😐A single person spends $2,348 per month in Houma, LA vs $702 in Surabaya, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $3,412 per month in Houma, LA vs $1,117 in Surabaya, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $4,476 per month in Houma, LA vs $1,532 in Surabaya, rent included.
😐Houma, LA costs about 234% more than Surabaya, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Houma, LA sits 76% above the global median, while Surabaya is 47% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Houma, LA
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.84$14.84
$1.58Rp 28.4K
839.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$50.6$50.6
$12.11Rp 217.6K
317.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.08$10.08
$3.05Rp 54.9K
230.49%
Cappuccino
$5.57$5.57
$1.80Rp 32.4K
209.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01$2.01
$0.64Rp 11.5K
214.06%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94$1.94
$0.28Rp 5,048
592.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.08$3.08
$2.40Rp 43.2K
28.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.82$4.82
$4.09Rp 73.5K
17.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Houma, LA
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.12$1.12
$1.38Rp 24.7K
-18.84%
White Bread(500g)
$2.95$2.95
$1.50Rp 26.9K
96.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.37$2.37
$0.94Rp 17.0K
152.13%
Eggs
$1.71$1.71
$1.50Rp 26.9K
14.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.24$10.24
$9.24Rp 166.1K
10.82%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$11.08$11.08
$3.19Rp 57.3K
247.34%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.03$15.03
$8.13Rp 146.0K
84.87%
Apples(1kg)
$5.43$5.43
$2.41Rp 43.3K
125.31%
Banana(1kg)
$1.27$1.27
$1.56Rp 28.1K
-18.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$5.07$5.07
$2.20Rp 39.5K
130.45%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.94$3.94
$1.50Rp 27.0K
162.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.18$2.18
$1.33Rp 23.8K
63.91%
Onion(1kg)
$2.67$2.67
$1.73Rp 31.1K
54.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$2.06$2.06
$1.19Rp 21.4K
73.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.86$1.86
$0.45Rp 8,091
313.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$8.96$8.96
$2.45Rp 44.1K
265.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$13.18$13.18
$25.13Rp 451.6K
-47.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.91$1.91
$1.86Rp 33.5K
2.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86$2.86
$3.31Rp 59.5K
-13.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Houma, LA
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$2.02$2.02
$0.44Rp 7,860
359.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$9.48Rp 170.4K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$4.06$4.06
$0.48Rp 8,592
745.83%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.25$1.25
$0.31Rp 5,615
303.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$61.0$61.0
$2.73Rp 49.1K
2134.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78$0.78
$0.86Rp 15.4K
-9.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$37.0K$37.0K
$20.5KRp 368.6M
80.50%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$24.8K$24.8K
$35.0KRp 629.7M
-29.24%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Houma, LA
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$136$136
$83.0Rp 1.5M
63.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$43.65$43.65
$4.31Rp 77.5K
912.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$46.73$46.73
$19.61Rp 352.5K
138.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Houma, LA
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$27.07$27.07
$21.82Rp 392.2K
24.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$4.59Rp 82.6K
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.16$12.16
$2.87Rp 51.7K
323.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Houma, LA
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$1,279$1,279
$186Rp 3.3M
588.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.0K$10.0K
$9,556Rp 171.7M
4.96%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Houma, LA
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.29$36.29
$62.9Rp 1.1M
-42.31%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.80$42.80
$38.85Rp 698.2K
10.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$71.5$71.5
$77.8Rp 1.4M
-8.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.1$78.1
$83.1Rp 1.5M
-6.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Houma, LA
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,055$1,055
$244Rp 4.4M
332.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,376$1,376
$136Rp 2.4M
913.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,640$2,640
$792Rp 14.2M
233.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$2,224$2,224
$399Rp 7.2M
457.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,450$1,450
$2,202Rp 39.6M
-34.16%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,477$1,477
$1,045Rp 18.8M
41.27%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Houma, LA
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$3,745$3,745
$269Rp 4.8M
1291.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
6.61
8.33
-20.65%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Houma, LA: July 14, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,055 in Houma, LA versus $244 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 1292% higher in Houma, LA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $51.0 in Houma, LA versus $12.00 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $347 vs $228 – 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
Houma, LA vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surabaya cheaper than Houma, LA?
Yes – Houma, LA is pricier by about 234%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,521 per month in Houma, LA and $1,054 in Surabaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Houma, LA and in Surabaya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $2,348 in Houma, LA and $702 in Surabaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $1,279 per month in Houma, LA and $186 in Surabaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Houma, LA or in Surabaya?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surabaya, where all-in costs run around $702, than in Houma, LA at $2,348. In Surabaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Houma, LA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Houma, LA or Surabaya more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Houma, LA or Surabaya?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Surabaya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Houma, LA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.