Living on a budget in the city doesn’t always have to burn a hole in your pocket. Surprise! There are some cities in Indonesia where you can stretch your rupiah a bit further. The scoop comes from the Badan Pusat Statistik (BPS) through their 2022 Cost of Living Survey. Let’s spill the beans on cities with the cheapest living costs and those that might make your wallet shed a tear.
Living on a Budget: Cities in Indonesia with Low Living Costs
The BPS survey reveals that Cilacap takes the crown for the city with the lowest living costs in Indonesia. Living there sets you back around Rp 5.37 million per month, a slight bump from the previous Rp 4.88 million in the 2018 survey.
- Cilacap, Central Java: Rp 5.37 million (per month)
2. 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, if you’re eyeing a fancier lifestyle, you might want to steer clear of these cities – they’re not exactly gentle on the wallet. The undisputed champ in high living costs is none other than the bustling capital, DKI Jakarta, where living might set you back a whopping Rp 14.88 million per month.
- DKI Jakarta: Rp 14.88 million (per month)
2. 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 Cost of Living Survey (Survei Biaya Hidup or SBH) isn’t just about numbers; it’s a key ingredient in calculating the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to measure inflation. To keep things relevant, the weighting pattern and the package of goods and services are updated every five years. The SBH 2022, the 13th edition, expanded its coverage to 150 regencies/cities from 38 provinces, compared to the previous 90 regencies/cities.
The survey takes into account consumption costs, covering everything from food, drinks, and petrol to mobile phone credit.
So, there you have it – the list of cities with the cheapest and most expensive living costs in Indonesia, straight from the Badan Pusat Statistik. Whether you’re counting your pennies or ready to splurge, there’s a city for every budget in this archipelago.
