Cost Of Living in Palembang 2025

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Palembang

Whether you're living in Palembang or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Palembang is 16M IDR. Expenses can range from 2.3M IDR at the minimum level to 110M IDR at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Palembang is 27M IDR. Expenditure can range from 8.9M IDR to 140M IDR per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Palembang is 36M IDR per month. Families spend anywhere from 12M IDR to 230M IDR.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Palembang is 12M IDR. Students spend from 1.8M IDR to 79M IDR per month.

Expenditure to Income Ratio in Palembang

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Palembang is 89% This means that on average, people spend around 89% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 16% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
80%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

73%

88%

Couple
84%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

77%

93%

Family
93%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

86%

100%

How do people spend their money in Palembang?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Palembang typically spend from 13% to 32% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 24% being the average. The average spend on housing is 7M IDR with expenditure ranging from 530,000 IDR to 70M IDR. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Palembang ranges from 4% to 11% of total expenses with 7% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 1.2M IDR with 89,000 IDR and 12M IDR being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 180,000 IDR to 23M IDR on commuting with 2.3M IDR being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 7% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 11%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Palembang is 5.8M IDR. The cost of groceries can range between 450,000 IDR to 58M IDR. People spend on average about 28% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 20% and 34% respectively.

People in Palembang allocate 5% to 13% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 10%. The range of medical expenses range from 120,000 IDR to 16M IDR with 1.6M IDR being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 71,000 IDR to 9.3M IDR with 930,000 IDR being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 9% of total expenses with an average of 5% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 5% of the monthly expenditure with 3% and 11% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 1.4M IDR per month with 110,000 IDR being the minimum spent amount and 14M IDR being the maximum.

How much money can you save in Palembang every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Palembang manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 63% of the surveyed people in Palembang said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 37% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Palembang

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 12% to 32% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 20% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 7.4M IDR on average with savings ranging from 570,000 IDR to 74M IDR.

63% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 58% of couples said the same. 52% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Palembang?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 15% to 35% of their monthly income to savings, with 24% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 5.1M IDR with 570,000 IDR and 34M IDR being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 13% to 33% of their monthly income, with 22% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 8.5M IDR with 2.8M IDR and 45M IDR being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Palembang can save anywhere between 11% to 30% of their monthly income, with 19% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 11M IDR with 4M IDR and 74M IDR being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Palembang

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Palembang. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 5% of the people said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 8% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 15% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 11% blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 20% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 13% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for people in Palembang

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Palembang

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Palembang?

Around 59% of surveyed residents think that living in Palembang is affordable with proper budgeting while 42% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Palembang

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked residents how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options61%

Few low-cost options39%

Based on the survey, 61% of the people living in Palembang have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 39% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked residents of Palembang whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes59%

No42%

Based on the survey, 42% of the people living in Palembang said that they don't have an emergency fund while 59% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Indonesia

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy51%

We asked residents of Indonesia whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 49% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 51% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether residents of Indonesia have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 39% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 61% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance39%

Easily manages finances61%

Financial goals of people in Palembang

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Palembang, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 8% of those who participated in the survey said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 40% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 10% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 7% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 18% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 7% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 8% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 12% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Palembang

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Palembang and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in Indonesia is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents of Palembang about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Palembang

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Palembang

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 27% of the people in Palembang have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 73% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Palembang

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 31% of the people's monthly income in Palembang goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Palembang pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 16% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 14% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 16% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 12% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Palembang

10% of debtors in Palembang confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 28% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 17% of people and personal loans rose at 41%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Palembang.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Palembang

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked residents of Palembang how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Palembang

Rent Cost in Palembang

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

2M IDR

2.9M IDR

7.8M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120

$190

$500

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

2.9M IDR

4.7M IDR

12M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$190

$300

$750

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

3.9M IDR

5.9M IDR

16M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$250

$370

$1,000

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

4.7M IDR

7.8M IDR

21M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$300

$500

$1,400

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

9.4M IDR

24M IDR

47M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$600

$1,500

$3,000

Townhouse monthly rent cost

7.8M IDR

12M IDR

34M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$500

$750

$2,100

House monthly rent cost

9.4M IDR

24M IDR

47M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$600

$1,500

$3,000

Villa monthly rent cost

12M IDR

29M IDR

47M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$750

$1,900

$3,000

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Palembang ranges between 2M IDR and 7.8M IDR, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 2.9M IDR to 12M IDR. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 3.9M IDR and 16M IDR per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 4.7M IDR to 21M IDR. The average rent of a townhouse in Palembang is around 12M IDR while house rental costs can be as high as 24M IDR per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 12M IDR to 47M IDR per month.

