Cost of Living Comparison Between Binjai and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Binjai and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $656 in Binjai versus $693 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,018 in Binjai versus $1,106 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,380 in Binjai versus $1,520 in Surabaya.

Living in Binjai costs roughly 5% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Binjai 51% lower, Surabaya 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.57 Rp 27.1K

$1.58 Rp 27.3K

-0.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.22 Rp 211.0K

$12.16 Rp 210.0K

0.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.47 Rp 59.9K

$2.98 Rp 51.5K

16.44%

Cappuccino

$1.67 Rp 28.8K

$1.74 Rp 30.0K

-4.02%

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

$0.52 Rp 8,957

$0.65 Rp 11.3K

-20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,475

$0.26 Rp 4,443

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.51 Rp 43.4K

$2.41 Rp 41.6K

4.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.56 Rp 61.4K

$4.05 Rp 70.0K

-12.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.22 Rp 21.1K

$1.44 Rp 24.9K

-15.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.13 Rp 19.5K

$1.46 Rp 25.1K

-22.60%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 Rp 15.2K

$1.01 Rp 17.4K

-12.87%

Eggs

$1.53 Rp 26.3K

$1.46 Rp 25.2K

4.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.10 Rp 139.9K

$9.39 Rp 162.1K

-13.74%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 Rp 54.1K

$3.31 Rp 57.2K

-5.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.11 Rp 140.0K

$8.24 Rp 142.3K

-1.58%

Apples (1kg)

$2.36 Rp 40.8K

$2.30 Rp 39.8K

2.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 Rp 25.0K

$1.51 Rp 26.1K

-3.97%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.82 Rp 31.4K

$2.13 Rp 36.7K

-14.55%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 26.9K

$1.49 Rp 25.8K

4.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 Rp 23.5K

$1.33 Rp 22.9K

2.26%

Onion (1kg)

$1.94 Rp 33.5K

$1.81 Rp 31.2K

7.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.92 Rp 15.8K

$1.20 Rp 20.8K

-23.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 7,697

$0.45 Rp 7,844

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.51 Rp 43.3K

$2.55 Rp 44.1K

-1.57%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.98 Rp 362.2K

$25.75 Rp 444.6K

-18.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.01 Rp 34.8K

$1.85 Rp 31.9K

8.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 Rp 53.1K

$3.14 Rp 54.2K

-1.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 Rp 5,555

$0.48 Rp 8,210

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.64 Rp 166.5K

$9.24 Rp 159.5K

4.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.57 Rp 9,914

$0.45 Rp 7,686

26.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.34 Rp 5,920

$0.31 Rp 5,433

9.68%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.95 Rp 51.0K

$2.72 Rp 47.0K

8.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 14.5K

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

-1.18%

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

$24.9K Rp 430.4M

$21.0K Rp 363.1M

18.54%

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

$27.7K Rp 479.0M

$35.7K Rp 616.7M

-22.33%

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

$70.9 Rp 1.2M

$83.8 Rp 1.4M

-15.39%

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

$4.37 Rp 75.4K

$4.29 Rp 74.1K

1.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.73 Rp 392.5K

$19.62 Rp 338.8K

15.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$22.86 Rp 394.8K

$21.80 Rp 376.4K

4.86%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 Rp 105.6K

$4.42 Rp 76.2K

38.46%

Cinema Ticket

$3.04 Rp 52.5K

$2.98 Rp 51.5K

2.01%

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

$94.8 Rp 1.6M

$186 Rp 3.2M

-49.09%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,443 Rp 128.5M

$9,464 Rp 163.4M

-21.36%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.01 Rp 708.0K

$62.8 Rp 1.1M

-34.66%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.78 Rp 531.4K

$39.18 Rp 676.5K

-21.44%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$66.6 Rp 1.2M

$78.0 Rp 1.3M

-14.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.3 Rp 1.3M

$82.3 Rp 1.4M

-11.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 Rp 4.4M

$244 Rp 4.2M

4.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 Rp 2.7M

$135 Rp 2.3M

17.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 Rp 9.9M

$790 Rp 13.6M

-27.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$329 Rp 5.7M

$394 Rp 6.8M

-16.47%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,258 Rp 21.7M

$2,262 Rp 39.1M

-44.39%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$858 Rp 14.8M

$1,122 Rp 19.4M

-23.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$302 Rp 5.2M

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 Binjai: April 26, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $255 in Binjai and $244 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Binjai vs $12.00 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $230 per month, with Binjai 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

Binjai vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Binjai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $985 in Binjai and $1,039 in Surabaya to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $255 in Binjai versus $244 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $656 per month in Binjai versus $693 in Surabaya – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Binjai runs roughly 4% less than in Surabaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Binjai 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 Binjai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.