Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Surakarta Cost of Living Comparison Between Jakarta and Surakarta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $849 per month in Jakarta vs $660 in Surakarta, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,389 per month in Jakarta vs $999 in Surakarta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,929 per month in Jakarta vs $1,339 in Surakarta, rent included.

Jakarta costs about 29% more than Surakarta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Jakarta and Surakarta are more affordable than the global median – Jakarta 37% lower, Surakarta 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.02 Rp 52.3K

$1.50 Rp 26.0K

101.33%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.34 Rp 317.8K

$12.10 Rp 209.8K

51.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.51 Rp 60.8K

$3.16 Rp 54.7K

11.08%

Cappuccino

$2.14 Rp 37.2K

$1.65 Rp 28.6K

29.70%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 Rp 8,949

$0.60 Rp 10.5K

-13.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 4,873

$0.27 Rp 4,721

3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.73 Rp 47.2K

$1.85 Rp 32.1K

47.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 Rp 73.8K

$2.84 Rp 49.3K

50.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.39 Rp 24.2K

$1.15 Rp 19.9K

20.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 Rp 20.1K

$0.90 Rp 15.6K

28.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.03 Rp 17.8K

$0.75 Rp 13.0K

37.33%

Eggs

$1.87 Rp 32.4K

$1.23 Rp 21.4K

52.03%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 Rp 109.0K

$8.99 Rp 155.8K

-30.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.12 Rp 54.1K

$2.89 Rp 50.1K

7.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.86 Rp 136.2K

$7.27 Rp 126.0K

8.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.86 Rp 49.5K

$2.40 Rp 41.6K

19.17%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 26.9K

$1.54 Rp 26.7K

0.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 38.0K

$2.12 Rp 36.7K

3.30%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 Rp 25.8K

$1.39 Rp 24.1K

7.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 31.4K

$1.37 Rp 23.8K

32.12%

Onion (1kg)

$2.63 Rp 45.6K

$1.65 Rp 28.6K

59.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.06 Rp 18.4K

$0.62 Rp 10.8K

70.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,277

$0.46 Rp 7,898

-8.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.96 Rp 51.3K

$2.18 Rp 37.7K

35.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.32 Rp 386.9K

$8.86 Rp 153.6K

151.92%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.23 Rp 38.7K

$1.78 Rp 30.8K

25.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.06 Rp 53.0K

$3.15 Rp 54.6K

-2.86%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 Rp 3,624

$0.45 Rp 7,757

-53.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.42 Rp 215.3K

$10.08 Rp 174.7K

23.21%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.54 Rp 9,305

$0.44 Rp 7,642

22.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 Rp 6,497

$0.29 Rp 5,002

27.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.14 Rp 54.5K

$2.69 Rp 46.7K

16.73%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.4K

$0.77 Rp 13.3K

1.30%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$30.1K Rp 522.5M

$20.8K Rp 359.7M

45.27%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.4K Rp 561.6M

$35.1K Rp 608.9M

-7.76%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$89.7 Rp 1.6M

$84.9 Rp 1.5M

5.72%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$6.56 Rp 113.8K

$2.22 Rp 38.5K

195.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.10 Rp 469.6K

$19.77 Rp 342.6K

37.08%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.54 Rp 529.3K

$19.77 Rp 342.6K

54.48%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.74 Rp 220.9K

$6.00 Rp 104.0K

112.33%

Cinema Ticket

$3.04 Rp 52.6K

$2.21 Rp 38.3K

37.56%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$169 Rp 2.9M

$37.42 Rp 648.5K

352.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,651 Rp 167.3M

$2,046 Rp 35.5M

371.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.5 Rp 978.4K

$62.3 Rp 1.1M

-9.39%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.55 Rp 581.5K

$38.19 Rp 661.9K

-12.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$84.5 Rp 1.5M

$77.7 Rp 1.3M

8.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.3 Rp 1.5M

$70.9 Rp 1.2M

24.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$377 Rp 6.5M

$262 Rp 4.5M

43.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$239 Rp 4.1M

$156 Rp 2.7M

52.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,176 Rp 20.4M

$581 Rp 10.1M

102.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$658 Rp 11.4M

$331 Rp 5.7M

98.64%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,777 Rp 48.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,418 Rp 24.6M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$476 Rp 8.3M

$164 Rp 2.8M

190.67%

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 Jakarta: April 28, 2026

Last update for Surakarta: April 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $377 in Jakarta versus $262 in Surakarta. 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 191% higher in Jakarta, 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 $18.00 in Jakarta versus $12.00 in Surakarta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $177 – making Surakarta 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

Jakarta vs Surakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Jakarta costs about 29% more than Surakarta, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,274 per month in Jakarta and $990 in Surakarta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Surakarta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $169 per month in Jakarta and $37.42 in Surakarta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 23% more in Jakarta, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $849 in Jakarta and $660 in Surakarta, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Surakarta costs $660 versus $849 in Jakarta. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

If budget matters most, go with Surakarta. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jakarta makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.