Apartment and house prices in Palembang

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

390M IDR

590M IDR

1,200M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$25,000

$37,000

$75,000

1-bedroom apartment price

470M IDR

780M IDR

2,900M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$30,000

$50,000

$190,000

2-bedroom apartment price

780M IDR

2,400M IDR

4,700M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$50,000

$150,000

$300,000

3-bedroom apartment price

2,600M IDR

3,900M IDR

12,000M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$170,000

$250,000

$750,000

Townhouse price

3,400M IDR

7,800M IDR

29,000M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$210,000

$500,000

$1.9M

House price

3,900M IDR

24,000M IDR

34,000M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$250,000

$1.5M

$2.1M

Villa price

4,700M IDR

26,000M IDR

39,000M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$300,000

$1.7M

$2.5M

The average price of a studio apartment in Palembang can range from 390M IDR to 1,200M IDR depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 470M IDR to 2,900M IDR. A villa can cost you 26,000M IDR on average with prices ranging from 4,700M IDR to 39,000M IDR.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Palembang can be x108 to x211 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x108 multiples of the average monthly salary in Palembang.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Palembang is around 31%. This means that people pay 31% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 21% to 42% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Palembang

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Palembang

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Individual

140,000 IDR

960,000 IDR

6.4M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8.6

$61

$410

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

360,000 IDR

1.2M IDR

7.8M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$23

$76

$500

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

620,000 IDR

1.8M IDR

12M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$40

$110

$740

Internet and cable cost

120,000 IDR

240,000 IDR

310,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.5

$15

$20

Mobile phone bill and charges

94,000 IDR

160,000 IDR

470,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6

$10

$30

The average monthly expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Palembang ranges between 140,000 IDR and 6.4M IDR with average being 960,000 IDR, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 1.2M IDR with 360,000 IDR and 7.8M IDR being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 1.8M IDR. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and ranges from 120,000 IDR to 310,000 IDR with 240,000 IDR being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 160,000 IDR but can range between 94,000 IDR and 470,000 IDR depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Palembang is around 6.3%. This means that people pay 6.3% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 3.1% to 11% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Palembang

Prices and cost of goods and services in Palembang

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

24,000 IDR

47,000 IDR

78,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.5

$3

$5

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Palembang is approximatly 47,000 IDR with meal cost ranging from 24,000 IDR to 78,000 IDR. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

78,000 IDR

120,000 IDR

240,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5

$7.5

$15

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 78,000 IDR and 240,000 IDR with 120,000 IDR being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Palembang.

Fine dining meal for one price

160,000 IDR

240,000 IDR

940,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$10

$15

$60

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 160,000 IDR to 940,000 IDR with the average cost being 240,000 IDR for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Palembang.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

20,000 IDR

31,000 IDR

47,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.2

$2

$3

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Palembang is around 31,000 IDR. Price ranges between 20,000 IDR and 47,000 IDR depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

16,000 IDR

19,000 IDR

24,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.00

$1.2

$1.5

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Palembang is 19,000 IDR. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 24,000 IDR and the minimum being 16,000 IDR depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

12,000 IDR

16,000 IDR

24,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.75

$1.00

$1.5

A dozen eggs costs around 16,000 IDR on average with 12,000 IDR and 24,000 IDR being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

27,000 IDR

35,000 IDR

49,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.7

$2.2

$3.1

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Palembang is between 27,000 IDR and 49,000 IDR depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 35,000 IDR.

Pack of beef price

31,000 IDR

47,000 IDR

94,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2

$3

$6

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 47,000 IDR. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

13,000 IDR

17,000 IDR

24,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.80

$1.1

$1.6

A bag of rice in Palembang costs around 17,000 IDR on average with prices rangeing between 13,000 IDR and 24,000 IDR depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

4,700 IDR

6,300 IDR

12,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.30

$0.40

$0.75

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 4,700 IDR to 12,000 IDR. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

8,400 IDR

11,000 IDR

18,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.53

$0.70

$1.1

A bag of apples costs 11,000 IDR on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Palembang is around 27%. This means that people spend 27% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 19% to 33% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 2.6M IDR per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 360,000 IDR and 17M IDR depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 3.7M IDR per month. That number can be get as low as 1.2M IDR or a high as 20M IDR. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 2.2M IDR to 42M IDR with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Palembang

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Palembang

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Palembang

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Palembang