Jakarta vs. Burlington: Detailed 2026 Comparison

Jakarta, the capital of Indonesia, boasts a massive population of 10.4 million people, making it one of the world's most populous urban centers. It operates under Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) as its currency. In contrast, Burlington, a city in Vermont, Canada, has a significantly smaller population of approximately 186,948 residents. Burlington uses the Canadian Dollar (CAD) and generally benefits from a higher GDP per capita compared to Jakarta, reflecting its position in a developed nation. This fundamental difference in scale and economic context sets the stage for the comparisons below.

The cost of living in Burlington is substantially higher than in Jakarta. While Jakarta offers significantly lower prices for groceries, dining out, transportation, and utilities, the gap is particularly pronounced in housing and childcare. For instance, a basket of groceries in Jakarta costs about 1.3 times less than in Burlington. Dining expenses range from IDR 50,000 to IDR 150,000 for a cheap combo meal versus CAD 12.00 to CAD 80.00 in Burlington. Monthly public transport passes cost between CAD 50.00 and CAD 62.50 in Burlington, compared to much lower (though specific data is missing for Jakarta). The most striking cost differences lie in housing (Burlington's apartments costing between CAD 1,675 and CAD 2,742 per month vs. Jakarta's much lower range) and childcare (Burlington's private preschools costing CAD 1,275 per month vs. Jakarta's lower, though unspecified, rates). Rent represents a much larger portion of the budget in Burlington.

Burlington generally scores higher across key quality-of-life indicators. It has a significantly lower pollution index (12.8) compared to Jakarta's considerably higher figure. Safety is another area where Burlington performs better, with a safety index of 54.49 versus Jakarta's unspecified value. Healthcare access and quality appear superior in Burlington, reflected in its higher healthcare index (64.47). While Jakarta's climate index is unspecified, Burlington's is 55.47, suggesting a potentially more temperate environment compared to Jakarta's tropical climate. The traffic commute time index is much lower in Burlington (23.33) than likely in Jakarta, indicating less congestion. Burlington also offers a wider range of international school options, albeit at a high cost.

Housing affordability differs dramatically between the two cities. While Jakarta's property prices are much lower (IDR 1.3 billion to IDR 3.86 billion for per square meter), Burlington's market is significantly more expensive, with apartment prices ranging from CAD 3,361 to CAD 3,860 per square meter. The Property Price to Income Ratio is 3.98 in Burlington, indicating a more expensive housing market relative to income compared to Jakarta's ratio of 8.4. The smaller size of Burlington's housing market means fewer options and potentially higher competition for rentals and purchases.

Burlington residents enjoy a higher average net salary (CAD 4,537.56 monthly) compared to Jakarta's IDR 4.5 million (approximately USD 3,000). The annual mortgage interest rates are lower in Burlington (6.36%) than in Jakarta (9.00%). Burlington's economy benefits from a higher GDP per capita (USD 74,600) and a slightly higher population growth rate (0.67%) than Jakarta's (0.50%). In summary, Jakarta presents a much lower cost of living but faces challenges in quality of life metrics like air quality, safety, and healthcare access. Burlington offers a higher quality of life and better public services but at a significantly higher cost, particularly for housing and childcare. The choice between the two depends heavily on individual priorities regarding budget constraints versus desired quality of life and amenities.