Cost of Living Comparison Between Semarang and Encarnacion Cost of Living Comparison Between Semarang and Encarnacion

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $652 in Semarang versus $766 in Encarnacion.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,022 in Semarang versus $1,044 in Encarnacion.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,391 in Semarang versus $1,322 in Encarnacion.

Living in Semarang costs roughly 15% less than in Encarnacion, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Semarang 51% lower, Encarnacion 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.80 Rp 32.2K

$3.31 ₲20.1K

-45.62%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.32 Rp 220.0K

$28.76 ₲175.3K

-57.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.69 Rp 65.8K

$4.68 ₲28.5K

-21.15%

Cappuccino

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

$1.03 ₲6,257

45.63%

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

$0.52 Rp 9,317

$1.51 ₲9,221

-65.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 Rp 4,815

$0.51 ₲3,083

-47.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.99 Rp 35.5K

$2.16 ₲13.2K

-7.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.01 Rp 53.7K

$2.11 ₲12.8K

42.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.02 Rp 18.3K

$0.87 ₲5,306

17.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 Rp 18.4K

$0.47 ₲2,871

119.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$0.81 ₲4,946

-1.23%

Eggs

$1.52 Rp 27.2K

$1.65 ₲10.1K

-7.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.11 Rp 109.1K

$5.38 ₲32.8K

13.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.93 Rp 52.4K

$3.35 ₲20.4K

-12.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.73 Rp 155.9K

$5.57 ₲34.0K

56.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.59 Rp 46.2K

$2.14 ₲13.1K

21.03%

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.4K

$0.82 ₲5,013

93.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 Rp 33.6K

$0.86 ₲5,239

118.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 Rp 28.2K

$1.72 ₲10.5K

-8.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 Rp 23.2K

$0.86 ₲5,264

51.16%

Onion (1kg)

$1.88 Rp 33.6K

$0.89 ₲5,411

111.24%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.91 Rp 16.2K

$0.55 ₲3,369

65.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,272

$0.55 ₲3,338

-25.45%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 Rp 40.3K

$1.48 ₲9,002

52.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.10 Rp 251.8K

$5.37 ₲32.7K

162.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.58 Rp 46.1K

$0.80 ₲4,897

222.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.88 Rp 51.3K

$1.47 ₲8,985

95.92%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 Rp 4,643

$0.46 ₲2,826

-43.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$13.11 Rp 234.0K

$35.10 ₲213.9K

-62.65%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

$1.27 ₲7,756

-26.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,613

$0.66 ₲4,023

-53.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.88 Rp 51.4K

$6.70 ₲40.8K

-57.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

$1.02 ₲6,215

-15.69%

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

$24.5K Rp 438.2M

$14.2K ₲86.7M

72.56%

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

$31.2K Rp 556.5M

$25.8K ₲157.3M

20.71%

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

$94.0 Rp 1.7M

$44.78 ₲272.9K

109.87%

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

$2.74 Rp 48.9K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.89 Rp 426.6K

$16.95 ₲103.3K

40.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.84 Rp 425.7K

$27.20 ₲165.8K

-12.35%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.06 Rp 90.3K

$12.87 ₲78.4K

-60.68%

Cinema Ticket

$3.05 Rp 54.4K

$5.88 ₲35.8K

-48.13%

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

$44.50 Rp 794.6K

$195 ₲1.2M

-77.19%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,399 Rp 42.8M

$3,258 ₲19.9M

-26.37%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.42 Rp 668.3K

$56.2 ₲342.5K

-33.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.67 Rp 583.4K

$27.81 ₲169.5K

17.48%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.9 Rp 1.2M

$66.9 ₲407.4K

0.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$43.76 Rp 781.5K

$69.8 ₲425.6K

-37.33%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 Rp 4.6M

$392 ₲2.4M

-34.91%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$154 Rp 2.7M

$307 ₲1.9M

-49.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$536 Rp 9.6M

$385 ₲2.3M

39.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$413 Rp 7.4M

$277 ₲1.7M

49.05%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,187 Rp 21.2M

$1,498 ₲9.1M

-20.78%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$564 Rp 10.1M

$1,090 ₲6.6M

-48.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$184 Rp 3.3M

$307 ₲1.9M

-40.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.83

9.5

-17.58%

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

Last update for Semarang: May 30, 2026

Last update for Encarnacion: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $255 in Semarang and $392 in Encarnacion. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Encarnacion pays 67% 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: $12.00 in Semarang vs $29.00 in Encarnacion. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $131, with Encarnacion 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

Semarang vs Encarnacion: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Semarang and Encarnacion differ by about 18% in total monthly costs ($652 vs $766 including rent). Semarang is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Encarnacion earns 67% less. 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 Semarang versus $392 in Encarnacion. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $652 per month in Semarang versus $766 in Encarnacion – a 18% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Semarang runs roughly 168% less than in Encarnacion. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Semarang and Encarnacion 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 Semarang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 18% less than in Encarnacion. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.