Cost of Living Comparison Between Manado and Bandung Cost of Living Comparison Between Manado and Bandung

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $559 in Manado versus $645 in Bandung.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $891 in Manado versus $942 in Bandung.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,222 in Manado versus $1,239 in Bandung.

Living in Manado costs roughly 13% less than in Bandung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Manado 59% lower, Bandung 53% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

$1.40 Rp 24.8K

-1.43%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.27 Rp 305.4K

$14.00 Rp 247.5K

23.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.75 Rp 48.7K

$3.35 Rp 59.2K

-17.91%

Cappuccino

$1.84 Rp 32.6K

$1.55 Rp 27.4K

18.71%

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

$0.58 Rp 10.2K

$0.45 Rp 8,029

28.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 Rp 4,208

$0.23 Rp 4,037

4.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.48 Rp 61.5K

$3.21 Rp 56.7K

8.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.75 Rp 48.6K

$3.15 Rp 55.7K

-12.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 Rp 25.1K

$1.10 Rp 19.5K

29.09%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

$1.04 Rp 18.4K

7.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.74 Rp 13.1K

$0.88 Rp 15.5K

-15.91%

Eggs

$1.97 Rp 34.8K

$1.44 Rp 25.4K

36.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.35 Rp 306.7K

$7.32 Rp 129.4K

137.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.88 Rp 50.9K

$2.85 Rp 50.4K

1.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.35 Rp 112.3K

$8.24 Rp 145.6K

-22.94%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 40.8K

$2.29 Rp 40.6K

0.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 Rp 27.2K

$1.12 Rp 19.7K

37.50%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.35 Rp 23.9K

$1.49 Rp 26.3K

-9.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.97 Rp 17.2K

$0.95 Rp 16.8K

2.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

-27.93%

Onion (1kg)

$2.82 Rp 49.9K

$1.90 Rp 33.7K

48.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 Rp 13.2K

$0.66 Rp 11.6K

13.64%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 Rp 7,706

$0.41 Rp 7,242

7.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.40 Rp 42.4K

$2.79 Rp 49.4K

-13.98%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.77 Rp 367.3K

$22.80 Rp 403.2K

-8.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 Rp 32.4K

$1.93 Rp 34.1K

-5.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 Rp 52.2K

$3.35 Rp 59.2K

-11.94%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 Rp 5,242

$0.27 Rp 4,719

11.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.57 Rp 169.3K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.53 Rp 9,348

$0.81 Rp 14.3K

-34.57%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.33 Rp 5,762

$0.55 Rp 9,745

-40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.91 Rp 51.5K

$2.34 Rp 41.4K

24.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.61 Rp 10.8K

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

-21.79%

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

$24.2K Rp 428.7M

$21.2K Rp 375.4M

14.20%

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

$31.3K Rp 553.4M

$29.5K Rp 521.4M

6.14%

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

$54.2 Rp 958.4K

$33.79 Rp 597.5K

60.40%

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

$4.37 Rp 77.3K

$4.39 Rp 77.6K

-0.46%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$13.92 Rp 246.1K

$19.60 Rp 346.6K

-28.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.01 Rp 230.1K

$18.96 Rp 335.2K

-31.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.34 Rp 147.4K

$5.92 Rp 104.8K

40.88%

Cinema Ticket

$2.51 Rp 44.4K

$2.88 Rp 51.0K

-12.85%

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

$127 Rp 2.3M

$93.8 Rp 1.7M

35.80%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,723 Rp 83.5M

$8,255 Rp 146.0M

-42.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.8 Rp 1.0M

$39.76 Rp 703.0K

42.83%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.47 Rp 362.0K

$33.16 Rp 586.3K

-38.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.3 Rp 1.3M

$77.5 Rp 1.4M

-8.04%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.8 Rp 1.1M

$70.5 Rp 1.2M

-8.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 Rp 4.5M

$222 Rp 3.9M

14.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$83.5 Rp 1.5M

$182 Rp 3.2M

-54.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$308 Rp 5.5M

$390 Rp 6.9M

-21.01%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$176 Rp 3.1M

$269 Rp 4.8M

-34.46%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,197 Rp 21.2M

$738 Rp 13.1M

62.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$665 Rp 11.8M

$311 Rp 5.5M

113.49%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$213 Rp 3.8M

$285 Rp 5.0M

-25.44%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.38

-12.13%

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

Last update for Manado: September 12, 2026

Last update for Bandung: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $255 in Manado and $222 in Bandung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bandung pays 34% 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: $17.00 in Manado vs $14.00 in Bandung for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $226 vs $197 per month, with Bandung 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

Manado vs Bandung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Manado wins on cost – living expenses run 15% lower than in Bandung. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Manado the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 34% 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: $255 in Manado versus $222 in Bandung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $127 in Manado versus $93.8 in Bandung. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Manado – a meal for two runs $17.00 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 Manado 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 Manado delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $559 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Manado hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Manado 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 Manado gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Bandung. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.