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: $653 in Ambon versus $700 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,004 in Ambon versus $1,117 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,354 in Ambon versus $1,535 in Surabaya.

Living in Ambon costs roughly 7% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ambon 51% lower, Surabaya 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$0.95 Rp 17.0K

$1.52 Rp 27.3K

-37.50%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.09 Rp 216.5K

$12.46 Rp 223.3K

-2.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.32 Rp 59.4K

$3.13 Rp 56.1K

6.07%

Cappuccino

$1.73 Rp 31.0K

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

-0.57%

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

$0.51 Rp 9,159

$0.66 Rp 11.8K

-22.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.24 Rp 4,266

$0.28 Rp 5,017

-14.29%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 Rp 44.8K

$2.50 Rp 44.7K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 Rp 63.0K

$3.92 Rp 70.2K

-10.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 Rp 21.1K

$1.42 Rp 25.5K

-16.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 Rp 21.1K

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

-21.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 Rp 16.1K

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

-3.23%

Eggs

$1.52 Rp 27.2K

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

1.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.30 Rp 148.7K

$9.31 Rp 166.7K

-10.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.15 Rp 56.4K

$3.17 Rp 56.9K

-0.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.83 Rp 140.3K

$8.19 Rp 146.8K

-4.40%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 Rp 42.7K

$2.40 Rp 43.0K

-0.83%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 Rp 25.6K

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

-4.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

$2.17 Rp 38.8K

-12.90%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

5.63%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.87 Rp 33.5K

$1.78 Rp 31.9K

5.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 Rp 17.5K

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

-16.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,379

$0.45 Rp 8,099

-8.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 Rp 45.1K

$2.44 Rp 43.7K

3.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.05 Rp 377.1K

$24.54 Rp 439.7K

-14.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 Rp 36.0K

$1.83 Rp 32.8K

9.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 Rp 57.2K

$3.27 Rp 58.6K

-2.45%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 Rp 5,312

$0.47 Rp 8,495

-36.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.55 Rp 171.1K

$9.14 Rp 163.8K

4.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

$0.47 Rp 8,431

21.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 Rp 6,770

$0.31 Rp 5,569

22.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.00 Rp 53.7K

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

9.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 Rp 14.9K

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

-4.60%

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

$24.2K Rp 433.1M

$20.8K Rp 373.4M

15.99%

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

$28.0K Rp 500.8M

$34.9K Rp 624.7M

-19.83%

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

$68.6 Rp 1.2M

$83.9 Rp 1.5M

-18.20%

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

$4.24 Rp 75.9K

$4.10 Rp 73.5K

3.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.52 Rp 403.5K

$19.83 Rp 355.3K

13.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.02 Rp 412.4K

$21.93 Rp 393.0K

4.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.22 Rp 111.4K

$4.44 Rp 79.5K

40.09%

Cinema Ticket

$3.16 Rp 56.6K

$2.96 Rp 53.0K

6.76%

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

$95.2 Rp 1.7M

$192 Rp 3.4M

-50.33%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,658 Rp 137.2M

$9,350 Rp 167.5M

-18.09%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.09 Rp 754.1K

$62.9 Rp 1.1M

-33.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.27 Rp 542.2K

$39.45 Rp 706.8K

-23.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.4 Rp 1.2M

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

-13.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 Rp 1.3M

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

-8.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$260 Rp 4.7M

$244 Rp 4.4M

6.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$159 Rp 2.9M

$135 Rp 2.4M

18.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 Rp 10.3M

$762 Rp 13.7M

-24.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 Rp 6.1M

$389 Rp 7.0M

-13.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,330 Rp 23.8M

$2,223 Rp 39.8M

-40.14%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$685 Rp 12.3M

$1,057 Rp 18.9M

-35.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$169 Rp 3.0M

$269 Rp 4.8M

-37.17%

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: June 9, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $260 in Ambon and $244 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surabaya pays 59% 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 $208 vs $227 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 7% 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 59% 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: $260 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 $653 per month in Ambon versus $700 in Surabaya – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 4% 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 7% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.