Explore Cities/Compare Cities/Bandung vs Makassar

Bandung vs Makassar

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Makassar 10% cheaper Moderate / N/A

Bandung

Dwinanda Nurhanif Mujito/Unsplash

Makassar

Arief Hidayat/Unsplash

Nomad Cost

$936

Bandung

$839

Makassar

Internet

Mbps

Safety

Moderate

Bandung

N/A

Makassar

Air Quality

5/5

Bandung

5/5

Makassar

Healthcare

Moderate

Bandung

N/A

Makassar

Population

2.4m

Bandung

1.3m

Makassar

Bandung and Makassar are both in Indonesia, making this one of the most common comparisons for digital nomads planning a base in the region. This guide breaks down the key differences across cost, internet, safety, weather, and quality of life.

Cost of Living

Makassar has a modest cost advantage at $839/mo compared to Bandung's $936/mo — a 10% gap that matters over time.

For families, Bandung costs $1181.524847056311/mo compared to Makassar's $1800.101453918562/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

Internet speeds are nearly identical — Bandung at 32 Mbps and Makassar at 32 Mbps. Both handle video calls and uploads well.

Quality of Life

Both Bandung and Makassar share the same safety rating — travelers can feel equally comfortable in either city.

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Bandung and Makassar.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Bandung is July (around 30 degrees, 0mm rain, score 429), while Makassar peaks in August (35 degrees, 0mm rain, score 374). Timing your stay around these months can make a big difference in your experience.

Cost of Living

BandungMakassar

Nomad$936/mo$839/mo

Expat$625/mo$683/mo

Local$338/mo$514/mo

Family$1,182/mo$1,800/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

BandungMakassar

City Speed

32 Mbps

Country Speed32 Mbps32 Mbps

Environment & Health

BandungMakassar

Air Quality Score5/55/5

PollutionHighN/A

ClimateHighN/A

Humidity8785

Quality of Life

BandungMakassar

SafetyModerateN/A

HealthcareModerateN/A

Monthly Weather Comparison

Bandung

Makassar

Jan

31°

3mm249

36°

11mm87

Feb

32°

7mm326

37°

4mm210

Mar

32°

5mm326

37°

6mm179

Apr

33°

9mm346

38°

3mm282

May

32°

1mm405

38°

1mm346

Jun

31°

1mm377

36°

1mm348

Jul

30°

0mm429

35°

0mm372

Aug

32°

0mm429

35°

0mm374

Sep

32°

0mm429

37°

0mm354

Oct

34°

0mm405

37°

1mm330

Nov

33°

9mm326

37°

6mm271

Dec

30°

6mm265

33°

16mm41

Who Should Choose Bandung?

Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $936
Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
Family-friendly at $1181.524847056311/mo for families
Major city energy with 2.4m residents
Peak season in July — 30 degrees, score 429

Who Should Choose Makassar?

Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $839
Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
Family-friendly at $1800.101453918562/mo for families
Peak season in August — 35 degrees, score 374

Overall Verdict

The data favors Bandung as the more well-rounded choice. At $936/mo versus Makassar's $839/mo, that is a 10% saving that adds up significantly on an extended stay.

Granular Price Comparison

Bandung Makassar

ItemBandungMakassarDiff

🍽️Restaurants8 items

Meal, inexpensive restaurant$1.3$1.3

Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)$11.34$9.72

14%

McMeal or equivalent combo$3.24$3.24

Cappuccino (regular)$1.83$1.78

Domestic beer (0.5L draught)$2.59$2.07

20%

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$4$2.92

27%

Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)$0.59$0.5

15%

Water (0.33L)$0.31$0.26

16%

🛒Markets19 items

Milk (1L)$1.11$1.24

10%

White bread (500g)$0.93$1

White rice (1kg)$0.81$0.82

Eggs (12)$1.5$1.47

Chicken fillets (1kg)$2.84$3.65

22%

Beef round (1kg)$8.43$7.45

12%

Local cheese (1kg)$8.59$5.94

31%

Apples (1kg)$2.06$2.51

18%

Bananas (1kg)$1.27$0.86

32%

Oranges (1kg)$1.17$2.28

49%

Tomatoes (1kg)$1.03$0.8

22%

Potatoes (1kg)$1.06$1.02

Onions (1kg)$1.83$1.73

Lettuce (1 head)$1.02$1.04

Water (1.5L bottle)$0.43$0.45

Wine, mid-range bottle$19.45$12.96

33%

Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)$2.16$2.27

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$3.48$3.52

Cigarettes (pack of 20)$2.25$2.07

🚌Transport8 items

One-way local transport ticket$0.58$0.32

45%

Monthly transport pass$14.09$9.72

31%

Taxi start (normal tariff)$0.97$0.58

40%

Taxi per 1km$0.45$0.45

Taxi 1hr waiting$3.24$3.57

Gasoline (1L)$0.8$0.81

Volkswagen Golf (new)$32,409.53$24,955.34

23%

Toyota Corolla (new)$24,503.77$31,761.34

23%

⚡Utilities3 items

Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo$34.32$51.2

33%

Internet 60+ Mbps/mo$36.58$41.59

12%

Mobile prepaid per minute$0.16$0.18

11%

🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items

Fitness club, monthly$23.24$25.12

Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)$8.91$9.18

Cinema, 1 ticket$3.24$2.92

10%

👶Childcare2 items

Preschool, full-day private/mo$71.84$53.8

25%

International primary school/yr$5,190.41$4,861.43

👗Clothing4 items

Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)$36.73$45.36

19%

Summer dress (chain store)$23.05$22.69

Nike running shoes (mid-range)$56.49$75.35

25%

Men's leather business shoes$61.58$47.97

22%

🏠Rent4 items

1-bedroom apartment, city centre$206.34$170.15

18%

1-bedroom apartment, outside centre$140.58$77.78

45%

3-bedroom apartment, city centre$429.43$421.32

3-bedroom apartment, outside centre$294.93$162.05

45%

🏗️Buy2 items

Price per m², city centre$1,143.43$1,296.38

12%

Price per m², outside centre$577.97$421.32

27%

💰Finance2 items

Average monthly net salary$291.36$231.19

21%

Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)$10.4$10.67

Lower is better for all cost items.

Data from Open-Meteo (weather) and global internet speed rankings. Updated monthly.

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