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: $778 in Balikpapan versus $698 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,200 in Balikpapan versus $1,123 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,622 in Balikpapan versus $1,547 in Surabaya.

Living in Balikpapan is roughly 11% 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

$1.57 Rp 27.8K

$1.52 Rp 26.9K

3.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.13 Rp 268.0K

$12.15 Rp 215.2K

24.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.35 Rp 59.3K

$3.10 Rp 54.9K

8.06%

Cappuccino

$1.73 Rp 30.6K

$1.80 Rp 32.0K

-3.89%

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

$0.40 Rp 7,116

$0.60 Rp 10.6K

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 Rp 6,803

$0.28 Rp 5,010

35.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.01 Rp 35.7K

$2.41 Rp 42.7K

-16.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 Rp 55.8K

$3.95 Rp 70.0K

-20.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 Rp 33.6K

$1.38 Rp 24.5K

36.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.23 Rp 21.8K

$1.44 Rp 25.6K

-14.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

$0.94 Rp 16.7K

35.11%

Eggs

$2.67 Rp 47.4K

$1.46 Rp 25.9K

82.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.92 Rp 140.3K

$9.20 Rp 163.0K

-13.91%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.03 Rp 89.2K

$3.22 Rp 57.0K

56.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.95 Rp 140.8K

$8.48 Rp 150.3K

-6.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.73 Rp 66.0K

$2.37 Rp 42.0K

57.38%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.5K

$1.49 Rp 26.4K

4.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.12 Rp 37.6K

$2.17 Rp 38.4K

-2.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 Rp 22.3K

$1.50 Rp 26.6K

-16.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 32.1K

$1.34 Rp 23.7K

35.07%

Onion (1kg)

$3.62 Rp 64.1K

$1.77 Rp 31.4K

104.52%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.94 Rp 16.6K

$1.19 Rp 21.2K

-21.01%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 Rp 14.0K

$0.46 Rp 8,184

71.74%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

$2.46 Rp 43.6K

-16.26%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.59 Rp 382.5K

$25.63 Rp 454.0K

-15.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 Rp 39.8K

$1.78 Rp 31.5K

26.40%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 Rp 76.8K

$3.21 Rp 56.8K

34.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

$0.47 Rp 8,328

34.04%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.67 Rp 171.2K

$9.00 Rp 159.5K

7.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.25 Rp 22.1K

$0.47 Rp 8,383

165.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 Rp 6,652

$0.29 Rp 5,104

31.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.96 Rp 105.5K

$2.70 Rp 47.9K

120.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 Rp 13.1K

$0.86 Rp 15.2K

-13.95%

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

$24.5K Rp 434.5M

$20.5K Rp 363.9M

19.38%

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

$26.0K Rp 460.5M

$35.5K Rp 628.1M

-26.68%

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

$92.1 Rp 1.6M

$83.2 Rp 1.5M

10.75%

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

$2.98 Rp 52.8K

$4.25 Rp 75.3K

-29.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.61 Rp 560.0K

$19.65 Rp 348.0K

60.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.70 Rp 384.3K

$22.20 Rp 393.2K

-2.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.06 Rp 107.3K

$4.53 Rp 80.3K

33.77%

Cinema Ticket

$3.12 Rp 55.3K

$2.89 Rp 51.1K

7.96%

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

$61.9 Rp 1.1M

$191 Rp 3.4M

-67.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,588 Rp 134.4M

$9,339 Rp 165.4M

-18.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.41 Rp 733.6K

$61.5 Rp 1.1M

-32.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.63 Rp 365.5K

$38.25 Rp 677.6K

-46.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 Rp 2.2M

$77.1 Rp 1.4M

61.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$124 Rp 2.2M

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

50.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$222 Rp 3.9M

$243 Rp 4.3M

-8.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$155 Rp 2.8M

$138 Rp 2.4M

12.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$492 Rp 8.7M

$783 Rp 13.9M

-37.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 Rp 5.5M

$394 Rp 7.0M

-21.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,084 Rp 19.2M

$2,234 Rp 39.6M

-51.48%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$628 Rp 11.1M

$1,072 Rp 19.0M

-41.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$195 Rp 3.4M

$278 Rp 4.9M

-30.04%

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: June 14, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $222 in Balikpapan and $243 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surabaya pays 43% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $15.00 in Balikpapan vs $12.00 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $252 vs $228 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 11% in total monthly costs ($778 vs $698 including rent). Surabaya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Surabaya earns 43% 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: $222 in Balikpapan versus $243 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 7% less than in Balikpapan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $61.9 in Balikpapan versus $191 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 11% less than in Balikpapan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.