🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $637 in Cimahi versus $693 in Surabaya.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $974 in Cimahi versus $1,106 in Surabaya.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,312 in Cimahi versus $1,520 in Surabaya.
🙂Living in Cimahi costs roughly 8% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cimahi52% lower, Surabaya48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.26Rp 21.8K
$1.58Rp 27.3K
-20.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.97Rp 154.9K
$12.16Rp 210.0K
-26.23%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.34Rp 57.6K
$2.98Rp 51.5K
12.08%
Cappuccino
$1.52Rp 26.2K
$1.74Rp 30.0K
-12.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53Rp 9,082
$0.65Rp 11.3K
-18.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27Rp 4,690
$0.26Rp 4,443
3.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.79Rp 48.1K
$2.41Rp 41.6K
15.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.43Rp 59.3K
$4.05Rp 70.0K
-15.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.21Rp 20.9K
$1.44Rp 24.9K
-15.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.12Rp 19.4K
$1.46Rp 25.1K
-23.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.1K
$1.01Rp 17.4K
-7.92%
Eggs
$1.54Rp 26.7K
$1.46Rp 25.2K
5.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.63Rp 114.4K
$9.39Rp 162.1K
-29.39%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12Rp 53.9K
$3.31Rp 57.2K
-5.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.55Rp 130.4K
$8.24Rp 142.3K
-8.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37Rp 41.0K
$2.30Rp 39.8K
3.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29Rp 22.3K
$1.51Rp 26.1K
-14.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.65Rp 28.5K
$2.13Rp 36.7K
-22.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52Rp 26.2K
$1.49Rp 25.8K
2.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.46Rp 25.2K
$1.33Rp 22.9K
9.77%
Onion(1kg)
$2.55Rp 44.0K
$1.81Rp 31.2K
40.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95Rp 16.5K
$1.20Rp 20.8K
-20.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,308
$0.45Rp 7,844
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.59Rp 44.8K
$2.55Rp 44.1K
1.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.54Rp 389.2K
$25.75Rp 444.6K
-12.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04Rp 35.2K
$1.85Rp 31.9K
10.27%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22Rp 55.6K
$3.14Rp 54.2K
2.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,604
$0.48Rp 8,210
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.63Rp 166.4K
$9.24Rp 159.5K
4.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54Rp 9,256
$0.45Rp 7,686
20.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,042
$0.31Rp 5,433
12.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.59Rp 44.8K
$2.72Rp 47.0K
-4.78%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.5K
$0.85Rp 14.6K
-8.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4KRp 421.7M
$21.0KRp 363.1M
16.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KRp 439.8M
$35.7KRp 616.7M
-28.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.37Rp 766.1K
$83.8Rp 1.4M
-47.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.63Rp 79.9K
$4.29Rp 74.1K
7.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.04Rp 397.9K
$19.62Rp 338.8K
17.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.43Rp 404.5K
$21.80Rp 376.4K
7.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.97Rp 103.1K
$4.42Rp 76.2K
35.07%
Cinema Ticket
$3.09Rp 53.4K
$2.98Rp 51.5K
3.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.7Rp 1.6M
$186Rp 3.2M
-49.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,730Rp 133.5M
$9,464Rp 163.4M
-18.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.59Rp 718.1K
$62.8Rp 1.1M
-33.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.49Rp 526.4K
$39.18Rp 676.5K
-22.18%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.7Rp 1.0M
$78.0Rp 1.3M
-23.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.3Rp 1.1M
$82.3Rp 1.4M
-20.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$262Rp 4.5M
$244Rp 4.2M
7.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$157Rp 2.7M
$135Rp 2.3M
16.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591Rp 10.2M
$790Rp 13.6M
-25.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$340Rp 5.9M
$394Rp 6.8M
-13.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,262Rp 39.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,122Rp 19.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$266Rp 4.6M
$302Rp 5.2M
-12.16%
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 Cimahi: April 26, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Cimahi and $244 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Surabaya pays 14% 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: $9.00 in Cimahi vs $12.00 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $205 vs $230 per month, with Cimahi 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
Cimahi vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cimahi or Surabaya?
Cimahi wins on cost – living expenses run 9% lower than in Surabaya. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cimahi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Cimahi or Surabaya?
On paper, Surabaya earns 14% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Cimahi vs Surabaya?
Rent for a central apartment: $262 in Cimahi versus $244 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Cimahi vs Surabaya?
A monthly transit pass in Cimahi runs roughly 4% less than in Surabaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Cimahi and Surabaya?
Childcare runs $93.7 in Cimahi versus $186 in Surabaya. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $800/month in Cimahi or Surabaya?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Cimahi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Cimahi or Surabaya?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cimahi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $637 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cimahi hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cimahi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 9% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.