🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $656 in Jayapura versus $692 in Surabaya.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,013 in Jayapura versus $1,196 in Surabaya.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,369 in Jayapura versus $1,700 in Surabaya.
🌍Living in Jayapura costs roughly 5% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Jayapura52% lower, Surabaya50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.74Rp 30.6K
$1.73Rp 30.5K
0.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.81Rp 172.8K
$11.58Rp 203.9K
-15.28%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.20Rp 56.3K
$3.14Rp 55.3K
1.91%
Cappuccino
$2.09Rp 36.9K
$1.59Rp 28.0K
31.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66Rp 11.7K
$0.57Rp 10.1K
15.79%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.52Rp 9,144
$0.26Rp 4,556
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36Rp 59.2K
$2.31Rp 40.7K
45.45%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.76Rp 48.5K
$4.30Rp 75.7K
-35.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13Rp 20.0K
$1.22Rp 21.4K
-7.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.07Rp 18.8K
$1.30Rp 22.9K
-17.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.3K
$0.84Rp 14.7K
3.57%
Eggs
$1.45Rp 25.6K
$1.21Rp 21.3K
19.83%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.41Rp 130.4K
$7.90Rp 139.1K
-6.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.02Rp 53.2K
$2.97Rp 52.3K
1.68%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.78Rp 137.0K
$7.60Rp 133.8K
2.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.23Rp 39.3K
$2.13Rp 37.5K
4.69%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.4K
$1.33Rp 23.4K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.75Rp 30.8K
$1.85Rp 32.6K
-5.41%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.23Rp 21.6K
$1.56Rp 27.6K
-21.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28Rp 22.5K
$1.34Rp 23.6K
-4.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00Rp 35.2K
$2.00Rp 35.1K
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.72Rp 12.7K
$0.97Rp 17.0K
-25.77%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40Rp 7,108
$0.43Rp 7,648
-6.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.78Rp 49.0K
$2.04Rp 35.9K
36.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.61Rp 362.8K
$25.91Rp 456.1K
-20.46%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86Rp 32.7K
$1.75Rp 30.8K
6.29%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.08Rp 54.3K
$3.03Rp 53.4K
1.65%
🚌 Getting Around
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,727
$0.33Rp 5,732
-18.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,368
$0.48Rp 8,409
10.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33Rp 5,780
$0.46Rp 8,175
-28.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.89Rp 50.8K
$2.73Rp 48.0K
5.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77Rp 13.5K
$0.81Rp 14.2K
-4.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7KRp 399.5M
$25.4KRp 446.3M
-10.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.4KRp 534.7M
$32.7KRp 575.2M
-7.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.1Rp 1.2M
$89.2Rp 1.6M
-23.67%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.33Rp 76.2K
$4.62Rp 81.4K
-6.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.71Rp 346.9K
$19.75Rp 347.8K
-0.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.06Rp 353.2K
$18.50Rp 325.7K
8.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.58Rp 151.0K
$6.79Rp 119.5K
26.36%
Cinema Ticket
$2.79Rp 49.1K
$2.71Rp 47.6K
2.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$97.1Rp 1.7M
$278Rp 4.9M
-65.05%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,813Rp 137.5M
$9,802Rp 172.6M
-20.30%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.63Rp 785.8K
$72.7Rp 1.3M
-38.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.47Rp 518.9K
$40.01Rp 704.5K
-26.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.2Rp 1.3M
$82.2Rp 1.4M
-10.93%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.8Rp 1.3M
$76.4Rp 1.3M
-6.07%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$228Rp 4.0M
$290Rp 5.1M
-21.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.8M
$150Rp 2.6M
5.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$554Rp 9.8M
$1,277Rp 22.5M
-56.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$366Rp 6.4M
$607Rp 10.7M
-39.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,204Rp 21.2M
$2,202Rp 38.8M
-45.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$667Rp 11.8M
$1,066Rp 18.8M
-37.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$279Rp 4.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
7.5
26.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Jayapura: September 5, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $228 in Jayapura and $290 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 $196 vs $212 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, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $984 in Jayapura and $1,038 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: $228 in Jayapura versus $290 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Jayapura and in Surabaya?
Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Surabaya. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
What are total monthly expenses in Jayapura and in Surabaya?
All in, you'll spend $656 per month in Jayapura versus $692 in Surabaya – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
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 5% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.