Cost of Living Comparison Between Batam and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Batam and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $616 in Batam versus $676 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,017 in Batam versus $1,202 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,418 in Batam versus $1,728 in Surabaya.

Living in Batam costs roughly 9% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Batam 55% lower, Surabaya 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.01 Rp 35.5K

$1.73 Rp 30.6K

16.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.68 Rp 153.7K

$11.51 Rp 203.8K

-24.59%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.07 Rp 72.0K

$3.25 Rp 57.5K

25.23%

Cappuccino

$2.14 Rp 38.0K

$1.58 Rp 27.9K

35.44%

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

$0.62 Rp 11.1K

$0.62 Rp 10.9K

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.31 Rp 5,506

$0.26 Rp 4,554

19.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.60 Rp 46.0K

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

17.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.72 Rp 65.9K

$4.36 Rp 77.2K

-14.68%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 Rp 20.6K

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

-8.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 Rp 19.3K

$1.30 Rp 23.0K

-16.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.90 Rp 15.9K

-13.33%

Eggs

$1.30 Rp 23.1K

$1.23 Rp 21.8K

5.69%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.71 Rp 136.5K

$7.62 Rp 134.9K

1.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.54 Rp 45.0K

$3.09 Rp 54.8K

-17.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$4.61 Rp 81.6K

$7.60 Rp 134.6K

-39.34%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 38.7K

$2.12 Rp 37.5K

3.30%

Banana (1kg)

$2.09 Rp 37.0K

$1.28 Rp 22.7K

63.28%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.6K

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

7.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 Rp 18.8K

$1.57 Rp 27.7K

-32.48%

Potato (1kg)

$0.97 Rp 17.2K

$1.34 Rp 23.7K

-27.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.99 Rp 35.3K

$2.03 Rp 35.9K

-1.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 Rp 23.6K

$0.99 Rp 17.6K

34.34%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 8,033

$0.41 Rp 7,186

9.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.76 Rp 48.8K

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

43.75%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.89 Rp 245.9K

$25.23 Rp 446.8K

-44.95%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

$1.77 Rp 31.4K

-1.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 Rp 44.1K

$2.92 Rp 51.7K

-14.73%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.41 Rp 7,309

$0.33 Rp 5,825

24.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 Rp 20.2K

$0.52 Rp 9,236

119.23%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.60 Rp 10.6K

$0.43 Rp 7,630

39.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.58 Rp 63.3K

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

29.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.0K

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

2.60%

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

$28.5K Rp 504.0M

$24.8K Rp 439.2M

14.76%

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

$24.7K Rp 438.2M

$32.5K Rp 575.4M

-23.85%

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

$72.0 Rp 1.3M

$86.6 Rp 1.5M

-16.93%

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

$4.16 Rp 73.6K

$4.68 Rp 82.9K

-11.11%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.70 Rp 419.6K

$19.47 Rp 344.7K

21.73%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.92 Rp 476.7K

$18.72 Rp 331.4K

43.80%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.63 Rp 99.7K

$6.96 Rp 123.2K

-19.11%

Cinema Ticket

$2.66 Rp 47.0K

$2.70 Rp 47.8K

-1.48%

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

$83.4 Rp 1.5M

$283 Rp 5.0M

-70.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,257 Rp 57.7M

$9,866 Rp 174.7M

-66.98%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$32.47 Rp 574.9K

$71.9 Rp 1.3M

-54.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$19.15 Rp 339.0K

$40.23 Rp 712.4K

-52.40%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.0 Rp 1.2M

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

-19.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$25.03 Rp 443.1K

$75.9 Rp 1.3M

-67.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$274 Rp 4.8M

$282 Rp 5.0M

-2.82%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$149 Rp 2.6M

$150 Rp 2.7M

-0.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$823 Rp 14.6M

$1,256 Rp 22.2M

-34.48%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$514 Rp 9.1M

$619 Rp 11.0M

-17.08%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$556 Rp 9.8M

$2,218 Rp 39.3M

-74.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,072 Rp 19.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$354 Rp 6.3M

$277 Rp 4.9M

27.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.17

7.5

75.60%

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

Last update for Batam: September 13, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $274 in Batam and $282 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Batam pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $9.00 in Batam vs $12.00 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $177 vs $211 per month, with Batam 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

Batam vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Batam is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 28% higher in Batam, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $274 in Batam versus $282 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Surabaya. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $616 per month in Batam versus $676 in Surabaya – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Batam 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.

Expats usually find Batam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.