Cost of Living Comparison Between Banda Aceh and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Banda Aceh and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $583 per month in Banda Aceh vs $700 in Surabaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $903 per month in Banda Aceh vs $1,117 in Surabaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,223 per month in Banda Aceh vs $1,535 in Surabaya, rent included.

Banda Aceh is about 17% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Banda Aceh and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Banda Aceh 57% lower, Surabaya 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$1.52 Rp 27.3K

1.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.53 Rp 224.5K

$12.46 Rp 223.3K

0.56%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.42 Rp 61.2K

$3.13 Rp 56.1K

9.27%

Cappuccino

$1.14 Rp 20.4K

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

-34.48%

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

$0.51 Rp 9,196

$0.66 Rp 11.8K

-22.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 5,070

$0.28 Rp 5,017

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.42 Rp 43.3K

$2.50 Rp 44.7K

-3.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.44 Rp 61.7K

$3.92 Rp 70.2K

-12.24%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 Rp 21.9K

$1.42 Rp 25.5K

-14.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 Rp 21.2K

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

-21.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.58 Rp 10.4K

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

-37.63%

Eggs

$1.60 Rp 28.6K

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

6.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.13 Rp 145.7K

$9.31 Rp 166.7K

-12.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.22 Rp 57.6K

$3.17 Rp 56.9K

1.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.74 Rp 138.7K

$8.19 Rp 146.8K

-5.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 Rp 43.2K

$2.40 Rp 43.0K

0.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 Rp 25.7K

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

-4.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.86 Rp 33.3K

$2.17 Rp 38.8K

-14.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 Rp 27.2K

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

7.04%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 Rp 23.8K

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

-3.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

$1.78 Rp 31.9K

6.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 Rp 16.1K

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

-22.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,426

$0.45 Rp 8,099

-8.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.56 Rp 45.9K

$2.44 Rp 43.7K

4.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.54 Rp 439.7K

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 Rp 36.7K

$1.83 Rp 32.8K

12.02%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 Rp 56.7K

$3.27 Rp 58.6K

-3.36%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 Rp 5,318

$0.47 Rp 8,495

-36.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.10 Rp 180.9K

$9.14 Rp 163.8K

10.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.53 Rp 9,424

$0.47 Rp 8,431

12.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 Rp 6,741

$0.31 Rp 5,569

22.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

8.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

-31.03%

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

$24.9K Rp 445.3M

$20.8K Rp 373.4M

19.25%

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

$27.4K Rp 491.5M

$34.9K Rp 624.7M

-21.33%

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

$68.5 Rp 1.2M

$83.9 Rp 1.5M

-18.36%

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

$4.40 Rp 78.8K

$4.10 Rp 73.5K

7.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.25 Rp 416.6K

$19.83 Rp 355.3K

17.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.74 Rp 407.4K

$21.93 Rp 393.0K

3.69%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.18 Rp 110.8K

$4.44 Rp 79.5K

39.19%

Cinema Ticket

$3.12 Rp 55.8K

$2.96 Rp 53.0K

5.41%

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

$94.1 Rp 1.7M

$192 Rp 3.4M

-50.90%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,656 Rp 137.2M

$9,350 Rp 167.5M

-18.11%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.50 Rp 582.2K

$62.9 Rp 1.1M

-48.30%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.01 Rp 412.2K

$39.45 Rp 706.8K

-41.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$35.01 Rp 627.3K

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

-55.03%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$33.18 Rp 594.4K

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

-59.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$256 Rp 4.6M

$244 Rp 4.4M

5.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$160 Rp 2.9M

$135 Rp 2.4M

18.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$595 Rp 10.7M

$762 Rp 13.7M

-21.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 Rp 6.1M

$389 Rp 7.0M

-12.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,223 Rp 39.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,057 Rp 18.9M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 Rp 4.8M

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 Banda Aceh: June 7, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $256 in Banda Aceh versus $244 in Surabaya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $13.00 in Banda Aceh versus $12.00 in Surabaya. Groceries tell a different story – $165 in Banda Aceh vs $227 in Surabaya – so Banda Aceh wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Banda Aceh vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Surabaya is pricier by about 20%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $875 per month in Banda Aceh and $1,050 in Surabaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Kindergarten costs $94.1 per month in Banda Aceh and $192 in Surabaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Surabaya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $583 in Banda Aceh and $700 in Surabaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Banda Aceh – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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