How Much Does It Cost to Live In Yogyakarta?
The city of Yogyakarta in Indonesia has a very low cost of living, being among the cheapest cities in this country.
It is a moderate sized city on Java island, and many say that due to its low living costs, it’s perfect for residents of Indonesia who are elderly and just want to settle down.
However, it’s a great cultural center and for some, it may be a perfect way to combine a cheap way of living and getting to know the true Indonesian culture.
Indonesia : Cost of Living by City
RESTAURANTS
As anywhere else in the world, it is definitely cheaper to eat the street food than to go out to restaurants. However, in Yogyakarta, even the most fancy restaurants shouldn’t represent a huge luxury. They are usually affordable, though if you’re looking to keep your cost of living in Yogyakarta down, stick to the restaurants where you see locals heading off to.
MARKETS
It’s only natural that eating in your own kitchen is always a cheaper option than eating outside, and there are many people who actually prefer this option when on vacation. So for those people, markets are a valid option, and, especially in Yogyakarta – a much cheaper one, at that. Markets in this city offer a very affordable array of products, fruit and vegetables – more affordable than anywhere else in Indonesia.
TRANSPORTATION
Another great thing about cheap living in Yogyakarta is the fact that the transportation is affordable as well. You can opt for public transportation and pay a ticket less than 0.50$, which, for a tourist coming from the western countries, is ridiculous. When it comes to renting vehicles, the best advice for tourists, is to make friends with the locals and let them take you to a rental shop outside of the main tourist areas.
UTILITIES (MONTHLY)
Utilities, for an apartment of a normal size or a bit larger (of about 85m2) cost less than anywhere else in Indonesia, amounting to less than 60$, including electricity, heating, cooling and water. Cell phone services are considerably lower than in most cities as well, while high-speed internet can get a bit pricey, or even pricier than in other Indonesian cities.
SPORTS & LEISURE
You will have to cash out a bit more money if you want to splurge on sports and fitness activities and pass your time this way. Luckily for you, in Yogyakarta, these are very low prices, and most tourists interested in sports will be able to pay for fitness centers that cost about 15$ a month. Renting a tennis court for an hour costs around 2$ in Yogyakarta! We told you it was cheap!
CLOTHING & SHOES
When it comes to clothing and shoes, this is something that isn’t quite necessary for any tourist, but if you happen to want to go shopping, Yogyakarta is absolutely the best city you can do this in. You can find quality jeans like Levi’s for under 30$, dresses and shirts for just 20$, while quality shoes and sneakers cost just above 50$.
RENT PER MONTH
Like in most countries, living and renting apartments, studios or houses depends on the neighborhood and the type of living facility you’re renting. And, like everything else, in Yogyakarta, regardless of the part of the city, rent is much, much cheaper than in other parts of Indonesia. You can expect an apartment for one or two people in the city center to cost up to 130$, while apartments for larger families can cost twice as much and more, depending on the area where you’re renting.
Cost of Living Averages Table for Yogyakarta
*Note: All prices are indicated in USD.| Average Restaurant Prices | |
|---|---|
| Meal (Inexpensive Restaurant) | $1.72 |
| Domestic Beer (0.5 Liter) | $2.06 |
| Water (0.33 Liter) | $0.38 | Average Market Prices |
| Milk (1 Liter) | $1.14 |
| Loaf Bread (500g) | $0.96 |
| Eggs (12) | $1.10 | Average Transport Prices |
| One Way Ticket | $0.27 |
| Monthly Pass | $6.86 |
| Gasoline | $0.60 | Average Utilities Prices |
| Basic (Water, Electricity, Garbage, Heating, Cooling) | $54.92 |
| 1 min. of Prepaid Mobile Tariff Local | $0.04 |
| Internet (Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) | $62.52 | Average Leisure Prices |
| Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult | $14.46 |
| Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour) | $1.83 |
| Cinema, 1 Seat, International Release | $3.09 | Average Clothing Prices |
| 1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Comparable) | $23.06 |
| 1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, etc...) | $22.79 |
| 1 Pair of Adidas Walking Shoes (Mid-Range) | $52.33 | Average Rent Prices |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Center | $124.71 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Center | $76.88 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Center | $362.68 |
How Does the Average Person Spend Their Money in Yogyakarta?
Taking into consideration the statistics provided, it can be said that people in Yogyakarta spend most their money in supermarkets and markets, buying food and necessities.
Surprisingly, this is closely followed by expenses on transportation, though Indonesia in general is all about the traffic, so it isn’t that surprising.
People in Yogyakarta also spend a lot of money covering their taxes, rent expenses and utilities, which is normal, considering that these are things that need to be paid.
It also seems that people in Yogyakarta practice sports and leisure and enjoy this more than spending their money on clothing and shoes.
Average Costs Breakdown
Yogyakarta: Average Salary, Minimum Wage & Mortgages
Unfortunately, Yogyakarta has a very low minimum wage, amounting to about 100$ monthly, which is nowhere near enough to cover all expenses, even with the low cost of living.
If you’re planning on living modestly in Yogyakarta, you will need somewhere around 500$ per month.
This, however, only applies to tourists living in cities like Yogyakarta where people are used to a more modest life and spend less money.
Average salary in Indonesia is around 250$, which is also not enough to cover all your expenses if you want to afford most things necessary for a living.
Cost of Living by City in Yogyakarta
| City | Cost of Living Index |
|---|---|
| Bali | 31.2 |
| Bandung | 35.58 |
| Jakarta | 31.2 |
| Surabaya | 35.72 |
Cost of living n tangerang