Cost of Living Comparison Between Magelang and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Magelang and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $537 per month in Magelang vs $676 in Surabaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $837 per month in Magelang vs $1,202 in Surabaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,137 per month in Magelang vs $1,728 in Surabaya, rent included.

Magelang is about 21% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Magelang and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Magelang 61% lower, Surabaya 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

$1.73 Rp 30.6K

-20.23%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.25 Rp 146.1K

$11.51 Rp 203.8K

-28.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.73 Rp 48.3K

$3.25 Rp 57.5K

-16.00%

Cappuccino

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$1.58 Rp 27.9K

-51.27%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.35 Rp 6,229

$0.62 Rp 10.9K

-43.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 Rp 3,214

$0.26 Rp 4,554

-30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

-37.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.76 Rp 48.8K

$4.36 Rp 77.2K

-36.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 Rp 18.8K

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

-16.54%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 Rp 20.6K

$1.30 Rp 23.0K

-10.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 Rp 14.3K

$0.90 Rp 15.9K

-10.00%

Eggs

$1.21 Rp 21.4K

$1.23 Rp 21.8K

-1.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.73 Rp 119.2K

$7.62 Rp 134.9K

-11.68%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.41 Rp 42.7K

$3.09 Rp 54.8K

-22.01%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.03 Rp 124.4K

$7.60 Rp 134.6K

-7.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 Rp 35.9K

$2.12 Rp 37.5K

-4.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.14 Rp 20.2K

$1.28 Rp 22.7K

-10.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.30 Rp 23.0K

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

-32.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.90 Rp 16.0K

$1.57 Rp 27.7K

-42.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.00 Rp 17.7K

$1.34 Rp 23.7K

-25.37%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 Rp 24.8K

$2.03 Rp 35.9K

-31.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.99 Rp 17.6K

-22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.37 Rp 6,496

$0.41 Rp 7,186

-9.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

1.56%

Wine (Bottle)

$17.10 Rp 302.7K

$25.23 Rp 446.8K

-32.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.52 Rp 26.8K

$1.77 Rp 31.4K

-14.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

$2.92 Rp 51.7K

-24.66%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,177

$0.33 Rp 5,825

-12.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.70 Rp 154.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,164

$0.52 Rp 9,236

-11.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 Rp 6,219

$0.43 Rp 7,630

-18.60%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.30 Rp 40.7K

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

-16.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.71 Rp 12.5K

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

-7.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$25.7K Rp 455.8M

$24.8K Rp 439.2M

3.78%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$29.6K Rp 524.1M

$32.5K Rp 575.4M

-8.90%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$46.91 Rp 830.6K

$86.6 Rp 1.5M

-45.86%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.00 Rp 70.9K

$4.68 Rp 82.9K

-14.53%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.93 Rp 352.9K

$19.47 Rp 344.7K

2.36%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$13.84 Rp 245.1K

$18.72 Rp 331.4K

-26.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.77 Rp 66.8K

$6.96 Rp 123.2K

-45.83%

Cinema Ticket

$2.52 Rp 44.6K

$2.70 Rp 47.8K

-6.67%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$45.71 Rp 809.3K

$283 Rp 5.0M

-83.83%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,913 Rp 69.3M

$9,866 Rp 174.7M

-60.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$20.17 Rp 357.1K

$71.9 Rp 1.3M

-71.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$20.11 Rp 356.1K

$40.23 Rp 712.4K

-50.01%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$57.9 Rp 1.0M

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

-30.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$54.6 Rp 966.4K

$75.9 Rp 1.3M

-28.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$232 Rp 4.1M

$282 Rp 5.0M

-17.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 Rp 2.8M

$150 Rp 2.7M

4.99%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$568 Rp 10.1M

$1,256 Rp 22.2M

-54.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$373 Rp 6.6M

$619 Rp 11.0M

-39.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,201 Rp 21.3M

$2,218 Rp 39.3M

-45.85%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$664 Rp 11.8M

$1,072 Rp 19.0M

-38.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$178 Rp 3.2M

$277 Rp 4.9M

-35.53%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Magelang: September 15, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $232 in Magelang versus $282 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 55% 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 $8.00 in Magelang versus $12.00 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $170 vs $211 – 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

Monthly costs with rent: $537 in Magelang, $676 in Surabaya – roughly 26% apart. Surabaya costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $806 per month in Magelang and $1,015 in Surabaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $537 in Magelang and $676 in Surabaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $45.71 per month in Magelang and $283 in Surabaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $537 in Magelang and $676 in Surabaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

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.

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.

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.