🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $673 in Jayapura versus $700 in Surabaya.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,047 in Jayapura versus $1,117 in Surabaya.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,421 in Jayapura versus $1,535 in Surabaya.
🙂Living in Jayapura costs roughly 4% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Jayapura50% lower, Surabaya48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.87Rp 33.5K
$1.52Rp 27.3K
23.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.28Rp 184.1K
$12.46Rp 223.3K
-17.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.99Rp 53.5K
$3.13Rp 56.1K
-4.47%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 31.2K
$1.74Rp 31.1K
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68Rp 12.1K
$0.66Rp 11.8K
3.03%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.58Rp 10.4K
$0.28Rp 5,017
107.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.74Rp 67.1K
$2.50Rp 44.7K
49.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25Rp 76.1K
$3.92Rp 70.2K
8.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 21.9K
$1.42Rp 25.5K
-14.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.17Rp 20.9K
$1.50Rp 26.9K
-22.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.89Rp 16.0K
$0.93Rp 16.7K
-4.30%
Eggs
$1.60Rp 28.7K
$1.50Rp 26.8K
6.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.96Rp 142.6K
$9.31Rp 166.7K
-14.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.07Rp 55.0K
$3.17Rp 56.9K
-3.15%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.72Rp 138.3K
$8.19Rp 146.8K
-5.74%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40Rp 43.0K
$2.40Rp 43.0K
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.44Rp 25.8K
$1.50Rp 26.8K
-4.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.81Rp 32.4K
$2.17Rp 38.8K
-16.59%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51Rp 27.1K
$1.42Rp 25.4K
6.34%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.8K
$1.38Rp 24.7K
-3.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.96Rp 35.1K
$1.78Rp 31.9K
10.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94Rp 16.9K
$1.16Rp 20.7K
-18.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44Rp 7,893
$0.45Rp 8,099
-2.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55Rp 45.7K
$2.44Rp 43.7K
4.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.34Rp 382.4K
$24.54Rp 439.7K
-13.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02Rp 36.2K
$1.83Rp 32.8K
10.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18Rp 57.0K
$3.27Rp 58.6K
-2.75%
🚌 Getting Around
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,804
$0.47Rp 8,495
-31.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.62Rp 172.4K
$9.14Rp 163.8K
5.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57Rp 10.3K
$0.47Rp 8,431
21.28%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,198
$0.31Rp 5,569
12.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.99Rp 53.5K
$2.75Rp 49.3K
8.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77Rp 13.8K
$0.87Rp 15.6K
-11.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KRp 443.3M
$20.8KRp 373.4M
18.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8KRp 498.6M
$34.9KRp 624.7M
-20.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.9Rp 1.3M
$83.9Rp 1.5M
-15.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25Rp 76.2K
$4.10Rp 73.5K
3.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.34Rp 400.3K
$19.83Rp 355.3K
12.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.76Rp 407.7K
$21.93Rp 393.0K
3.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.26Rp 112.1K
$4.44Rp 79.5K
40.99%
Cinema Ticket
$3.04Rp 54.5K
$2.96Rp 53.0K
2.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.7Rp 1.7M
$192Rp 3.4M
-51.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,483Rp 134.1M
$9,350Rp 167.5M
-19.97%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.07Rp 753.7K
$62.9Rp 1.1M
-33.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.00Rp 555.3K
$39.45Rp 706.8K
-21.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.9Rp 1.2M
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-12.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.7Rp 1.3M
$82.0Rp 1.5M
-11.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$262Rp 4.7M
$244Rp 4.4M
7.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$155Rp 2.8M
$135Rp 2.4M
14.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$585Rp 10.5M
$762Rp 13.7M
-23.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$336Rp 6.0M
$389Rp 7.0M
-13.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,186Rp 21.3M
$2,223Rp 39.8M
-46.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$732Rp 13.1M
$1,057Rp 18.9M
-30.76%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$269Rp 4.8M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
8.33
9.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jayapura: June 6, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $262 in Jayapura and $244 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $10.00 in Jayapura vs $12.00 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $208 vs $227 per month, with Jayapura cheaper across the board.
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
Jayapura vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surabaya cheaper than Jayapura?
Jayapura is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,009 in Jayapura and $1,050 in Surabaya to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Jayapura and Surabaya?
Rent for a central apartment: $262 in Jayapura versus $244 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $93.7 in Jayapura versus $192 in Surabaya. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Jayapura and Surabaya?
Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Surabaya. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,000 enough for either Jayapura or Surabaya?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Jayapura gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Jayapura or Surabaya?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Jayapura gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.