Cost of Living Comparison Between Malang and JakartaCost of Living Comparison Between Malang and Jakarta
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂A single person spends $475 per month in Malang vs $840 in Jakarta, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $746 per month in Malang vs $1,379 in Jakarta, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,017 per month in Malang vs $1,919 in Jakarta, rent included.
🙂Malang is about 43% cheaper than Jakarta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Malang and Jakarta are more affordable than the global median – Malang64% lower, Jakarta37% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Malang
Jakarta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.25Rp 22.5K
$3.11Rp 55.9K
-59.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.34Rp 221.4K
$18.11Rp 324.8K
-31.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.98Rp 53.5K
$3.46Rp 62.1K
-13.87%
Cappuccino
$1.40Rp 25.1K
$2.10Rp 37.7K
-33.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61Rp 11.0K
$0.55Rp 9,890
10.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.22Rp 3,927
$0.28Rp 5,077
-21.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50Rp 44.9K
$2.82Rp 50.7K
-11.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14Rp 56.4K
$4.21Rp 75.5K
-25.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Malang
Jakarta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13Rp 20.2K
$1.34Rp 24.1K
-15.67%
White Bread(500g)
$1.51Rp 27.2K
$1.16Rp 20.8K
30.17%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.5K
$0.95Rp 17.0K
-8.42%
Eggs
$1.52Rp 27.3K
$1.80Rp 32.3K
-15.56%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.30Rp 113.0K
$6.49Rp 116.4K
-2.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.23Rp 58.0K
$3.23Rp 58.0K
-
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.06Rp 126.6K
$7.55Rp 135.4K
-6.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39Rp 42.8K
$2.93Rp 52.5K
-18.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 28.0K
$1.61Rp 28.8K
-3.11%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.69Rp 30.2K
$2.27Rp 40.8K
-25.55%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.43Rp 25.7K
$1.56Rp 28.0K
-8.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37Rp 24.5K
$1.79Rp 32.1K
-23.46%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80Rp 32.3K
$2.61Rp 46.9K
-31.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.55Rp 9,835
$1.06Rp 19.0K
-48.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,018
$0.46Rp 8,269
-2.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.48Rp 44.5K
$2.99Rp 53.7K
-17.06%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.63Rp 226.5K
$20.56Rp 368.8K
-38.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78Rp 32.0K
$2.21Rp 39.7K
-19.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17Rp 56.8K
$3.24Rp 58.2K
-2.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Malang
Jakarta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63Rp 11.3K
$0.21Rp 3,754
200.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$6.09Rp 109.3K
$12.21Rp 219.0K
-50.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47Rp 8,451
$0.54Rp 9,605
-12.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,651
$0.37Rp 6,669
-16.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.32Rp 113.4K
$3.12Rp 55.9K
102.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.9K
$0.80Rp 14.4K
3.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6KRp 370.3M
$30.2KRp 541.7M
-31.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.4KRp 490.8M
$32.7KRp 586.9M
-16.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Malang
Jakarta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$33.49Rp 600.8K
$89.4Rp 1.6M
-62.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.64Rp 47.4K
$6.51Rp 116.7K
-59.45%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.86Rp 356.3K
$27.21Rp 488.0K
-27.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Malang
Jakarta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$14.85Rp 266.3K
$29.97Rp 537.6K
-50.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.03Rp 90.2K
$12.61Rp 226.3K
-60.11%
Cinema Ticket
$2.21Rp 39.7K
$3.10Rp 55.6K
-28.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Malang
Jakarta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$33.25Rp 596.5K
$166Rp 3.0M
-80.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,348Rp 167.7M
$9,566Rp 171.6M
-2.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Malang
Jakarta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.80Rp 767.7K
$57.5Rp 1.0M
-25.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.76Rp 551.8K
$33.85Rp 607.2K
-9.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.4Rp 1.1M
$82.3Rp 1.5M
-27.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.5Rp 1.5M
$90.3Rp 1.6M
-7.46%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Malang
Jakarta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$163Rp 2.9M
$381Rp 6.8M
-57.08%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$49.79Rp 893.2K
$236Rp 4.2M
-78.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$278Rp 5.0M
$1,152Rp 20.7M
-75.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$92.2Rp 1.7M
$660Rp 11.8M
-86.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,958Rp 53.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,431Rp 25.7M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Malang
Jakarta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$198Rp 3.6M
$421Rp 7.6M
-52.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4
9.59
-58.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Malang: July 14, 2026
Last update for Jakarta: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $163 in Malang 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 113% 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 $12.00 in Malang versus $18.00 in Jakarta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $214 – making Malang 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
Malang vs Jakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Malang or Jakarta?
Jakarta costs about 77% more than Malang, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 Malang and in Jakarta?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $712 per month in Malang 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, Malang or Jakarta?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Malang, 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 Malang and in Jakarta?
Kindergarten costs $33.25 per month in Malang 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 Malang or in 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 $1,000/month in Malang or in Jakarta?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $475 in Malang and $840 in Jakarta, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Malang or Jakarta?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Malang costs $475 versus $840 in Jakarta. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Malang 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 Malang or to Jakarta?
If budget matters most, go with Malang. 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.