🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $629 in Cimahi versus $700 in Surabaya.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $960 in Cimahi versus $1,117 in Surabaya.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,291 in Cimahi versus $1,535 in Surabaya.
🙂Living in Cimahi costs roughly 10% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cimahi53% lower, Surabaya48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.27Rp 22.8K
$1.52Rp 27.3K
-16.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.19Rp 164.7K
$12.46Rp 223.3K
-26.24%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.39Rp 60.8K
$3.13Rp 56.1K
8.31%
Cappuccino
$1.55Rp 27.8K
$1.74Rp 31.1K
-10.92%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49Rp 8,739
$0.66Rp 11.8K
-25.76%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,436
$0.28Rp 5,017
-10.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.78Rp 49.8K
$2.50Rp 44.7K
11.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63Rp 65.0K
$3.92Rp 70.2K
-7.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 20.9K
$1.42Rp 25.5K
-17.61%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10Rp 19.7K
$1.50Rp 26.9K
-26.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.6K
$0.93Rp 16.7K
-6.45%
Eggs
$1.60Rp 28.7K
$1.50Rp 26.8K
6.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.62Rp 118.7K
$9.31Rp 166.7K
-28.89%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.99Rp 53.5K
$3.17Rp 56.9K
-5.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.52Rp 134.7K
$8.19Rp 146.8K
-8.18%
Apples(1kg)
$2.39Rp 42.9K
$2.40Rp 43.0K
-0.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29Rp 23.2K
$1.50Rp 26.8K
-14.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.71Rp 30.6K
$2.17Rp 38.8K
-21.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56Rp 28.0K
$1.42Rp 25.4K
9.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48Rp 26.5K
$1.38Rp 24.7K
7.25%
Onion(1kg)
$2.62Rp 46.9K
$1.78Rp 31.9K
47.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95Rp 17.0K
$1.16Rp 20.7K
-18.10%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,629
$0.45Rp 8,099
-4.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52Rp 45.1K
$2.44Rp 43.7K
3.28%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.32Rp 382.0K
$24.54Rp 439.7K
-13.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02Rp 36.1K
$1.83Rp 32.8K
10.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18Rp 57.1K
$3.27Rp 58.6K
-2.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,802
$0.47Rp 8,495
-31.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.10Rp 181.0K
$9.14Rp 163.8K
10.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54Rp 9,601
$0.47Rp 8,431
14.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,703
$0.31Rp 5,569
19.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.55Rp 45.6K
$2.75Rp 49.3K
-7.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.76Rp 13.7K
$0.87Rp 15.6K
-12.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2KRp 433.6M
$20.8KRp 373.4M
16.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8KRp 461.5M
$34.9KRp 624.7M
-26.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.30Rp 793.8K
$83.9Rp 1.5M
-47.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.55Rp 81.5K
$4.10Rp 73.5K
10.98%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.74Rp 407.4K
$19.83Rp 355.3K
14.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.21Rp 415.8K
$21.93Rp 393.0K
5.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.26Rp 112.2K
$4.44Rp 79.5K
40.99%
Cinema Ticket
$3.02Rp 54.1K
$2.96Rp 53.0K
2.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.4Rp 1.7M
$192Rp 3.4M
-51.24%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,733Rp 138.5M
$9,350Rp 167.5M
-17.29%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.42Rp 759.9K
$62.9Rp 1.1M
-32.52%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.25Rp 559.9K
$39.45Rp 706.8K
-20.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.1Rp 1.1M
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-24.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.5Rp 1.2M
$82.0Rp 1.5M
-21.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$260Rp 4.7M
$244Rp 4.4M
6.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$155Rp 2.8M
$135Rp 2.4M
14.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$582Rp 10.4M
$762Rp 13.7M
-23.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$338Rp 6.1M
$389Rp 7.0M
-13.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,223Rp 39.8M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,057Rp 18.9M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$250Rp 4.5M
$269Rp 4.8M
-6.92%
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: June 7, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $260 in Cimahi and $244 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: $9.00 in Cimahi vs $12.00 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $202 vs $227 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 11% 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 7% 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: $260 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 11% 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 $93.4 in Cimahi versus $192 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 $629 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 11% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.