Beijing VS Jakarta

Cost of Living & Salary Comparison 2026

Beijing
China
43.5
COLI Index
#62
Global Rank
CNY
Currency
Jakarta
Indonesia
24.5
COLI Index
#99
Global Rank
IDR
Currency

Key Differences

Cost of Living
43.5
24.5
1BR Rent (USD/mo)
$1,000
$500
Total Deductions
34.8%
19.1%
Exchange Rate
1 CNY = 2293.0649 IDR

Key Takeaways: Beijing vs Jakarta

Overall, Jakarta is approximately 44% cheaper than Beijing based on our cost of living index. Beijing has a COLI of 43.5 (ranked #62 of 113 cities), while Jakarta has a COLI of 24.5 (ranked #99).

When it comes to housing, one-bedroom apartment rent in Beijing averages $1,000/month compared to $500/month in Jakarta. That makes Jakarta approximately 50% cheaper for rent alone.

Jakarta has lower total deductions (19.1%) compared to Beijing (34.8%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Jakarta. When evaluating a relocation, remember that total deductions directly impact your take-home pay and should be weighed alongside cost of living differences.

Tax & Deductions Comparison

Full breakdown of mandatory payroll deductions for a mid-range salary as a local employee in each city.

Beijing

Income Tax
12%
Five Insurances + Housing Fund
22.5%
Total: 34.8%Take-Home: ¥143,207/yr

Jakarta

Income Tax
14%
BPJS (Health + Employment)
5.0%
Total: 19.1%Take-Home: Rp 229,555,158/yr

Rates shown for local employees. Expat deductions may differ — use the main converter for personalized calculations.

Salary Equivalent

If you earn ¥504,895 in Beijing, you would need approximately Rp 652,069,485 in Jakarta to maintain the same purchasing power. That is 44% less thanks to lower cost of living.

Lifestyle Equivalent by Job Title

COLI-scaled lifestyle equivalents of New York mid-range salaries — not local market pay. For verified/OECD local-market figures see salary pages.

Job Title Beijing (CNY) Jakarta (IDR)
Doctor (General) ¥527,110 Rp 680,760,542
Software Engineer ¥248,913 Rp 321,470,256
Product Manager ¥292,839 Rp 378,200,301
Lawyer ¥292,839 Rp 378,200,301
Data Scientist ¥278,197 Rp 359,290,286
Marketing Manager ¥210,844 Rp 272,304,217
Teacher ¥140,563 Rp 181,536,145
Nurse ¥169,847 Rp 219,356,175

These are COLI lifestyle equivalents of the New York mid baseline, not typical local market pay. See methodology and profession×city salary pages for market figures with source badges.

Neighborhoods

Beijing (Top 5)

NeighborhoodMultiplier
Chaoyang (CBD)1.28x (+28%)
Chaoyang (Sanlitun)1.25x (+25%)
Dongcheng1.22x (+22%)
Guomao1.22x (+22%)
Xicheng1.18x (+18%)

Jakarta (Top 5)

NeighborhoodMultiplier
Menteng1.30x (+30%)
Sudirman (SCBD)1.25x (+25%)
Thamrin1.22x (+22%)
Senopati1.20x (+20%)
Kemang1.18x (+18%)

Get Your Exact Number

Use our converter with 2,400+ neighborhood adjustments for a precise salary comparison

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Beijing or Jakarta more expensive?

Beijing is more expensive overall. Beijing has a COLI of 43.5 while Jakarta has a COLI of 24.5, making Jakarta approximately 44% cheaper.

What salary in Jakarta equals ¥504,895 in Beijing?

To maintain the same standard of living as ¥504,895 in Beijing, you would need approximately Rp 652,069,485 in Jakarta.

Is rent cheaper in Beijing or Jakarta?

Average one-bedroom rent in Beijing is $1,000/month compared to $500/month in Jakarta. Jakarta has lower rent by approximately 50%.

Which city has lower taxes, Beijing or Jakarta?

Jakarta has lower total deductions (19.1%) compared to Beijing (34.8%), meaning you keep more of your gross salary in Jakarta.

Explore Each City

Data Sources & Methodology

Cost of living indices (COLI) are benchmarked to New York City = 100 and derived from Numbeo and Expatistan crowd-sourced price surveys, cross-referenced with national statistics agencies. Rent data from Numbeo Property Prices.

Salary ranges are compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OES), Glassdoor, and PayScale. Tax rates are approximate effective rates for mid-range earners based on OECD Taxing Wages and national tax authorities. Exchange rates from the European Central Bank. Neighborhood multipliers are estimated from local rental indices and property data.

Last updated: 2026-08-31. Data is refreshed periodically. All figures are estimates for informational purposes only.