😐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 – Cirebon48% lower, Surabaya50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.50Rp 44.1K
$1.73Rp 30.5K
44.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$16.74Rp 294.9K
$11.58Rp 204.0K
44.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.29Rp 58.0K
$3.14Rp 55.3K
4.78%
Cappuccino
$2.00Rp 35.2K
$1.59Rp 28.0K
25.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,945
$0.57Rp 10.1K
-21.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27Rp 4,759
$0.26Rp 4,557
3.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.65Rp 46.6K
$2.31Rp 40.7K
14.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.06Rp 71.5K
$4.30Rp 75.8K
-5.58%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01Rp 17.7K
$1.22Rp 21.4K
-17.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.14Rp 20.2K
$1.30Rp 23.0K
-12.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.3K
$0.84Rp 14.7K
3.57%
Eggs
$1.74Rp 30.7K
$1.21Rp 21.3K
43.80%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.76Rp 171.8K
$7.90Rp 139.2K
23.54%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.13Rp 55.2K
$2.97Rp 52.3K
5.39%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.97Rp 140.3K
$7.60Rp 133.8K
4.87%
Apples(1kg)
$2.93Rp 51.6K
$2.13Rp 37.5K
37.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.5K
$1.33Rp 23.4K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.64Rp 46.5K
$1.85Rp 32.6K
42.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37Rp 24.1K
$1.56Rp 27.6K
-12.18%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37Rp 24.1K
$1.34Rp 23.6K
2.24%
Onion(1kg)
$2.21Rp 38.9K
$2.00Rp 35.2K
10.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96Rp 17.0K
$0.97Rp 17.0K
-1.03%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,068
$0.43Rp 7,651
18.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.78Rp 49.0K
$2.04Rp 35.9K
36.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.33Rp 375.8K
$25.91Rp 456.3K
-17.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11Rp 37.1K
$1.75Rp 30.8K
20.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11Rp 54.7K
$3.03Rp 53.4K
2.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.29Rp 5,128
$0.33Rp 5,734
-12.12%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,536
$0.48Rp 8,413
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33Rp 5,766
$0.46Rp 8,178
-28.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.31Rp 58.2K
$2.73Rp 48.0K
21.25%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82Rp 14.5K
$0.81Rp 14.2K
1.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.4KRp 500.5M
$25.4KRp 446.5M
12.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0KRp 599.5M
$32.7KRp 575.4M
4.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$110Rp 1.9M
$89.2Rp 1.6M
23.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.90Rp 104.0K
$4.62Rp 81.4K
27.71%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.51Rp 343.6K
$19.75Rp 347.9K
-1.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.82Rp 349.2K
$18.50Rp 325.9K
7.14%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.25Rp 145.4K
$6.79Rp 119.6K
21.50%
Cinema Ticket
$3.49Rp 61.5K
$2.71Rp 47.7K
28.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$154Rp 2.7M
$278Rp 4.9M
-44.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,445Rp 148.7M
$9,802Rp 172.6M
-13.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9Rp 1.0M
$72.7Rp 1.3M
-19.00%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.62Rp 521.8K
$40.01Rp 704.8K
-25.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.1Rp 1.3M
$82.2Rp 1.4M
-12.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105Rp 1.9M
$76.4Rp 1.3M
37.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$222Rp 3.9M
$290Rp 5.1M
-23.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.7M
$150Rp 2.6M
4.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$570Rp 10.0M
$1,277Rp 22.5M
-55.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$363Rp 6.4M
$607Rp 10.7M
-40.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,197Rp 21.1M
$2,202Rp 38.8M
-45.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$672Rp 11.8M
$1,066Rp 18.8M
-36.93%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cirebon
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$167Rp 2.9M
$279Rp 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.