Cost of Living Comparison Between Butuan and Surakarta Cost of Living Comparison Between Butuan and Surakarta

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $567 in Butuan versus $527 in Surakarta.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $889 in Butuan versus $849 in Surakarta.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,211 in Butuan versus $1,172 in Surakarta.

Living in Butuan is roughly 8% more expensive than in Surakarta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Butuan 59% lower, Surakarta 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.89 ₱307

$1.66 Rp 29.3K

194.58%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$26.71 ₱1,675

$11.67 Rp 206.6K

128.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.37 ₱148

$3.14 Rp 55.7K

-24.52%

Cappuccino

$2.10 ₱132

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

32.08%

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

$0.31 ₱19.44

$0.49 Rp 8,756

-36.73%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 ₱15.77

$0.23 Rp 4,051

8.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 ₱97.5

$1.43 Rp 25.3K

8.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.35 ₱147

$2.90 Rp 51.4K

-18.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.95 ₱122

$0.91 Rp 16.1K

114.29%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 ₱68.2

$0.75 Rp 13.3K

45.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.88 ₱55.1

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

14.29%

Eggs

$1.93 ₱121

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

91.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.71 ₱421

$8.02 Rp 142.0K

-16.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.24 ₱266

$1.75 Rp 30.9K

142.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.68 ₱545

$5.35 Rp 94.8K

62.24%

Apples (1kg)

$2.69 ₱169

$2.11 Rp 37.4K

27.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.10 ₱69.1

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

-13.39%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 ₱137

$1.94 Rp 34.4K

12.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.18 ₱74.3

$1.46 Rp 25.8K

-19.18%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 ₱132

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

52.90%

Onion (1kg)

$3.42 ₱215

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

104.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 ₱74.6

$0.58 Rp 10.3K

105.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.97

$0.41 Rp 7,247

75.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.48 ₱156

$2.00 Rp 35.4K

24.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.10 ₱508

$8.57 Rp 151.7K

-5.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.22 ₱76.8

$1.74 Rp 30.8K

-29.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 ₱94.9

$2.92 Rp 51.6K

-48.29%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 Rp 6,862

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.73 Rp 402.5K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.77 ₱48.38

$0.51 Rp 9,109

50.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.25 ₱15.70

$0.47 Rp 8,269

-46.81%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.87 ₱117

$2.70 Rp 47.8K

-30.74%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 ₱67.3

$0.73 Rp 12.9K

46.58%

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

$21.1K ₱1.3M

$25.4K Rp 450.5M

-17.23%

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

$18.9K ₱1.2M

$33.5K Rp 592.7M

-43.45%

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

$108 ₱6,788

$81.3 Rp 1.4M

33.16%

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

$19.19 ₱1,203

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

831.55%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.04 ₱1,947

$18.91 Rp 334.8K

64.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.96 ₱1,503

$16.12 Rp 285.5K

48.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.56 Rp 151.6K

Cinema Ticket

$4.32 ₱271

$2.00 Rp 35.5K

116.00%

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

$107 ₱6,715

$33.61 Rp 595.2K

218.57%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,445 ₱467.0K

$1,873 Rp 33.2M

297.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.2 ₱3,900

$59.2 Rp 1.0M

5.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$26.53 ₱1,664

$36.91 Rp 653.5K

-28.12%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.5 ₱4,549

$71.7 Rp 1.3M

1.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.1 ₱3,831

$67.3 Rp 1.2M

-9.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 Rp 3.0M

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$57.0 Rp 1.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 Rp 6.0M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 Rp 3.5M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.31

7.5

10.80%

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

Last update for Butuan: September 15, 2026

Last update for Surakarta: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

Dining out: $27.00 in Butuan vs $12.00 in Surakarta for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $196 vs $152 per month, with Surakarta 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

Butuan vs Surakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Surakarta wins on cost – living expenses run 8% lower than in Butuan. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Surakarta the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

You'd need roughly $850 in Butuan and $790 in Surakarta 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.

Childcare runs $107 in Butuan versus $33.61 in Surakarta. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Surakarta – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $27.00 in Butuan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Surakarta 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, Butuan and Surakarta 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 Surakarta gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Butuan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.