Explore Cities/Compare Cities/Makassar vs Semarang

Makassar vs Semarang

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

N/A / Moderate

Makassar

Arief Hidayat/Unsplash

Semarang

Supri Yanto/Unsplash

Nomad Cost

$839

Makassar

$825

Semarang

Internet

Mbps

Safety

N/A

Makassar

Moderate

Semarang

Air Quality

5/5

Makassar

5/5

Semarang

Healthcare

N/A

Makassar

Moderate

Semarang

Population

1.3m

Makassar

1.6m

Semarang

Makassar and Semarang 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

Both cities sit in a similar price range — Makassar at $839/mo and Semarang at $825/mo — so cost alone is not a deciding factor here.

For families, Makassar costs $1800.101453918562/mo compared to Semarang's $1605.588646314858/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

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

Quality of Life

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

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Makassar and Semarang.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Makassar is August (around 35 degrees, 0mm rain, score 374), while Semarang peaks in July (35 degrees, 0mm rain, score 397). Timing your stay around these months can make a big difference in your experience.

Cost of Living

MakassarSemarang

Nomad$839/mo$825/mo

Expat$683/mo$603/mo

Local$514/mo$459/mo

Family$1,800/mo$1,606/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

MakassarSemarang

City Speed

32 Mbps

Country Speed32 Mbps32 Mbps

Environment & Health

MakassarSemarang

Air Quality Score5/55/5

PollutionN/AModerate

ClimateN/AModerate

Humidity8588

Quality of Life

MakassarSemarang

SafetyN/AModerate

HealthcareN/AModerate

Monthly Weather Comparison

Makassar

Semarang

Jan

36°

11mm87

34°

8mm237

Feb

37°

4mm210

35°

5mm222

Mar

37°

6mm179

36°

6mm253

Apr

38°

3mm282

37°

5mm319

May

38°

1mm346

37°

1mm373

Jun

36°

1mm348

36°

1mm368

Jul

35°

0mm372

35°

0mm397

Aug

35°

0mm374

36°

0mm397

Sep

37°

0mm354

36°

0mm397

Oct

37°

1mm330

37°

0mm382

Nov

37°

6mm271

36°

7mm319

Dec

33°

16mm41

34°

15mm207

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 Semarang?

Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $825
Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
Family-friendly at $1605.588646314858/mo for families
Peak season in July — 35 degrees, score 397

Overall Verdict

The data favors Semarang as the more well-rounded choice. At $825/mo versus Makassar's $839/mo, that is a 2% saving that adds up significantly on an extended stay.

Granular Price Comparison

Makassar Semarang

ItemMakassarSemarangDiff

🍽️Restaurants8 items

Meal, inexpensive restaurant$1.3$1.3

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

McMeal or equivalent combo$3.24$3.24

Cappuccino (regular)$1.78$1.34

25%

Domestic beer (0.5L draught)$2.07$2.48

17%

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$2.92$2.59

11%

Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)$0.5$0.42

16%

Water (0.33L)$0.26$0.2

23%

🛒Markets19 items

Milk (1L)$1.24$1.13

White bread (500g)$1$0.97

White rice (1kg)$0.82$0.81

Eggs (12)$1.47$1.29

12%

Chicken fillets (1kg)$3.65$2.96

19%

Beef round (1kg)$7.45$7.24

Local cheese (1kg)$5.94$6.15

Apples (1kg)$2.51$2.3

Bananas (1kg)$0.86$1.3

34%

Oranges (1kg)$2.28$1.15

50%

Tomatoes (1kg)$0.8$0.86

Potatoes (1kg)$1.02$1.15

11%

Onions (1kg)$1.73$1.38

20%

Lettuce (1 head)$1.04$0.55

47%

Water (1.5L bottle)$0.45$0.36

20%

Wine, mid-range bottle$12.96$12.15

Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)$2.27$2.03

11%

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$3.52$2.98

15%

Cigarettes (pack of 20)$2.07$1.94

🚌Transport8 items

One-way local transport ticket$0.32$0.23

28%

Monthly transport pass$9.72$18.18

47%

Taxi start (normal tariff)$0.58$0.58

Taxi per 1km$0.45$0.32

29%

Taxi 1hr waiting$3.57$2.11

41%

Gasoline (1L)$0.81$0.79

Volkswagen Golf (new)$24,955.34$23,334.86

Toyota Corolla (new)$31,761.34$27,914.38

12%

⚡Utilities3 items

Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo$51.2$40.19

22%

Internet 60+ Mbps/mo$41.59$28.38

32%

Mobile prepaid per minute$0.18$0.1

44%

🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items

Fitness club, monthly$25.12$29.17

14%

Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)$9.18$12.15

24%

Cinema, 1 ticket$2.92$3.24

10%

👶Childcare2 items

Preschool, full-day private/mo$53.8$75.62

29%

International primary school/yr$4,861.43$6,009.65

19%

👗Clothing4 items

Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)$45.36$32.39

29%

Summer dress (chain store)$22.69$22.69

Nike running shoes (mid-range)$75.35$64.82

14%

Men's leather business shoes$47.97$37.81

21%

🏠Rent4 items

1-bedroom apartment, city centre$170.15$259.28

34%

1-bedroom apartment, outside centre$77.78$194.46

60%

3-bedroom apartment, city centre$421.32$680.6

38%

3-bedroom apartment, outside centre$162.05$550.96

71%

🏗️Buy2 items

Price per m², city centre$1,296.38$1,215.36

Price per m², outside centre$421.32$378.11

10%

💰Finance2 items

Average monthly net salary$231.19$269

14%

Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)$10.67$8.69

19%

Lower is better for all cost items.

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

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