Kos vs apartment cost calculator

Indonesia

The rent in a listing is rarely what leaves your wallet each month. Enter rent, deposit, service charge, bills that are not included, and the commute for two or three options. You get the true monthly cost, the cash you need upfront, and the 12-month total.

Start from an example

Example Jakarta scenarios with rough numbers, not market prices. Replace them with the figures from the listings you are looking at.

Value of your time (Rp per hour, optional)

If filled in, hours spent commuting count as a cost. For example, a Rp 8,000,000 monthly salary over 160 working hours is about Rp 50,000 per hour.

Comparison

Verdict

Enter the rent for at least one option to see results.

	A	B
Rent (per month)	Rp 0	Rp 0
Bills not in the rent	Rp 860.000	Rp 860.000
IPL / service	Rp 0	Rp 0
Parking	Rp 0	Rp 0
Commute fare	Rp 0	Rp 0
True monthly cost	Rp 860.000	Rp 860.000
Commute hours per month	0 h	0 h
Cash upfront	Rp 0	Rp 0
Deposit (refundable, already in cash upfront)	Rp 0	Rp 0
12-month total (without deposit)	Rp 10.320.000	Rp 10.320.000

How it is calculated

Every option uses the same formula.

Rent per month = rent per payment divided by the months it covers. Yearly rent of Rp 54,000,000 becomes Rp 4,500,000.
Bills not in the rent = the sum of electricity, water, wifi, laundry, and cleaning that you did not mark as included.
Commute cost per month = one-way cost x 2 x workdays. One-way cost = base fare + per-km rate x distance, with a minimum fare for ojol.
True monthly cost = rent per month + bills not in the rent + IPL + parking + commute cost.
Cash upfront = one rent payment + deposit + one-time costs. Deposit = deposit months x rent per month.
12-month total = true monthly cost x 12 + one-time costs. The deposit is left out because it is assumed to come back when you leave, and is shown separately.
Commute hours = one-way minutes x 2 x workdays divided by 60. If you enter a value of time, those hours are multiplied by it and added to the comparison.

Worked example

Using the "Kos near the office vs a farther apartment" example.

Kos: rent Rp 2.800.000 per month, electricity and laundry not included (Rp 450.000), walking to the office. True monthly cost Rp 3.250.000, cash upfront Rp 5.600.000, 12-month total Rp 39.000.000.

Apartment: Rp 54,000,000 for 12 months (equal to Rp 4.500.000 per month), bills Rp 960.000, IPL Rp 600.000, KRL/MRT for 14 km so the fare is Rp 286.000 per month. True monthly cost Rp 6.346.000, cash upfront Rp 64.000.000 (including a Rp 9.000.000 deposit), 12-month total Rp 77.152.000.

The gap is Rp 3.096.000 per month. The apartment commute also takes 36,7 hours a month, against 11 hours for the kos.

Assumptions and defaults

This calculator uses no regulations. The default numbers below are rough estimates for Jakarta and its surroundings, so the form is not empty. Replace them with prices from your listing or your own bills.

Ojol motorbike: Rp 2.500 per km, minimum Rp 9.000 per trip. App fares vary by city, time of day, and promos.
KRL, MRT, TransJakarta: Rp 3.000 plus Rp 250 per km one way. TransJakarta is a flat fare while KRL and MRT depend on distance, so this is a middle estimate.
Own motorbike: Rp 400 per km for fuel and upkeep. Tax, parking, and depreciation are not counted.
Own car: Rp 1.700 per km for fuel and upkeep. Toll, parking, tax, and depreciation are not counted.
One workday counts as two trips (there and back), with 22 workdays per month.
Bills not in the rent, per month: electricity Rp 200.000, water Rp 60.000, wifi Rp 300.000, laundry Rp 200.000, cleaning Rp 100.000.
IPL for a studio of about 25 m2: Rp 600.000 per month.
The deposit is assumed to come back in full. If you are not sure it will, use the 12-month total with deposit row in the results.

Defaults last reviewed: 14 November 2026

Frequently asked questions

Is a kos or an apartment cheaper?

There is no general answer. A kos usually wins on monthly cost and upfront cash. An apartment wins when its facilities replace other bills or its location cuts your fare and time on the road. Enter the numbers for both and look at the 12-month total.

Does monthly vs yearly apartment rent change the cost?

The formula is the same: rent per payment divided by the months it covers. The difference is cash. Yearly rent is often cheaper per month but needs far more money upfront. Pick 12 months in the billing field to see both.

What counts as cash upfront?

One rent payment, the deposit, and one-time costs such as furniture or admin fees. With yearly rent, one payment means 12 months at once.

Why is the deposit left out of the 12-month total?

A deposit is normally returned when you move out, so it is not a cost. The money is still tied up, which is why it sits in cash upfront. A 12-month total plus deposit row is there if you want the worst case.

What does living in a kos in Jakarta cost?

It depends on the area and facilities. Take the rent, then add electricity, water, wifi, laundry, and the fare to work. The defaults in this calculator are rough estimates, so enter the price of the kos you are considering.

How is the commute cost calculated?

One-way cost times two trips a day times workdays. For ojol, KRL/MRT, motorbike, and car the per-km rate is an estimate. If you know your exact fare, choose "Enter monthly amount".

What is the value of time for?

A longer commute often means cheaper rent but more hours on the road. Enter an hourly value, for example monthly salary divided by 160, and commute hours count as a cost. Leave it empty if you do not want to price your time.

Are the numbers in this calculator official prices?

No. Every default is a rough estimate and the example scenarios are not market data. The result is only as good as the numbers you enter.

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Note

This calculator compares costs from the numbers you enter. Rents, fares, and bills change, and every landlord sets different deposit terms. Check the contract and real bills before you decide.