33.79 Rp 598.3K

-6.10%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.46 Rp 43.5K

$4.39 Rp 77.7K

-43.96%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.00 Rp 354.2K

$19.60 Rp 347.0K

2.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.87 Rp 263.3K

$18.96 Rp 335.7K

-21.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.71 Rp 83.4K

$5.92 Rp 104.9K

-20.44%

Cinema Ticket

$1.97 Rp 34.8K

$2.88 Rp 51.1K

-31.60%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$31.19 Rp 552.3K

$93.8 Rp 1.7M

-66.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,663 Rp 171.1M

$8,255 Rp 146.2M

17.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.6 Rp 1.0M

$39.76 Rp 704.0K

42.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.07 Rp 408.5K

$33.16 Rp 587.1K

-30.43%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$51.6 Rp 914.4K

$77.5 Rp 1.4M

-33.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$36.37 Rp 644.0K

$70.5 Rp 1.2M

-48.43%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$140 Rp 2.5M

$222 Rp 3.9M

-37.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$92.0 Rp 1.6M

$182 Rp 3.2M

-49.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$196 Rp 3.5M

$390 Rp 6.9M

-49.90%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 Rp 2.7M

$269 Rp 4.8M

-42.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$738 Rp 13.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$311 Rp 5.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$208 Rp 3.7M

$285 Rp 5.1M

-27.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.38

-64.85%

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

Last update for Malang: September 14, 2026

Last update for Bandung: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $140 in Malang and $222 in Bandung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bandung pays 37% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $11.00 in Malang vs $14.00 in Bandung for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $171 vs $197 per month, with Malang cheaper across the board.

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

Malang vs Bandung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Malang wins on cost – living expenses run 36% lower than in Bandung. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Malang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 37% lower in Bandung. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $140 in Malang versus $222 in Bandung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 15% higher in Bandung. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Malang – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $14.00 in Bandung. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Malang gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both work as nomad bases, but Malang delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $476 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Malang hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Malang and Bandung are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Malang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 36% less than in Bandung. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.