Living on a budget in the city doesn’t always have to drain your wallet, at least not in every corner of Indonesia. Surprisingly, there are cities where the cost of living won’t make your bank account cry.
This intel comes straight from the Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) through their 2022 Survei Biaya Hidup (Cost of Living Survey). So, which cities made the cut for the cheapest living costs in Indonesia? Let’s spill the beans.
Cities in Indonesia with Low Living Costs
According to the BPS survey, Cilacap takes the crown as the city with the lowest cost of living in Indonesia. Living in Cilacap sets you back around Rp 5.37 million per month, a slight increase from Rp 4.88 million in the 2018 survey.
Next up is Maumere, rocking the second spot with a living cost of Rp 5.52 million per month. Following closely in third place is Sibolga, where you’d need around Rp 5.68 million monthly to keep the lights on.
Positions four to six are claimed by a trio of cities in Central Java – Kudus (Rp 5.71 million per month), Tegal (Rp 5.86 million per month), and Purwokerto (Rp 5.88 million per month).
Here’s a quick rundown of the top 10 cities in Indonesia with the lowest living costs:
- Cilacap, Central Java: Rp 5.37 million (per month)
- Maumere, East Nusa Tenggara: Rp 5.52 million
- Sibolga, North Sumatra: Rp 5.68 million
- Kudus, Central Java: Rp 5.71 million
- Tegal, Central Java: Rp 5.86 million
- Purwokerto, Central Java: Rp 5.88 million
- Singaraja, Bali: Rp 5.97 million
- Sumenep, Madura, East Java: Rp 5.99 million
- Jember, East Java: Rp 6.09 million
- Waingapu, East Nusa Tenggara: Rp 6.15 million
Cities in Indonesia with High Living Costs
Now, let’s talk about where your wallet might feel a bit more weightless. The title for the city with the highest living cost goes to none other than DKI Jakarta. BPS data shows that living in Jakarta will set you back a whopping Rp 14.88 million per month.
Bekasi claims the second spot with a living cost of Rp 14.34 million per month. Surabaya takes the bronze, where you’d need around Rp 13.36 million per month to navigate the city.
Here are the top 10 cities in Indonesia with the highest living costs:
- DKI Jakarta: Rp 14.88 million (per month)
- Bekasi, West Java: Rp 14.34 million
- Surabaya, East Java: Rp 13.36 million
- Depok, West Java: Rp 12.35 million
- Makassar, South Sulawesi: Rp 11.5 million
- Tangerang, Banten: Rp 10.96 million
- Bogor, West Java: Rp 10.73 million
- Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi: Rp 10.23 million
- Batam, Riau Islands: Rp 10.03 million
- Balikpapan, East Kalimantan: Rp 9.87 million
About the SBH 2022 Survey
The Survei Biaya Hidup (Cost of Living Survey) is a crucial component in calculating the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation. To keep the CPI relevant, the weighting patterns and commodity packages need updating every five years, with the previous SBH conducted in 2018.
SBH 2022 is the 13th edition of this survey, expanding its coverage to 150 districts/cities across 38 provinces, up from the previous 90 districts/cities. This survey factors in consumption costs, including food, drinks, fuel, and even mobile credit.
So, whether you’re aiming for budget-friendly living or ready to embrace the high life, these cities in Indonesia offer options for every wallet size.
