Cost of Living Comparison Between Balikpapan and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Balikpapan and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $774 in Balikpapan versus $693 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,193 in Balikpapan versus $1,106 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,612 in Balikpapan versus $1,520 in Surabaya.

Living in Balikpapan is roughly 12% more expensive than Surabaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Balikpapan 42% lower, Surabaya 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.52 Rp 26.3K

$1.58 Rp 27.3K

-3.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.63 Rp 269.8K

$12.16 Rp 210.0K

28.54%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.42 Rp 59.0K

$2.98 Rp 51.5K

14.77%

Cappuccino

$1.81 Rp 31.2K

$1.74 Rp 30.0K

4.02%

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

$0.44 Rp 7,600

$0.65 Rp 11.3K

-32.31%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.39 Rp 6,692

$0.26 Rp 4,443

50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 Rp 35.1K

$2.41 Rp 41.6K

-15.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 Rp 54.6K

$4.05 Rp 70.0K

-21.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 Rp 30.9K

$1.44 Rp 24.9K

24.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 Rp 21.3K

$1.46 Rp 25.1K

-15.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 Rp 22.0K

$1.01 Rp 17.4K

26.73%

Eggs

$2.66 Rp 46.0K

$1.46 Rp 25.2K

82.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 Rp 136.8K

$9.39 Rp 162.1K

-15.65%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.80 Rp 82.9K

$3.31 Rp 57.2K

45.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.99 Rp 137.9K

$8.24 Rp 142.3K

-3.03%

Apples (1kg)

$3.64 Rp 62.8K

$2.30 Rp 39.8K

58.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 25.9K

$1.51 Rp 26.1K

-0.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 Rp 36.8K

$2.13 Rp 36.7K

Tomato (1kg)

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

$1.49 Rp 25.8K

-20.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.86 Rp 32.1K

$1.33 Rp 22.9K

39.85%

Onion (1kg)

$3.77 Rp 65.0K

$1.81 Rp 31.2K

108.29%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 Rp 17.2K

$1.20 Rp 20.8K

-16.67%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.81 Rp 13.9K

$0.45 Rp 7,844

80.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 Rp 35.7K

$2.55 Rp 44.1K

-19.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.43 Rp 387.4K

$25.75 Rp 444.6K

-12.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 Rp 37.6K

$1.85 Rp 31.9K

17.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 Rp 75.7K

$3.14 Rp 54.2K

39.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 Rp 10.7K

$0.48 Rp 8,210

29.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.73 Rp 168.1K

$9.24 Rp 159.5K

5.30%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 Rp 21.5K

$0.45 Rp 7,686

175.56%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 Rp 5,912

$0.31 Rp 5,433

9.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.05 Rp 104.4K

$2.72 Rp 47.0K

122.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.5K

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

-8.24%

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

$24.6K Rp 424.3M

$21.0K Rp 363.1M

16.85%

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

$25.9K Rp 447.2M

$35.7K Rp 616.7M

-27.49%

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

$91.7 Rp 1.6M

$83.8 Rp 1.4M

9.46%

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

$3.06 Rp 52.8K

$4.29 Rp 74.1K

-28.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.34 Rp 558.4K

$19.62 Rp 338.8K

64.83%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.34 Rp 368.4K

$21.80 Rp 376.4K

-2.11%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.26 Rp 108.0K

$4.42 Rp 76.2K

41.63%

Cinema Ticket

$3.00 Rp 51.7K

$2.98 Rp 51.5K

0.67%

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

$60.9 Rp 1.1M

$186 Rp 3.2M

-67.31%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,667 Rp 132.4M

$9,464 Rp 163.4M

-18.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.90 Rp 723.4K

$62.8 Rp 1.1M

-33.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.46 Rp 353.2K

$39.18 Rp 676.5K

-47.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 Rp 2.2M

$78.0 Rp 1.3M

60.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$121 Rp 2.1M

$82.3 Rp 1.4M

47.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$217 Rp 3.7M

$244 Rp 4.2M

-10.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.7M

$135 Rp 2.3M

16.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 Rp 8.6M

$790 Rp 13.6M

-37.13%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$303 Rp 5.2M

$394 Rp 6.8M

-23.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,193 Rp 20.6M

$2,262 Rp 39.1M

-47.27%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$876 Rp 15.1M

$1,122 Rp 19.4M

-21.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$204 Rp 3.5M

$302 Rp 5.2M

-32.36%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.33

80.07%

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

Last update for Balikpapan: April 27, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $217 in Balikpapan and $244 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surabaya pays 48% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $16.00 in Balikpapan vs $12.00 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $251 vs $230 per month, with Surabaya 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

Balikpapan vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Balikpapan and Surabaya differ by about 12% in total monthly costs ($774 vs $693 including rent). Surabaya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Surabaya earns 48% 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: $217 in Balikpapan versus $244 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Surabaya runs roughly 5% less than in Balikpapan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $60.9 in Balikpapan versus $186 in Surabaya. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Surabaya 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, Balikpapan 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 Surabaya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Balikpapan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.