🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $597 in Cimahi versus $676 in Surabaya.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $961 in Cimahi versus $1,202 in Surabaya.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,326 in Cimahi versus $1,728 in Surabaya.
🌍Living in Cimahi costs roughly 12% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cimahi56% lower, Surabaya51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.66Rp 29.4K
$1.73Rp 30.6K
-4.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.29Rp 253.0K
$11.51Rp 203.8K
24.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.49Rp 61.8K
$3.25Rp 57.5K
7.38%
Cappuccino
$1.58Rp 27.9K
$1.58Rp 27.9K
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,163
$0.62Rp 10.9K
-25.81%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23Rp 4,052
$0.26Rp 4,554
-11.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.76Rp 48.8K
$2.22Rp 39.3K
24.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.07Rp 54.3K
$4.36Rp 77.2K
-29.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13Rp 20.0K
$1.27Rp 22.5K
-11.02%
White Bread(500g)
$1.03Rp 18.3K
$1.30Rp 23.0K
-20.77%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83Rp 14.7K
$0.90Rp 15.9K
-7.78%
Eggs
$1.50Rp 26.5K
$1.23Rp 21.8K
21.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.33Rp 129.8K
$7.62Rp 134.9K
-3.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.88Rp 51.1K
$3.09Rp 54.8K
-6.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.80Rp 138.2K
$7.60Rp 134.6K
2.63%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23Rp 39.6K
$2.12Rp 37.5K
5.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.13Rp 19.9K
$1.28Rp 22.7K
-11.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.4K
$1.92Rp 34.0K
-19.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.98Rp 17.4K
$1.57Rp 27.7K
-37.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08Rp 19.1K
$1.34Rp 23.7K
-19.40%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90Rp 33.6K
$2.03Rp 35.9K
-6.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70Rp 12.5K
$0.99Rp 17.6K
-29.29%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,642
$0.41Rp 7,186
4.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.77Rp 49.0K
$1.92Rp 34.0K
44.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.11Rp 373.8K
$25.23Rp 446.8K
-16.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.88Rp 33.2K
$1.77Rp 31.4K
6.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09Rp 54.7K
$2.92Rp 51.7K
5.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,093
$0.33Rp 5,825
-12.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.52Rp 9,288
$0.52Rp 9,236
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,217
$0.43Rp 7,630
-18.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.37Rp 41.9K
$2.76Rp 48.9K
-14.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.9K
$0.77Rp 13.6K
9.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.3KRp 377.1M
$24.8KRp 439.2M
-14.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1KRp 516.1M
$32.5KRp 575.4M
-10.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.20Rp 605.5K
$86.6Rp 1.5M
-60.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.42Rp 78.3K
$4.68Rp 82.9K
-5.56%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.15Rp 339.0K
$19.47Rp 344.7K
-1.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.00Rp 354.1K
$18.72Rp 331.4K
6.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.37Rp 148.3K
$6.96Rp 123.2K
20.26%
Cinema Ticket
$2.76Rp 48.8K
$2.70Rp 47.8K
2.22%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.9Rp 1.7M
$283Rp 5.0M
-66.06%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,308Rp 147.1M
$9,866Rp 174.7M
-15.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.42Rp 715.7K
$71.9Rp 1.3M
-43.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.43Rp 521.2K
$40.23Rp 712.4K
-26.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.3Rp 1.3M
$83.0Rp 1.5M
-10.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.8Rp 1.3M
$75.9Rp 1.3M
-6.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$218Rp 3.9M
$282Rp 5.0M
-22.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138Rp 2.4M
$150Rp 2.7M
-8.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$632Rp 11.2M
$1,256Rp 22.2M
-49.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$321Rp 5.7M
$619Rp 11.0M
-48.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,138Rp 20.2M
$2,218Rp 39.3M
-48.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$739Rp 13.1M
$1,072Rp 19.0M
-31.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$258Rp 4.6M
$277Rp 4.9M
-6.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
7.5
26.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cimahi: September 14, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $218 in Cimahi and $282 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Surabaya pays 7% 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: $14.00 in Cimahi vs $12.00 in Surabaya. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $211, with Cimahi cheaper for home cooking.
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 13% 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 in Surabaya?
On paper, salaries run 7% lower in Surabaya. 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 compared to Surabaya?
Rent for a central apartment: $218 in Cimahi versus $282 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Cimahi or in Surabaya?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Surabaya. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Cimahi compared to Surabaya?
All in, you'll spend $597 per month in Cimahi versus $676 in Surabaya – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $800/month in Cimahi or in 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 $597 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 13% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.