🙂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: Jayapura49% lower, Surabaya47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.87Rp 33.9K
$1.56Rp 28.3K
19.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.41Rp 188.3K
$12.42Rp 224.6K
-16.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.00Rp 54.2K
$3.03Rp 54.7K
-0.99%
Cappuccino
$1.81Rp 32.8K
$1.76Rp 31.7K
2.84%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67Rp 12.2K
$0.66Rp 11.9K
1.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.59Rp 10.7K
$0.28Rp 5,104
110.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.75Rp 67.8K
$2.44Rp 44.1K
53.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25Rp 76.9K
$4.09Rp 73.9K
3.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 22.1K
$1.44Rp 26.0K
-15.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18Rp 21.4K
$1.52Rp 27.4K
-22.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 15.7K
$0.98Rp 17.7K
-11.22%
Eggs
$1.55Rp 28.0K
$1.51Rp 27.3K
2.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.03Rp 145.3K
$9.28Rp 167.7K
-13.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.10Rp 56.1K
$3.24Rp 58.5K
-4.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.67Rp 138.8K
$8.13Rp 147.0K
-5.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.34Rp 42.3K
$2.38Rp 43.0K
-1.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.43Rp 25.9K
$1.50Rp 27.2K
-4.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.88Rp 34.0K
$2.18Rp 39.5K
-13.76%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50Rp 27.1K
$1.42Rp 25.6K
5.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.39Rp 25.1K
$1.32Rp 23.8K
5.30%
Onion(1kg)
$1.90Rp 34.4K
$1.73Rp 31.2K
9.83%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95Rp 17.1K
$1.15Rp 20.7K
-17.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,431
$0.46Rp 8,242
-10.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.47Rp 44.6K
$2.52Rp 45.6K
-1.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.87Rp 359.3K
$25.18Rp 455.2K
-21.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.01Rp 36.3K
$1.78Rp 32.2K
12.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21Rp 58.1K
$3.30Rp 59.6K
-2.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,393
$0.44Rp 8,044
-31.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.86Rp 178.4K
$9.26Rp 167.5K
6.48%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,619
$0.45Rp 8,128
17.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,308
$0.31Rp 5,643
12.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.86Rp 51.7K
$2.74Rp 49.6K
4.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 15.2K
$0.87Rp 15.6K
-3.45%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.4KRp 442.0M
$20.8KRp 375.4M
17.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9KRp 504.7M
$34.9KRp 630.2M
-19.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.2Rp 1.3M
$83.0Rp 1.5M
-16.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.39Rp 79.4K
$4.19Rp 75.7K
4.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.91Rp 414.2K
$19.44Rp 351.5K
17.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.14Rp 418.4K
$21.63Rp 391.0K
6.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00Rp 108.5K
$4.38Rp 79.2K
36.99%
Cinema Ticket
$3.03Rp 54.8K
$2.98Rp 54.0K
1.68%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.3Rp 1.7M
$186Rp 3.4M
-49.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,527Rp 136.1M
$9,266Rp 167.5M
-18.77%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.30Rp 764.9K
$62.9Rp 1.1M
-32.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.18Rp 563.9K
$38.49Rp 696.0K
-18.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$65.9Rp 1.2M
$76.9Rp 1.4M
-14.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.6Rp 1.3M
$83.8Rp 1.5M
-13.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$260Rp 4.7M
$249Rp 4.5M
4.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.8M
$138Rp 2.5M
13.20%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$580Rp 10.5M
$775Rp 14.0M
-25.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$339Rp 6.1M
$392Rp 7.1M
-13.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,298Rp 23.5M
$2,136Rp 38.6M
-39.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$795Rp 14.4M
$1,064Rp 19.2M
-25.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Jayapura
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$269Rp 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.