🙂A single person spends $565 per month in Magelang vs $693 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $875 per month in Magelang vs $1,106 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,186 per month in Magelang vs $1,520 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂Magelang is about 19% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Magelang and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Magelang58% lower, Surabaya48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.51Rp 26.1K
$1.58Rp 27.3K
-4.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.16Rp 158.1K
$12.16Rp 210.0K
-24.67%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.95Rp 50.9K
$2.98Rp 51.5K
-1.01%
Cappuccino
$0.84Rp 14.6K
$1.74Rp 30.0K
-51.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36Rp 6,145
$0.65Rp 11.3K
-44.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20Rp 3,447
$0.26Rp 4,443
-23.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.51Rp 26.1K
$2.41Rp 41.6K
-37.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06Rp 52.8K
$4.05Rp 70.0K
-24.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16Rp 20.0K
$1.44Rp 24.9K
-19.44%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25Rp 21.6K
$1.46Rp 25.1K
-14.38%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.89Rp 15.3K
$1.01Rp 17.4K
-11.88%
Eggs
$1.51Rp 26.1K
$1.46Rp 25.2K
3.42%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.40Rp 127.8K
$9.39Rp 162.1K
-21.19%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.66Rp 45.8K
$3.31Rp 57.2K
-19.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.50Rp 129.5K
$8.24Rp 142.3K
-8.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.17Rp 37.4K
$2.30Rp 39.8K
-5.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.24Rp 21.5K
$1.51Rp 26.1K
-17.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.33Rp 22.9K
$2.13Rp 36.7K
-37.56%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.99Rp 17.0K
$1.49Rp 25.8K
-33.56%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11Rp 19.2K
$1.33Rp 22.9K
-16.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44Rp 24.9K
$1.81Rp 31.2K
-20.44%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.87Rp 15.1K
$1.20Rp 20.8K
-27.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36Rp 6,280
$0.45Rp 7,844
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44Rp 42.1K
$2.55Rp 44.1K
-4.31%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.12Rp 295.7K
$25.75Rp 444.6K
-33.51%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65Rp 28.6K
$1.85Rp 31.9K
-10.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31Rp 39.9K
$3.14Rp 54.2K
-26.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,591
$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)
$0.48Rp 8,264
$0.45Rp 7,686
6.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 4,944
$0.31Rp 5,433
-6.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.51Rp 43.3K
$2.72Rp 47.0K
-7.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.4K
$0.85Rp 14.6K
-2.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3KRp 489.3M
$21.0KRp 363.1M
34.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9KRp 550.0M
$35.7KRp 616.7M
-10.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$51.2Rp 883.3K
$83.8Rp 1.4M
-38.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25Rp 73.4K
$4.29Rp 74.1K
-0.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.25Rp 332.4K
$19.62Rp 338.8K
-1.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.02Rp 259.4K
$21.80Rp 376.4K
-31.10%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.97Rp 68.5K
$4.42Rp 76.2K
-10.18%
Cinema Ticket
$2.80Rp 48.3K
$2.98Rp 51.5K
-6.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$48.68Rp 840.5K
$186Rp 3.2M
-73.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,385Rp 75.7M
$9,464Rp 163.4M
-53.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.69Rp 374.5K
$62.8Rp 1.1M
-65.44%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.92Rp 378.5K
$39.18Rp 676.5K
-44.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.3Rp 1.1M
$78.0Rp 1.3M
-18.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.6Rp 994.7K
$82.3Rp 1.4M
-30.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$254Rp 4.4M
$244Rp 4.2M
4.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$157Rp 2.7M
$135Rp 2.3M
16.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$595Rp 10.3M
$790Rp 13.6M
-24.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$339Rp 5.9M
$394Rp 6.8M
-13.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,216Rp 21.0M
$2,262Rp 39.1M
-46.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$777Rp 13.4M
$1,122Rp 19.4M
-30.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$185Rp 3.2M
$302Rp 5.2M
-38.75%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
8.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Magelang: April 27, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $254 in Magelang versus $244 in Surabaya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 63% higher in Surabaya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Magelang versus $12.00 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $181 vs $230 – making Magelang the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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
Magelang vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Magelang and Surabaya compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $565 in Magelang, $693 in Surabaya – roughly 23% apart. Surabaya costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Magelang compared to Surabaya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $847 per month in Magelang and $1,039 in Surabaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Magelang and Surabaya?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Magelang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 27% more in Surabaya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Magelang and $12.00 in Surabaya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Magelang vs Surabaya?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $565 in Magelang and $693 in Surabaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Magelang or Surabaya?
Families tend to lean toward Magelang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Is Magelang or Surabaya safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Magelang and Surabaya?
If budget matters most, go with Magelang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Surabaya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.