Cost of Living Comparison Between Jayapura and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Jayapura and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $696 in Jayapura versus $693 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,061 in Jayapura versus $1,106 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,426 in Jayapura versus $1,520 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs are close between Jayapura and Surabaya; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jayapura 48% lower, Surabaya 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.85 Rp 32.0K
$1.58 Rp 27.3K
17.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.57 Rp 182.5K
$12.16 Rp 210.0K
-13.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.16 Rp 54.5K
$2.98 Rp 51.5K
6.04%
Cappuccino
$1.80 Rp 31.1K
$1.74 Rp 30.0K
3.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68 Rp 11.7K
$0.65 Rp 11.3K
4.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 Rp 10.3K
$0.26 Rp 4,443
130.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.92 Rp 67.7K
$2.41 Rp 41.6K
62.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42 Rp 76.3K
$4.05 Rp 70.0K
9.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 Rp 20.5K
$1.44 Rp 24.9K
-17.36%
White Bread (500g)
$1.12 Rp 19.4K
$1.46 Rp 25.1K
-23.29%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.88 Rp 15.1K
$1.01 Rp 17.4K
-12.87%
Eggs
$1.54 Rp 26.6K
$1.46 Rp 25.2K
5.48%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.08 Rp 139.5K
$9.39 Rp 162.1K
-13.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.14 Rp 54.3K
$3.31 Rp 57.2K
-5.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.02 Rp 138.5K
$8.24 Rp 142.3K
-2.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 39.6K
$2.30 Rp 39.8K
-0.43%
Banana (1kg)
$1.49 Rp 25.7K
$1.51 Rp 26.1K
-1.32%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 Rp 32.6K
$2.13 Rp 36.7K
-11.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 26.2K
$1.49 Rp 25.8K
2.01%
Potato (1kg)
$1.36 Rp 23.5K
$1.33 Rp 22.9K
2.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.91 Rp 32.9K
$1.81 Rp 31.2K
5.52%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.96 Rp 16.5K
$1.20 Rp 20.8K
-20.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 7,747
$0.45 Rp 7,844
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.51 Rp 43.4K
$2.55 Rp 44.1K
-1.57%
Wine (Bottle)
$22.02 Rp 380.2K
$25.75 Rp 444.6K
-14.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03 Rp 35.1K
$1.85 Rp 31.9K
9.73%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13 Rp 54.1K
$3.14 Rp 54.2K
-0.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 Rp 5,557
$0.48 Rp 8,210
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.77 Rp 168.7K
$9.24 Rp 159.5K
5.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 Rp 9,133
$0.45 Rp 7,686
17.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.37 Rp 6,424
$0.31 Rp 5,433
19.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.86 Rp 49.5K
$2.72 Rp 47.0K
5.15%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.78 Rp 13.5K
$0.85 Rp 14.6K
-8.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3K Rp 420.4M
$21.0K Rp 363.1M
15.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2K Rp 486.4M
$35.7K Rp 616.7M
-21.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 Rp 1.2M
$83.8 Rp 1.4M
-15.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.34 Rp 74.9K
$4.29 Rp 74.1K
1.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.20 Rp 400.5K
$19.62 Rp 338.8K
18.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$22.71 Rp 392.1K
$21.80 Rp 376.4K
4.17%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.21 Rp 107.3K
$4.42 Rp 76.2K
40.50%
Cinema Ticket
$3.02 Rp 52.1K
$2.98 Rp 51.5K
1.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$91.7 Rp 1.6M
$186 Rp 3.2M
-50.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,714 Rp 133.2M
$9,464 Rp 163.4M
-18.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.88 Rp 705.9K
$62.8 Rp 1.1M
-34.86%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.70 Rp 530.1K
$39.18 Rp 676.5K
-21.64%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.7 Rp 1.2M
$78.0 Rp 1.3M
-13.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.1 Rp 1.3M
$82.3 Rp 1.4M
-11.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$254 Rp 4.4M
$244 Rp 4.2M
4.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$158 Rp 2.7M
$135 Rp 2.3M
17.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$588 Rp 10.1M
$790 Rp 13.6M
-25.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$333 Rp 5.7M
$394 Rp 6.8M
-15.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,233 Rp 21.3M
$2,262 Rp 39.1M
-45.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$775 Rp 13.4M
$1,122 Rp 19.4M
-30.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$302 Rp 5.2M
-
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: April 28, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $254 in Jayapura and $244 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $11.00 in Jayapura vs $12.00 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $210 vs $230 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
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,044 in Jayapura and $1,039 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: $254 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 public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Surabaya runs roughly 6% less than in Jayapura. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do food prices compare in Jayapura and Surabaya?
Shoppers in Jayapura pay roughly 9% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $1,200 enough for either Jayapura or Surabaya?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Surabaya 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 the better choice to relocate to?
It comes down to priorities – Surabaya wins on affordability, Jayapura on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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