🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $626 in Cimahi versus $702 in Surabaya.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $963 in Cimahi versus $1,129 in Surabaya.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,300 in Cimahi versus $1,557 in Surabaya.
🌍Living in Cimahi costs roughly 11% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Cimahi53% lower, Surabaya47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.27Rp 22.9K
$1.56Rp 28.2K
-18.59%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.43Rp 170.2K
$12.42Rp 224.2K
-24.07%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.44Rp 62.1K
$3.03Rp 54.6K
13.53%
Cappuccino
$1.55Rp 28.0K
$1.76Rp 31.7K
-11.93%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,462
$0.66Rp 11.9K
-21.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27Rp 4,896
$0.28Rp 5,096
-3.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.68Rp 48.4K
$2.44Rp 44.1K
9.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.60Rp 65.0K
$4.09Rp 73.8K
-11.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 22.1K
$1.44Rp 25.9K
-15.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11Rp 20.0K
$1.52Rp 27.4K
-26.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.7K
$0.98Rp 17.7K
-11.22%
Eggs
$1.52Rp 27.5K
$1.51Rp 27.2K
0.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.58Rp 118.8K
$9.28Rp 167.5K
-29.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.00Rp 54.1K
$3.24Rp 58.5K
-7.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.87Rp 142.1K
$8.13Rp 146.7K
-3.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.27Rp 41.0K
$2.38Rp 43.0K
-4.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28Rp 23.1K
$1.50Rp 27.1K
-14.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64Rp 29.6K
$2.18Rp 39.4K
-24.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55Rp 28.0K
$1.42Rp 25.6K
9.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.43Rp 25.7K
$1.32Rp 23.8K
8.33%
Onion(1kg)
$2.62Rp 47.4K
$1.73Rp 31.2K
51.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91Rp 16.5K
$1.15Rp 20.7K
-20.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,680
$0.46Rp 8,229
-6.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.60Rp 47.0K
$2.52Rp 45.6K
3.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.67Rp 373.2K
$25.18Rp 454.5K
-17.91%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03Rp 36.6K
$1.78Rp 32.2K
14.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19Rp 57.6K
$3.30Rp 59.5K
-3.33%
🚌 Getting Around
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,406
$0.44Rp 8,032
-31.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.05Rp 181.5K
$9.26Rp 167.2K
8.53%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54Rp 9,744
$0.45Rp 8,115
20.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.38Rp 6,809
$0.31Rp 5,634
22.58%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.50Rp 45.2K
$2.74Rp 49.5K
-8.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82Rp 14.8K
$0.87Rp 15.6K
-5.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2KRp 437.5M
$20.8KRp 374.8M
16.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1KRp 470.6M
$34.9KRp 629.2M
-25.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$43.95Rp 793.5K
$83.0Rp 1.5M
-47.04%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.58Rp 82.7K
$4.19Rp 75.6K
9.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.97Rp 414.7K
$19.44Rp 350.9K
18.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.39Rp 422.2K
$21.63Rp 390.4K
8.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.05Rp 109.3K
$4.38Rp 79.1K
38.13%
Cinema Ticket
$3.08Rp 55.7K
$2.98Rp 53.9K
3.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.8Rp 1.7M
$186Rp 3.4M
-49.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,589Rp 137.0M
$9,266Rp 167.3M
-18.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.30Rp 745.6K
$62.9Rp 1.1M
-34.32%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.90Rp 557.9K
$38.49Rp 694.9K
-19.72%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$59.4Rp 1.1M
$76.9Rp 1.4M
-22.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.8Rp 1.2M
$83.8Rp 1.5M
-22.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$261Rp 4.7M
$249Rp 4.5M
5.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.9M
$138Rp 2.5M
14.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584Rp 10.5M
$775Rp 14.0M
-24.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$333Rp 6.0M
$392Rp 7.1M
-15.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,136Rp 38.6M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,064Rp 19.2M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cimahi
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$245Rp 4.4M
$269Rp 4.9M
-8.80%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $261 in Cimahi and $249 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Surabaya pays 10% 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 $201 vs $228 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 12% 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 10% 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: $261 in Cimahi versus $249 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Cimahi compared to Surabaya?
A monthly transit pass in Cimahi runs roughly 9% 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 in Surabaya?
Childcare runs $94.8 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 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 $626 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 12% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.