Explore Cities/Compare Cities/Jakarta vs Makassar

Jakarta vs Makassar

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Makassar 33% cheaper Moderate / N/A

Jakarta

Athar F/Unsplash

Makassar

Arief Hidayat/Unsplash

Nomad Cost

$1,243

Jakarta

$839

Makassar

Internet

Mbps

Safety

Moderate

Jakarta

N/A

Makassar

Air Quality

5/5

Jakarta

5/5

Makassar

Healthcare

High

Jakarta

N/A

Makassar

Population

10.2m

Jakarta

1.3m

Makassar

Jakarta 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

Budget-conscious nomads take note: Makassar costs $839/mo, saving 33% compared to Jakarta's $1243/mo — that's $4848 per year.

For families, Jakarta costs $2353.961403267884/mo compared to Makassar's $1800.101453918562/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

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

Quality of Life

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

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Jakarta and Makassar.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Jakarta is July (around 37 degrees, 0mm rain, score 453), 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

JakartaMakassar

Nomad$1,243/mo$839/mo

Expat$928/mo$683/mo

Local$673/mo$514/mo

Family$2,354/mo$1,800/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

JakartaMakassar

City Speed

32 Mbps

Country Speed32 Mbps32 Mbps

Environment & Health

JakartaMakassar

Air Quality Score5/55/5

PollutionHighN/A

ClimateModerateN/A

Humidity8085

Quality of Life

JakartaMakassar

SafetyModerateN/A

HealthcareHighN/A

Monthly Weather Comparison

Jakarta

Makassar

Jan

37°

9mm293

36°

11mm87

Feb

37°

7mm293

37°

4mm210

Mar

38°

8mm293

37°

6mm179

Apr

39°

8mm273

38°

3mm282

May

39°

4mm355

38°

1mm346

Jun

37°

2mm385

36°

1mm348

Jul

37°

0mm453

35°

0mm372

Aug

39°

0mm435

35°

0mm374

Sep

38°

1mm419

37°

0mm354

Oct

40°

2mm419

37°

1mm330

Nov

39°

9mm355

37°

6mm271

Dec

36°

9mm262

33°

16mm41

Who Should Choose Jakarta?

Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $1243
Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
Family-friendly at $2353.961403267884/mo for families
Major city energy with 10.2m residents
Peak season in July — 37 degrees, score 453

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

For the typical digital nomad, Jakarta is the stronger pick. At $1243/mo it beats Makassar's $839/mo by 33%, and the 32 Mbps internet handles video calls without issues.

Granular Price Comparison

Jakarta Makassar

ItemJakartaMakassarDiff

🍽️Restaurants8 items

Meal, inexpensive restaurant$2.59$1.3

50%

Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)$22.69$9.72

57%

McMeal or equivalent combo$3.57$3.24

Cappuccino (regular)$2.23$1.78

20%

Domestic beer (0.5L draught)$2.06$2.07

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$3.24$2.92

10%

Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)$0.61$0.5

18%

Water (0.33L)$0.27$0.26

🛒Markets19 items

Milk (1L)$1.3$1.24

White bread (500g)$1.2$1

17%

White rice (1kg)$0.83$0.82

Eggs (12)$1.71$1.47

14%

Chicken fillets (1kg)$3.52$3.65

Beef round (1kg)$8.49$7.45

12%

Local cheese (1kg)$6.9$5.94

14%

Apples (1kg)$2.99$2.51

16%

Bananas (1kg)$1.6$0.86

46%

Oranges (1kg)$2.13$2.28

Tomatoes (1kg)$1.3$0.8

38%

Potatoes (1kg)$1.42$1.02

28%

Onions (1kg)$2.05$1.73

16%

Lettuce (1 head)$1.13$1.04

Water (1.5L bottle)$0.44$0.45

Wine, mid-range bottle$22.69$12.96

43%

Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)$2.17$2.27

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$3.24$3.52

Cigarettes (pack of 20)$2.27$2.07

🚌Transport8 items

One-way local transport ticket$0.23$0.32

28%

Monthly transport pass$11.34$9.72

14%

Taxi start (normal tariff)$0.44$0.58

24%

Taxi per 1km$0.29$0.45

36%

Taxi 1hr waiting$2.92$3.57

18%

Gasoline (1L)$0.81$0.81

Volkswagen Golf (new)$25,992.44$24,955.34

Toyota Corolla (new)$28,106.01$31,761.34

12%

⚡Utilities3 items

Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo$83.88$51.2

39%

Internet 60+ Mbps/mo$31.57$41.59

24%

Mobile prepaid per minute$0.13$0.18

28%

🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items

Fitness club, monthly$30.89$25.12

19%

Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)$11.78$9.18

22%

Cinema, 1 ticket$3.24$2.92

10%

👶Childcare2 items

Preschool, full-day private/mo$138.64$53.8

61%

International primary school/yr$9,667.3$4,861.43

50%

👗Clothing4 items

Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)$39.51$45.36

13%

Summer dress (chain store)$25.16$22.69

10%

Nike running shoes (mid-range)$72.38$75.35

Men's leather business shoes$79.85$47.97

40%

🏠Rent4 items

1-bedroom apartment, city centre$505.59$170.15

66%

1-bedroom apartment, outside centre$277.43$77.78

72%

3-bedroom apartment, city centre$1,172.14$421.32

64%

3-bedroom apartment, outside centre$615.04$162.05

74%

🏗️Buy2 items

Price per m², city centre$2,632.8$1,296.38

51%

Price per m², outside centre$1,241.09$421.32

66%

💰Finance2 items

Average monthly net salary$509.12$231.19

55%

Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)$9.05$10.67

15%

Lower is better for all cost items.

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

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