Cost of Living Comparison Between Bekasi and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Bekasi and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $733 in Bekasi versus $708 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,124 in Bekasi versus $1,133 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,515 in Bekasi versus $1,557 in Surabaya.

Living in Bekasi is roughly 3% more expensive than Surabaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bekasi 45% lower, Surabaya 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.14 Rp 56.0K

$1.52 Rp 27.1K

106.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.23 Rp 218.5K

$12.12 Rp 216.4K

0.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.34 Rp 59.6K

$3.13 Rp 55.9K

6.71%

Cappuccino

$1.87 Rp 33.4K

$1.82 Rp 32.4K

2.75%

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

$0.53 Rp 9,528

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

-11.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,613

$0.26 Rp 4,602

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.34 Rp 59.6K

$2.41 Rp 43.0K

38.59%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.43 Rp 79.1K

$4.02 Rp 71.7K

10.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 Rp 21.7K

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

-11.59%

White Bread (500g)

$1.15 Rp 20.6K

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

-21.23%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 Rp 18.0K

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

8.60%

Eggs

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$1.44 Rp 25.8K

20.83%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 Rp 161.6K

$9.04 Rp 161.5K

0.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 Rp 56.6K

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

-3.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.06 Rp 144.0K

$8.45 Rp 151.0K

-4.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 50.6K

$2.42 Rp 43.2K

16.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.7K

$1.54 Rp 27.5K

0.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.27 Rp 40.6K

$2.19 Rp 39.2K

3.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

10.56%

Potato (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$1.32 Rp 23.6K

18.18%

Onion (1kg)

$2.58 Rp 46.0K

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

43.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

$1.18 Rp 21.1K

-14.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 Rp 8,244

$0.42 Rp 7,529

9.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.53 Rp 45.2K

$2.54 Rp 45.4K

-0.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.09 Rp 394.5K

$24.78 Rp 442.6K

-10.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.11 Rp 37.7K

$1.77 Rp 31.5K

19.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 Rp 55.0K

$3.14 Rp 56.2K

-1.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.38 Rp 6,798

$0.48 Rp 8,489

-20.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.44 Rp 222.2K

$9.40 Rp 168.0K

32.34%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 Rp 10.4K

$0.44 Rp 7,919

31.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 Rp 6,186

$0.29 Rp 5,165

20.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.50 Rp 44.7K

$2.77 Rp 49.5K

-9.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

$0.84 Rp 15.1K

-8.33%

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

$24.4K Rp 434.9M

$20.6K Rp 368.5M

18.00%

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

$26.1K Rp 467.0M

$35.8K Rp 639.4M

-26.97%

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

$64.8 Rp 1.2M

$84.9 Rp 1.5M

-23.65%

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

$4.69 Rp 83.7K

$4.09 Rp 73.0K

14.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.30 Rp 469.7K

$19.75 Rp 352.7K

33.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.75 Rp 317.0K

$21.59 Rp 385.6K

-17.79%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.58 Rp 81.7K

$4.57 Rp 81.6K

0.22%

Cinema Ticket

$3.01 Rp 53.7K

$2.85 Rp 50.9K

5.61%

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

$99.8 Rp 1.8M

$188 Rp 3.3M

-46.77%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,270 Rp 147.7M

$9,556 Rp 170.7M

-13.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.3 Rp 1.0M

$61.6 Rp 1.1M

-6.90%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.77 Rp 603.1K

$38.56 Rp 688.5K

-12.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 Rp 1.5M

$77.8 Rp 1.4M

5.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.8 Rp 1.6M

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

6.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$311 Rp 5.6M

$242 Rp 4.3M

28.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$185 Rp 3.3M

$135 Rp 2.4M

36.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$550 Rp 9.8M

$762 Rp 13.6M

-27.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 Rp 6.7M

$393 Rp 7.0M

-4.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$604 Rp 10.8M

$2,209 Rp 39.5M

-72.65%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$902 Rp 16.1M

$1,067 Rp 19.0M

-15.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$362 Rp 6.5M

$276 Rp 4.9M

31.26%

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 Bekasi: May 30, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $311 in Bekasi and $242 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bekasi pays 31% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $12.00 in Bekasi vs $12.00 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $223 vs $226 per month, with Bekasi 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

Bekasi vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bekasi and Surabaya differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($733 vs $708 including rent). Surabaya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Bekasi pays 31% more on average, 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: $311 in Bekasi versus $242 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Surabaya – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $12.00 in Bekasi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $733 per month in Bekasi versus $708 in Surabaya – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

Expats usually find Surabaya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Bekasi. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.