Cost of Living Comparison Between Cirebon and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Cirebon and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $722 per month in Cirebon vs $692 in Surabaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,145 per month in Cirebon vs $1,196 in Surabaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,568 per month in Cirebon vs $1,700 in Surabaya, rent included.

Cirebon costs about 4% more than Surabaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Cirebon and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Cirebon 48% lower, Surabaya 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.50 Rp 44.1K
$1.73 Rp 30.5K
44.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.74 Rp 294.9K
$11.58 Rp 204.0K
44.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.29 Rp 58.0K
$3.14 Rp 55.3K
4.78%
Cappuccino
$2.00 Rp 35.2K
$1.59 Rp 28.0K
25.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 7,945
$0.57 Rp 10.1K
-21.05%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 Rp 4,759
$0.26 Rp 4,557
3.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.65 Rp 46.6K
$2.31 Rp 40.7K
14.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06 Rp 71.5K
$4.30 Rp 75.8K
-5.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 Rp 17.7K
$1.22 Rp 21.4K
-17.21%
White Bread (500g)
$1.14 Rp 20.2K
$1.30 Rp 23.0K
-12.31%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 Rp 15.3K
$0.84 Rp 14.7K
3.57%
Eggs
$1.74 Rp 30.7K
$1.21 Rp 21.3K
43.80%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.76 Rp 171.8K
$7.90 Rp 139.2K
23.54%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.13 Rp 55.2K
$2.97 Rp 52.3K
5.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.97 Rp 140.3K
$7.60 Rp 133.8K
4.87%
Apples (1kg)
$2.93 Rp 51.6K
$2.13 Rp 37.5K
37.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 Rp 23.5K
$1.33 Rp 23.4K
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.64 Rp 46.5K
$1.85 Rp 32.6K
42.70%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.37 Rp 24.1K
$1.56 Rp 27.6K
-12.18%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 Rp 24.1K
$1.34 Rp 23.6K
2.24%
Onion (1kg)
$2.21 Rp 38.9K
$2.00 Rp 35.2K
10.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 Rp 17.0K
$0.97 Rp 17.0K
-1.03%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,068
$0.43 Rp 7,651
18.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.78 Rp 49.0K
$2.04 Rp 35.9K
36.27%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.33 Rp 375.8K
$25.91 Rp 456.3K
-17.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11 Rp 37.1K
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
20.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 Rp 54.7K
$3.03 Rp 53.4K
2.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,128
$0.33 Rp 5,734
-12.12%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,536
$0.48 Rp 8,413
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.33 Rp 5,766
$0.46 Rp 8,178
-28.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.31 Rp 58.2K
$2.73 Rp 48.0K
21.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.5K
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
1.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4K Rp 500.5M
$25.4K Rp 446.5M
12.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0K Rp 599.5M
$32.7K Rp 575.4M
4.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 Rp 1.9M
$89.2 Rp 1.6M
23.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.90 Rp 104.0K
$4.62 Rp 81.4K
27.71%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.51 Rp 343.6K
$19.75 Rp 347.9K
-1.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.82 Rp 349.2K
$18.50 Rp 325.9K
7.14%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.25 Rp 145.4K
$6.79 Rp 119.6K
21.50%
Cinema Ticket
$3.49 Rp 61.5K
$2.71 Rp 47.7K
28.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$154 Rp 2.7M
$278 Rp 4.9M
-44.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$8,445 Rp 148.7M
$9,802 Rp 172.6M
-13.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 Rp 1.0M
$72.7 Rp 1.3M
-19.00%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.62 Rp 521.8K
$40.01 Rp 704.8K
-25.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$72.1 Rp 1.3M
$82.2 Rp 1.4M
-12.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 Rp 1.9M
$76.4 Rp 1.3M
37.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$222 Rp 3.9M
$290 Rp 5.1M
-23.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 Rp 2.7M
$150 Rp 2.6M
4.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$570 Rp 10.0M
$1,277 Rp 22.5M
-55.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$363 Rp 6.4M
$607 Rp 10.7M
-40.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,197 Rp 21.1M
$2,202 Rp 38.8M
-45.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$672 Rp 11.8M
$1,066 Rp 18.8M
-36.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$167 Rp 2.9M
$279 Rp 4.9M
-40.07%
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 Cirebon: September 6, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $222 in Cirebon versus $290 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 67% 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 $17.00 in Cirebon versus $12.00 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $219 vs $212 – making Surabaya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 4% more than Surabaya, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. 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 $1,083 per month in Cirebon and $1,038 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 much does it cost to live in Cirebon compared to Surabaya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $722 in Cirebon and $692 in Surabaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Cirebon and in Surabaya?
Kindergarten costs $154 per month in Cirebon and $278 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 $722 in Cirebon and $692 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.

Cirebon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities