Cost of Living Comparison Between Alwar and Surakarta Cost of Living Comparison Between Alwar and Surakarta

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $371 in Alwar versus $644 in Surakarta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $566 in Alwar versus $997 in Surakarta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $761 in Alwar versus $1,350 in Surakarta.

Living in Alwar costs roughly 42% less than in Surakarta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Alwar 72% lower, Surakarta 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.08 ₹198

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

32.48%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$5.94 ₹566

$12.06 Rp 215.3K

-50.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.28 ₹217

$3.05 Rp 54.4K

-25.25%

Cappuccino

$1.37 ₹131

$1.66 Rp 29.7K

-17.47%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 ₹20.86

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

-60.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.12 ₹11.12

$0.25 Rp 4,429

-52.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$0.92 ₹87.3

$1.86 Rp 33.2K

-50.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 ₹194

$2.91 Rp 51.9K

-29.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.66 ₹63.3

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

-45.00%

White Bread (500g)

$0.40 ₹38.29

$0.89 Rp 15.9K

-55.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 ₹74.7

$0.81 Rp 14.4K

-3.70%

Eggs

$0.86 ₹82.1

$1.24 Rp 22.2K

-30.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.45 ₹424

$9.24 Rp 165.0K

-51.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.40 ₹229

$2.89 Rp 51.7K

-16.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.41 Rp 132.2K

Apples (1kg)

$1.56 ₹149

$2.30 Rp 41.0K

-32.17%

Banana (1kg)

$0.56 ₹53.7

$1.49 Rp 26.5K

-62.42%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.67 ₹64.1

$2.11 Rp 37.7K

-68.25%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.45 ₹42.69

$1.35 Rp 24.0K

-66.67%

Potato (1kg)

$0.34 ₹32.26

$1.33 Rp 23.8K

-74.44%

Onion (1kg)

$0.45 ₹43.12

$1.65 Rp 29.5K

-72.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.43 ₹40.89

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

-31.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.33 ₹31.86

$0.45 Rp 8,086

-26.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.08 ₹294

$2.12 Rp 37.9K

45.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.40 ₹705

$8.48 Rp 151.4K

-12.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.61 ₹154

$1.83 Rp 32.6K

-12.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 ₹260

$3.19 Rp 56.9K

-14.42%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$5.57 ₹531

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.53 ₹50.7

$0.42 Rp 7,489

26.19%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.77 ₹835

$9.69 Rp 173.0K

-9.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 ₹53.6

$0.48 Rp 8,575

16.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 ₹18.58

$0.31 Rp 5,588

-35.48%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 ₹112

$2.81 Rp 50.1K

-58.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₹107

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

36.59%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.3K ₹1.7M

$20.5K Rp 365.9M

-15.42%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$24.4K ₹2.3M

$34.7K Rp 619.4M

-29.75%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$64.9 ₹6,181

$84.4 Rp 1.5M

-23.08%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.32 ₹411

$2.27 Rp 40.6K

90.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$4.57 ₹435

$19.70 Rp 351.7K

-76.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.58 ₹1,674

$19.91 Rp 355.5K

-11.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.22 ₹688

$6.29 Rp 112.4K

14.79%

Cinema Ticket

$3.96 ₹377

$2.11 Rp 37.6K

87.68%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$22.99 ₹2,190

$36.58 Rp 653.3K

-37.15%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$694 ₹66.1K

$2,069 Rp 36.9M

-66.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$19.62 ₹1,869

$61.7 Rp 1.1M

-68.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.42 ₹2,231

$39.67 Rp 708.4K

-40.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$23.50 ₹2,238

$75.5 Rp 1.3M

-68.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$23.11 ₹2,201

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

-68.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$47.14 ₹4,491

$255 Rp 4.5M

-81.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$75.0 ₹7,142

$155 Rp 2.8M

-51.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$269 ₹25.6K

$589 Rp 10.5M

-54.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$178 ₹16.9K

$336 Rp 6.0M

-47.11%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$974 ₹92.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$527 ₹50.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$391 ₹37.3K

$157 Rp 2.8M

149.12%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.33

8.04%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Alwar: June 2, 2026

Last update for Surakarta: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $47.14 in Alwar and $255 in Surakarta. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alwar pays 149% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $6.00 in Alwar vs $12.00 in Surakarta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $95.0 vs $177 per month, with Alwar cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Alwar vs Surakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alwar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Alwar pays 149% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $47.14 in Alwar versus $255 in Surakarta. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $371 per month in Alwar versus $644 in Surakarta – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Alwar runs roughly 10% less than in Surakarta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Alwar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Alwar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Surakarta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.