😐A single person spends $743 per month in Cirebon vs $687 in Surabaya, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,150 per month in Cirebon vs $1,113 in Surabaya, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,557 per month in Cirebon vs $1,540 in Surabaya, rent included.
😐Cirebon costs about 8% more than Surabaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Cirebon and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Cirebon44% lower, Surabaya49% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.98Rp 53.4K
$1.58Rp 28.3K
88.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.55Rp 332.8K
$12.41Rp 222.6K
49.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.15Rp 56.4K
$3.09Rp 55.4K
1.94%
Cappuccino
$2.15Rp 38.5K
$1.78Rp 32.0K
20.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27Rp 4,792
$0.61Rp 10.9K
-55.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,619
$0.28Rp 5,043
-7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.78Rp 49.9K
$2.52Rp 45.2K
10.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.22Rp 75.7K
$3.91Rp 70.2K
7.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13Rp 20.3K
$1.38Rp 24.7K
-18.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.10Rp 19.7K
$1.45Rp 26.0K
-24.14%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.00Rp 17.9K
$0.94Rp 16.8K
6.38%
Eggs
$1.79Rp 32.1K
$1.52Rp 27.3K
17.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.53Rp 117.0K
$9.26Rp 166.1K
-29.48%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.24Rp 58.2K
$3.34Rp 59.9K
-2.99%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.66Rp 137.4K
$8.17Rp 146.5K
-6.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.85Rp 51.1K
$2.29Rp 41.1K
24.45%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62Rp 29.0K
$1.55Rp 27.8K
4.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19Rp 39.3K
$2.19Rp 39.3K
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.9K
$1.45Rp 26.0K
7.59%
Potato(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.7K
$1.38Rp 24.7K
-32.61%
Onion(1kg)
$2.63Rp 47.2K
$1.78Rp 32.0K
47.75%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.05Rp 18.9K
$1.15Rp 20.7K
-8.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,285
$0.46Rp 8,244
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.09Rp 55.4K
$2.54Rp 45.6K
21.65%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.60Rp 387.4K
$25.47Rp 456.8K
-15.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.23Rp 39.9K
$1.80Rp 32.3K
23.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23Rp 57.9K
$3.27Rp 58.7K
-1.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,787
$0.47Rp 8,500
-31.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.71Rp 174.2K
$9.17Rp 164.5K
5.89%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.54Rp 9,606
$0.45Rp 7,993
20.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,239
$0.31Rp 5,573
12.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.08Rp 55.3K
$2.70Rp 48.4K
14.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.80Rp 14.4K
$0.82Rp 14.6K
-2.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8KRp 553.1M
$20.9KRp 375.5M
47.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.2KRp 595.9M
$34.9KRp 625.3M
-4.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$92.8Rp 1.7M
$83.2Rp 1.5M
11.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.75Rp 121.1K
$4.12Rp 74.0K
63.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.98Rp 483.9K
$19.34Rp 346.8K
39.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.12Rp 414.6K
$21.77Rp 390.4K
6.20%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.04Rp 108.3K
$4.46Rp 79.9K
35.43%
Cinema Ticket
$3.09Rp 55.4K
$2.89Rp 51.9K
6.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.2Rp 1.7M
$186Rp 3.3M
-49.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,686Rp 173.7M
$9,359Rp 167.9M
3.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.9Rp 1.0M
$61.0Rp 1.1M
-8.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.46Rp 600.0K
$38.67Rp 693.5K
-13.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.7Rp 1.5M
$77.0Rp 1.4M
7.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.7Rp 1.6M
$82.2Rp 1.5M
9.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$258Rp 4.6M
$248Rp 4.4M
3.95%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$161Rp 2.9M
$134Rp 2.4M
19.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$584Rp 10.5M
$784Rp 14.1M
-25.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$332Rp 6.0M
$402Rp 7.2M
-17.36%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,300Rp 23.3M
$2,205Rp 39.6M
-41.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$763Rp 13.7M
$1,058Rp 19.0M
-27.92%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$165Rp 3.0M
$268Rp 4.8M
-38.47%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.59
8.33
15.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Cirebon: July 20, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $258 in Cirebon versus $248 in Surabaya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 63% higher in Surabaya, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Cirebon versus $12.00 in Surabaya. Groceries tell a different story – $211 in Cirebon vs $228 in Surabaya – so Cirebon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Cirebon vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Cirebon or Surabaya?
Cirebon costs about 8% more than Surabaya, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Cirebon and in Surabaya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,115 per month in Cirebon and $1,031 in Surabaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Cirebon or Surabaya?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Surabaya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Cirebon compared to Surabaya?
Public transport costs about 6% less in Surabaya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Cirebon and in Surabaya?
Kindergarten costs $93.2 per month in Cirebon and $186 in Surabaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Cirebon or in Surabaya?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $743 in Cirebon and $687 in Surabaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Surabaya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Cirebon or to Surabaya?
If budget matters most, go with Surabaya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cirebon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.