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: $676 in Jayapura versus $702 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,023 in Jayapura versus $1,129 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,371 in Jayapura versus $1,557 in Surabaya.

Living in Jayapura costs roughly 4% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Jayapura 49% lower, Surabaya 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.87 Rp 33.9K
$1.56 Rp 28.3K
19.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.41 Rp 188.3K
$12.42 Rp 224.6K
-16.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.00 Rp 54.2K
$3.03 Rp 54.7K
-0.99%
Cappuccino
$1.81 Rp 32.8K
$1.76 Rp 31.7K
2.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 Rp 12.2K
$0.66 Rp 11.9K
1.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59 Rp 10.7K
$0.28 Rp 5,104
110.71%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.75 Rp 67.8K
$2.44 Rp 44.1K
53.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 Rp 76.9K
$4.09 Rp 73.9K
3.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 Rp 22.1K
$1.44 Rp 26.0K
-15.28%
White Bread (500g)
$1.18 Rp 21.4K
$1.52 Rp 27.4K
-22.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 Rp 15.7K
$0.98 Rp 17.7K
-11.22%
Eggs
$1.55 Rp 28.0K
$1.51 Rp 27.3K
2.65%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.03 Rp 145.3K
$9.28 Rp 167.7K
-13.47%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.10 Rp 56.1K
$3.24 Rp 58.5K
-4.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.67 Rp 138.8K
$8.13 Rp 147.0K
-5.66%
Apples (1kg)
$2.34 Rp 42.3K
$2.38 Rp 43.0K
-1.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 Rp 25.9K
$1.50 Rp 27.2K
-4.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 34.0K
$2.18 Rp 39.5K
-13.76%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
$1.42 Rp 25.6K
5.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.39 Rp 25.1K
$1.32 Rp 23.8K
5.30%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 34.4K
$1.73 Rp 31.2K
9.83%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 Rp 17.1K
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
-17.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,431
$0.46 Rp 8,242
-10.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.47 Rp 44.6K
$2.52 Rp 45.6K
-1.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.87 Rp 359.3K
$25.18 Rp 455.2K
-21.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01 Rp 36.3K
$1.78 Rp 32.2K
12.92%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21 Rp 58.1K
$3.30 Rp 59.6K
-2.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 Rp 5,393
$0.44 Rp 8,044
-31.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.86 Rp 178.4K
$9.26 Rp 167.5K
6.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 Rp 9,619
$0.45 Rp 8,128
17.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Rp 6,308
$0.31 Rp 5,643
12.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.86 Rp 51.7K
$2.74 Rp 49.6K
4.38%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.84 Rp 15.2K
$0.87 Rp 15.6K
-3.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4K Rp 442.0M
$20.8K Rp 375.4M
17.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9K Rp 504.7M
$34.9K Rp 630.2M
-19.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$69.2 Rp 1.3M
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
-16.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.39 Rp 79.4K
$4.19 Rp 75.7K
4.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.91 Rp 414.2K
$19.44 Rp 351.5K
17.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.14 Rp 418.4K
$21.63 Rp 391.0K
6.98%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00 Rp 108.5K
$4.38 Rp 79.2K
36.99%
Cinema Ticket
$3.03 Rp 54.8K
$2.98 Rp 54.0K
1.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$93.3 Rp 1.7M
$186 Rp 3.4M
-49.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,527 Rp 136.1M
$9,266 Rp 167.5M
-18.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.30 Rp 764.9K
$62.9 Rp 1.1M
-32.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.18 Rp 563.9K
$38.49 Rp 696.0K
-18.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$65.9 Rp 1.2M
$76.9 Rp 1.4M
-14.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.6 Rp 1.3M
$83.8 Rp 1.5M
-13.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$260 Rp 4.7M
$249 Rp 4.5M
4.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 Rp 2.8M
$138 Rp 2.5M
13.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$580 Rp 10.5M
$775 Rp 14.0M
-25.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$339 Rp 6.1M
$392 Rp 7.1M
-13.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,298 Rp 23.5M
$2,136 Rp 38.6M
-39.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$795 Rp 14.4M
$1,064 Rp 19.2M
-25.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$269 Rp 4.9M
-
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: July 28, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $260 in Jayapura and $249 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 $205 vs $228 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 $1,014 in Jayapura and $1,053 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: $260 in Jayapura versus $249 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $93.3 in Jayapura versus $186 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 in Surabaya?
Supermarket bills run roughly 11% 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 in 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.

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