Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambon and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Ambon and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $675 in Ambon versus $693 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,036 in Ambon versus $1,106 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,397 in Ambon versus $1,520 in Surabaya.

Living in Ambon costs roughly 3% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ambon 50% lower, Surabaya 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$0.87 Rp 15.1K

$1.58 Rp 27.3K

-44.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.06 Rp 208.2K

$12.16 Rp 210.0K

-0.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.41 Rp 58.8K

$2.98 Rp 51.5K

14.43%

Cappuccino

$1.65 Rp 28.6K

$1.74 Rp 30.0K

-5.17%

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

$0.54 Rp 9,335

$0.65 Rp 11.3K

-16.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,504

$0.26 Rp 4,443

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 Rp 43.3K

$2.41 Rp 41.6K

4.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.45 Rp 59.5K

$4.05 Rp 70.0K

-14.81%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.23 Rp 21.2K

$1.44 Rp 24.9K

-14.58%

White Bread (500g)

$1.12 Rp 19.4K

$1.46 Rp 25.1K

-23.29%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 Rp 16.4K

$1.01 Rp 17.4K

-5.94%

Eggs

$1.57 Rp 27.1K

$1.46 Rp 25.2K

7.53%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.04 Rp 138.9K

$9.39 Rp 162.1K

-14.38%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.15 Rp 54.4K

$3.31 Rp 57.2K

-4.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.76 Rp 134.1K

$8.24 Rp 142.3K

-5.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 Rp 41.2K

$2.30 Rp 39.8K

3.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 Rp 25.8K

$1.51 Rp 26.1K

-1.32%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.88 Rp 32.5K

$2.13 Rp 36.7K

-11.74%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 25.9K

$1.49 Rp 25.8K

0.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 Rp 23.5K

$1.33 Rp 22.9K

2.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 Rp 32.6K

$1.81 Rp 31.2K

4.42%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 Rp 16.4K

$1.20 Rp 20.8K

-20.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,227

$0.45 Rp 7,844

-6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.55 Rp 44.0K

$2.55 Rp 44.1K

Wine (Bottle)

$22.04 Rp 380.5K

$25.75 Rp 444.6K

-14.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 Rp 36.4K

$1.85 Rp 31.9K

14.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.20 Rp 55.2K

$3.14 Rp 54.2K

1.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 Rp 5,125

$0.48 Rp 8,210

-37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.12 Rp 174.7K

$9.24 Rp 159.5K

9.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.53 Rp 9,162

$0.45 Rp 7,686

17.78%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 Rp 6,453

$0.31 Rp 5,433

19.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 Rp 50.9K

$2.72 Rp 47.0K

8.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 Rp 14.3K

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

-2.35%

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

$25.0K Rp 431.1M

$21.0K Rp 363.1M

18.73%

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

$27.4K Rp 473.9M

$35.7K Rp 616.7M

-23.16%

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

$70.6 Rp 1.2M

$83.8 Rp 1.4M

-15.78%

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

$4.32 Rp 74.6K

$4.29 Rp 74.1K

0.70%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.52 Rp 388.8K

$19.62 Rp 338.8K

14.78%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.17 Rp 400.0K

$21.80 Rp 376.4K

6.28%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.09 Rp 105.2K

$4.42 Rp 76.2K

37.78%

Cinema Ticket

$3.13 Rp 54.0K

$2.98 Rp 51.5K

5.03%

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

$91.9 Rp 1.6M

$186 Rp 3.2M

-50.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,453 Rp 128.7M

$9,464 Rp 163.4M

-21.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.91 Rp 706.4K

$62.8 Rp 1.1M

-34.82%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.37 Rp 524.4K

$39.18 Rp 676.5K

-22.49%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.5 Rp 1.1M

$78.0 Rp 1.3M

-14.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.8 Rp 1.3M

$82.3 Rp 1.4M

-11.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$262 Rp 4.5M

$244 Rp 4.2M

7.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 Rp 2.7M

$135 Rp 2.3M

16.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$586 Rp 10.1M

$790 Rp 13.6M

-25.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$333 Rp 5.8M

$394 Rp 6.8M

-15.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,052 Rp 18.2M

$2,262 Rp 39.1M

-53.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$883 Rp 15.2M

$1,122 Rp 19.4M

-21.32%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$177 Rp 3.1M

$302 Rp 5.2M

-41.54%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.15

8.33

9.84%

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

Last update for Ambon: April 27, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Ambon and $244 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surabaya pays 71% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $12.00 in Ambon vs $12.00 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $230 per month, with Ambon 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

Ambon vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ambon wins on cost – living expenses run 3% lower than in Surabaya. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ambon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Surabaya earns 71% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $262 in Ambon versus $244 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $675 per month in Ambon versus $693 in Surabaya – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ambon 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.

Safety-wise, Ambon and Surabaya are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ambon gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.