😐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: Jayapura48% lower, Surabaya48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.85Rp 32.0K
$1.58Rp 27.3K
17.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.57Rp 182.5K
$12.16Rp 210.0K
-13.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.16Rp 54.5K
$2.98Rp 51.5K
6.04%
Cappuccino
$1.80Rp 31.1K
$1.74Rp 30.0K
3.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.68Rp 11.7K
$0.65Rp 11.3K
4.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60Rp 10.3K
$0.26Rp 4,443
130.77%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.92Rp 67.7K
$2.41Rp 41.6K
62.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.42Rp 76.3K
$4.05Rp 70.0K
9.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.19Rp 20.5K
$1.44Rp 24.9K
-17.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.12Rp 19.4K
$1.46Rp 25.1K
-23.29%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.88Rp 15.1K
$1.01Rp 17.4K
-12.87%
Eggs
$1.54Rp 26.6K
$1.46Rp 25.2K
5.48%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.08Rp 139.5K
$9.39Rp 162.1K
-13.95%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.14Rp 54.3K
$3.31Rp 57.2K
-5.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.02Rp 138.5K
$8.24Rp 142.3K
-2.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29Rp 39.6K
$2.30Rp 39.8K
-0.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49Rp 25.7K
$1.51Rp 26.1K
-1.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.89Rp 32.6K
$2.13Rp 36.7K
-11.27%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52Rp 26.2K
$1.49Rp 25.8K
2.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36Rp 23.5K
$1.33Rp 22.9K
2.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.91Rp 32.9K
$1.81Rp 31.2K
5.52%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.96Rp 16.5K
$1.20Rp 20.8K
-20.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,747
$0.45Rp 7,844
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.51Rp 43.4K
$2.55Rp 44.1K
-1.57%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.02Rp 380.2K
$25.75Rp 444.6K
-14.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.03Rp 35.1K
$1.85Rp 31.9K
9.73%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.13Rp 54.1K
$3.14Rp 54.2K
-0.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,557
$0.48Rp 8,210
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.77Rp 168.7K
$9.24Rp 159.5K
5.74%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,133
$0.45Rp 7,686
17.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,424
$0.31Rp 5,433
19.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.86Rp 49.5K
$2.72Rp 47.0K
5.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 13.5K
$0.85Rp 14.6K
-8.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3KRp 420.4M
$21.0KRp 363.1M
15.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.2KRp 486.4M
$35.7KRp 616.7M
-21.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.6Rp 1.2M
$83.8Rp 1.4M
-15.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.34Rp 74.9K
$4.29Rp 74.1K
1.17%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.20Rp 400.5K
$19.62Rp 338.8K
18.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.71Rp 392.1K
$21.80Rp 376.4K
4.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.21Rp 107.3K
$4.42Rp 76.2K
40.50%
Cinema Ticket
$3.02Rp 52.1K
$2.98Rp 51.5K
1.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$91.7Rp 1.6M
$186Rp 3.2M
-50.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,714Rp 133.2M
$9,464Rp 163.4M
-18.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.88Rp 705.9K
$62.8Rp 1.1M
-34.86%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.70Rp 530.1K
$39.18Rp 676.5K
-21.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.7Rp 1.2M
$78.0Rp 1.3M
-13.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.1Rp 1.3M
$82.3Rp 1.4M
-11.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$254Rp 4.4M
$244Rp 4.2M
4.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.7M
$135Rp 2.3M
17.44%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$588Rp 10.1M
$790Rp 13.6M
-25.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$333Rp 5.7M
$394Rp 6.8M
-15.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,233Rp 21.3M
$2,262Rp 39.1M
-45.50%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$775Rp 13.4M
$1,122Rp 19.4M
-30.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$302Rp 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.