Explore Cities/Compare Cities/Makassar vs Pekanbaru

Makassar vs Pekanbaru

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Makassar 5% cheaper N/A / N/A

Makassar

Arief Hidayat/Unsplash

Pekanbaru

Frank Zhang/Unsplash

Nomad Cost

$839

Makassar

$884

Pekanbaru

Internet

Mbps

Safety

N/A

Makassar

N/A

Pekanbaru

Air Quality

5/5

Makassar

5/5

Pekanbaru

Healthcare

N/A

Makassar

N/A

Pekanbaru

Population

1.3m

Makassar

882.0k

Pekanbaru

Makassar and Pekanbaru 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

The cost difference is noticeable: Makassar at $839/mo is 5% cheaper than Pekanbaru at $884/mo, worth considering for extended stays.

For families, Makassar costs $1800.101453918562/mo compared to Pekanbaru's $1605.391825712847/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

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

Quality of Life

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

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Makassar and Pekanbaru.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Makassar is August (around 35 degrees, 0mm rain, score 374), while Pekanbaru peaks in July (38 degrees, 1mm rain, score 311). Timing your stay around these months can make a big difference in your experience.

Cost of Living

MakassarPekanbaru

Nomad$839/mo$884/mo

Expat$683/mo$734/mo

Local$514/mo$459/mo

Family$1,800/mo$1,605/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

MakassarPekanbaru

City Speed

32 Mbps

Country Speed32 Mbps32 Mbps

Environment & Health

MakassarPekanbaru

Air Quality Score5/55/5

PollutionN/AN/A

ClimateN/AN/A

Humidity8597

Quality of Life

MakassarPekanbaru

SafetyN/AN/A

HealthcareN/AN/A

Monthly Weather Comparison

Makassar

Pekanbaru

Jan

36°

11mm87

36°

18mm134

Feb

37°

4mm210

38°

8mm180

Mar

37°

6mm179

39°

7mm267

Apr

38°

3mm282

41°

11mm188

May

38°

1mm346

40°

6mm267

Jun

36°

1mm348

38°

6mm267

Jul

35°

0mm372

38°

1mm311

Aug

35°

0mm374

37°

5mm278

Sep

37°

0mm354

39°

6mm288

Oct

37°

1mm330

39°

3mm311

Nov

37°

6mm271

37°

11mm142

Dec

33°

16mm41

37°

7mm180

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

Who Should Choose Pekanbaru?

Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $884
Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
Family-friendly at $1605.391825712847/mo for families
Peak season in July — 38 degrees, score 311

Overall Verdict

For the typical digital nomad, Makassar is the stronger pick. At $839/mo it beats Pekanbaru's $884/mo by 5%, and the 32 Mbps internet handles video calls without issues.

Granular Price Comparison

Makassar Pekanbaru

ItemMakassarPekanbaruDiff

🍽️Restaurants8 items

Meal, inexpensive restaurant$1.3$2.11

38%

Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)$9.72$11.02

12%

McMeal or equivalent combo$3.24$2.92

10%

Cappuccino (regular)$1.78$1.3

27%

Domestic beer (0.5L draught)$2.07$2.59

20%

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$2.92$2.92

Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)$0.5$0.99

49%

Water (0.33L)$0.26$0.36

28%

🛒Markets19 items

Milk (1L)$1.24$1.12

10%

White bread (500g)$1$0.97

White rice (1kg)$0.82$1.08

24%

Eggs (12)$1.47$1.69

13%

Chicken fillets (1kg)$3.65$2.27

38%

Beef round (1kg)$7.45$9.72

23%

Local cheese (1kg)$5.94—

—

Apples (1kg)$2.51$2.92

14%

Bananas (1kg)$0.86$1.43

40%

Oranges (1kg)$2.28$0.75

67%

Tomatoes (1kg)$0.8$0.65

19%

Potatoes (1kg)$1.02$0.58

43%

Onions (1kg)$1.73$0.97

44%

Lettuce (1 head)$1.04—

—

Water (1.5L bottle)$0.45$0.43

Wine, mid-range bottle$12.96—

—

Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)$2.27—

—

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$3.52—

—

Cigarettes (pack of 20)$2.07$2.4

14%

🚌Transport8 items

One-way local transport ticket$0.32$0.26

19%

Monthly transport pass$9.72$25.93

63%

Taxi start (normal tariff)$0.58$0.75

23%

Taxi per 1km$0.45$0.52

13%

Taxi 1hr waiting$3.57$1.78

50%

Gasoline (1L)$0.81$0.94

14%

Volkswagen Golf (new)$24,955.34$19,445.72

22%

Toyota Corolla (new)$31,761.34$17,177.05

46%

⚡Utilities3 items

Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo$51.2—

—

Internet 60+ Mbps/mo$41.59$24.85

40%

Mobile prepaid per minute$0.18$0.26

31%

🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items

Fitness club, monthly$25.12$22.69

10%

Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)$9.18$5.19

43%

Cinema, 1 ticket$2.92$4.05

28%

👶Childcare2 items

Preschool, full-day private/mo$53.8$113.43

53%

International primary school/yr$4,861.43$4,537.33

👗Clothing4 items

Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)$45.36$29.17

36%

Summer dress (chain store)$22.69$34.57

34%

Nike running shoes (mid-range)$75.35$61.58

18%

Men's leather business shoes$47.97$41.05

14%

🏠Rent4 items

1-bedroom apartment, city centre$170.15$356.5

52%

1-bedroom apartment, outside centre$77.78$121

36%

3-bedroom apartment, city centre$421.32$388.91

3-bedroom apartment, outside centre$162.05$291.69

44%

🏗️Buy2 items

Price per m², city centre$1,296.38—

—

Price per m², outside centre$421.32—

—

💰Finance2 items

Average monthly net salary$231.19$334.9

31%

Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)$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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