🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $577 in Mataram versus $634 in Bandung.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $888 in Mataram versus $952 in Bandung.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,200 in Mataram versus $1,269 in Bandung.
🙂Living in Mataram costs roughly 9% less than in Bandung, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Mataram57% lower, Bandung53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mataram
Bandung
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.05Rp 18.3K
$1.27Rp 22.1K
-17.32%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.02Rp 190.9K
$9.29Rp 161.1K
18.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.25Rp 39.0K
$3.30Rp 57.2K
-31.82%
Cappuccino
$1.87Rp 32.4K
$1.50Rp 26.0K
24.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,529
$0.49Rp 8,409
12.24%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36Rp 6,243
$0.25Rp 4,308
44.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.63Rp 45.6K
$3.45Rp 59.7K
-23.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78Rp 65.6K
$3.61Rp 62.6K
4.71%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mataram
Bandung
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.56Rp 27.0K
$1.17Rp 20.3K
33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.68Rp 29.1K
$1.07Rp 18.5K
57.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83Rp 14.4K
$0.88Rp 15.3K
-5.68%
Eggs
$1.36Rp 23.6K
$1.57Rp 27.2K
-13.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$3.32Rp 57.5K
$8.97Rp 155.5K
-62.99%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.53Rp 61.2K
$3.03Rp 52.6K
16.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.29Rp 109.1K
$7.81Rp 135.4K
-19.46%
Apples(1kg)
$1.70Rp 29.5K
$2.35Rp 40.8K
-27.66%
Banana(1kg)
$1.21Rp 21.0K
$1.27Rp 22.1K
-4.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86Rp 32.3K
$1.71Rp 29.6K
8.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.79Rp 13.7K
$1.51Rp 26.3K
-47.68%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79Rp 13.7K
$1.47Rp 25.5K
-46.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89Rp 32.8K
$2.65Rp 46.0K
-28.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.47Rp 8,180
$0.97Rp 16.8K
-51.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.31Rp 5,443
$0.42Rp 7,310
-26.19%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.79Rp 31.1K
$2.60Rp 45.0K
-31.15%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.27Rp 282.1K
$23.38Rp 405.2K
-30.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.46Rp 42.6K
$2.04Rp 35.4K
20.59%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.80Rp 65.9K
$3.41Rp 59.1K
11.44%
🚌 Getting Around
Mataram
Bandung
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.63Rp 10.9K
$0.30Rp 5,160
110.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.37Rp 318.5K
$10.52Rp 182.4K
74.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,285
$0.76Rp 13.2K
-36.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 5,024
$0.76Rp 13.2K
-61.84%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.16Rp 54.7K
$2.55Rp 44.1K
23.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.65Rp 11.2K
$0.79Rp 13.8K
-17.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4KRp 405.9M
$25.0KRp 432.6M
-6.18%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KRp 485.3M
$26.2KRp 454.5M
6.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mataram
Bandung
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.2Rp 870.0K
$43.66Rp 756.7K
14.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.39Rp 76.2K
$4.62Rp 80.1K
-4.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.07Rp 330.6K
$23.01Rp 398.9K
-17.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mataram
Bandung
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.67Rp 462.3K
$21.48Rp 372.2K
24.16%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.66Rp 132.7K
$6.32Rp 109.5K
21.20%
Cinema Ticket
$2.10Rp 36.3K
$3.01Rp 52.1K
-30.23%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mataram
Bandung
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$90.8Rp 1.6M
$92.0Rp 1.6M
-1.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,319Rp 74.9M
$7,439Rp 128.9M
-41.94%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mataram
Bandung
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.80Rp 637.8K
$42.16Rp 730.7K
-12.71%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.84Rp 430.6K
$30.59Rp 530.2K
-18.80%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$61.1Rp 1.1M
$59.3Rp 1.0M
2.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$40.16Rp 696.1K
$64.6Rp 1.1M
-37.81%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mataram
Bandung
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$76.9Rp 1.3M
$238Rp 4.1M
-67.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$128Rp 2.2M
$153Rp 2.7M
-16.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.7M
$455Rp 7.9M
-65.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$265Rp 4.6M
$249Rp 4.3M
6.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,199Rp 20.8M
$755Rp 13.1M
58.68%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$783Rp 13.6M
$318Rp 5.5M
146.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mataram
Bandung
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$202Rp 3.5M
$287Rp 5.0M
-29.39%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9
9.15
-1.64%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mataram: April 27, 2026
Last update for Bandung: April 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $76.9 in Mataram and $238 in Bandung. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Bandung pays 42% 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 Mataram vs $9.00 in Bandung. Groceries flip the comparison at $179 vs $214, with Mataram cheaper for home cooking.
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
Mataram vs Bandung: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Mataram or Bandung?
Mataram wins on cost – living expenses run 10% lower than in Bandung. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Mataram the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Mataram or Bandung?
On paper, Bandung earns 42% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Mataram vs Bandung?
Rent for a central apartment: $76.9 in Mataram versus $238 in Bandung. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Mataram or Bandung?
Supermarket bills run roughly 20% higher in Bandung. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Mataram vs Bandung?
Dining out is cheaper in Mataram – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $9.00 in Bandung. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Mataram or Bandung?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Mataram gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Mataram or Bandung?
Both work as nomad bases, but Mataram delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $577 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Mataram hard to pass up.
How safe is Mataram compared to Bandung?
Safety-wise, Mataram 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Mataram gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Bandung. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.