Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,266 per month in Bali vs $688 in Surabaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,141 per month in Bali vs $1,205 in Surabaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,016 per month in Bali vs $1,722 in Surabaya, rent included.

Bali costs about 84% more than Surabaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Bali and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Bali 8% lower, Surabaya 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.91 Rp 51.3K

$1.66 Rp 29.3K

75.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$31.94 Rp 563.2K

$11.40 Rp 201.0K

180.18%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.50 Rp 79.3K

$3.24 Rp 57.2K

38.89%

Cappuccino

$2.29 Rp 40.3K

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

46.79%

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

$1.39 Rp 24.4K

$0.56 Rp 9,841

148.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 Rp 10.5K

$0.26 Rp 4,572

130.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.20 Rp 38.8K

$2.25 Rp 39.6K

-2.22%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.61 Rp 63.6K

$4.37 Rp 77.0K

-17.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.54 Rp 27.1K

$1.21 Rp 21.4K

27.27%

White Bread (500g)

$2.19 Rp 38.5K

$1.34 Rp 23.7K

63.43%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.08 Rp 19.0K

$0.86 Rp 15.2K

25.58%

Eggs

$2.01 Rp 35.4K

$1.21 Rp 21.2K

66.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.91 Rp 298.1K

$7.80 Rp 137.5K

116.79%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.76 Rp 66.2K

$2.96 Rp 52.2K

27.03%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$11.82 Rp 208.4K

$7.87 Rp 138.8K

50.19%

Apples (1kg)

$3.39 Rp 59.8K

$2.02 Rp 35.7K

67.82%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 Rp 25.9K

$1.33 Rp 23.4K

10.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 Rp 38.2K

$1.87 Rp 32.9K

16.04%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.84 Rp 32.5K

$1.52 Rp 26.9K

21.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.77 Rp 31.1K

$1.37 Rp 24.2K

29.20%

Onion (1kg)

$2.26 Rp 39.8K

$1.93 Rp 34.0K

17.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 Rp 17.4K

$0.97 Rp 17.2K

2.06%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,643

$0.40 Rp 7,050

22.50%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.13 Rp 37.6K

$1.96 Rp 34.5K

8.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.73 Rp 400.7K

$25.35 Rp 447.0K

-10.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.27 Rp 40.1K

$1.71 Rp 30.1K

32.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.67 Rp 47.1K

$2.89 Rp 50.9K

-7.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.25 Rp 4,371

$0.36 Rp 6,271

-30.56%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.56 Rp 150.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,640

$0.47 Rp 8,334

4.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 Rp 8,416

$0.47 Rp 8,293

2.13%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.81 Rp 102.5K

$2.70 Rp 47.7K

115.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

-5.00%

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

$24.6K Rp 433.4M

$24.7K Rp 435.5M

-0.48%

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

$32.1K Rp 566.3M

$33.1K Rp 583.3M

-2.91%

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

$82.7 Rp 1.5M

$88.9 Rp 1.6M

-7.05%

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

$6.47 Rp 114.1K

$4.83 Rp 85.2K

33.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.80 Rp 331.4K

$19.84 Rp 349.7K

-5.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$47.41 Rp 835.9K

$18.57 Rp 327.4K

155.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.42 Rp 271.8K

$6.54 Rp 115.3K

135.78%

Cinema Ticket

$3.64 Rp 64.1K

$2.65 Rp 46.7K

37.36%

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

$443 Rp 7.8M

$286 Rp 5.0M

55.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,200 Rp 91.7M

$9,694 Rp 170.9M

-46.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.91 Rp 774.1K

$71.2 Rp 1.3M

-38.35%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.14 Rp 601.9K

$39.47 Rp 695.8K

-13.50%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.4 Rp 1.3M

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

-7.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.4 Rp 1.4M

$74.9 Rp 1.3M

3.31%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,004 Rp 17.7M

$290 Rp 5.1M

246.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 Rp 10.5M

$150 Rp 2.6M

297.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,169 Rp 55.9M

$1,276 Rp 22.5M

148.32%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,478 Rp 26.1M

$618 Rp 10.9M

139.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,472 Rp 43.6M

$2,231 Rp 39.3M

10.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,027 Rp 35.7M

$1,073 Rp 18.9M

88.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$221 Rp 3.9M

$277 Rp 4.9M

-20.38%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

7.5

83.73%

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

Last update for Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,004 in Bali versus $290 in Surabaya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 26% higher in Surabaya, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $32.00 in Bali versus $11.00 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $280 vs $211 – making Surabaya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Bali vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bali costs about 84% more than Surabaya, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,899 per month in Bali and $1,032 in Surabaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Surabaya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,266 in Bali and $688 in Surabaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $443 per month in Bali and $286 in Surabaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surabaya, where all-in costs run around $688, than in Bali at $1,266. In Surabaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Surabaya costs $688 versus $1,266 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Surabaya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.