🙂A single person spends $573 per month in Magelang vs $702 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $882 per month in Magelang vs $1,129 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,192 per month in Magelang vs $1,557 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂Magelang is about 18% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Magelang and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Magelang57% lower, Surabaya47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.50Rp 27.1K
$1.56Rp 28.2K
-3.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.49Rp 171.3K
$12.42Rp 224.2K
-23.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.85Rp 51.5K
$3.03Rp 54.6K
-5.94%
Cappuccino
$0.87Rp 15.8K
$1.76Rp 31.7K
-50.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.38Rp 6,872
$0.66Rp 11.9K
-42.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20Rp 3,637
$0.28Rp 5,096
-28.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.50Rp 27.1K
$2.44Rp 44.1K
-38.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98Rp 53.8K
$4.09Rp 73.8K
-27.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14Rp 20.7K
$1.44Rp 25.9K
-20.83%
White Bread(500g)
$1.22Rp 22.0K
$1.52Rp 27.4K
-19.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83Rp 15.0K
$0.98Rp 17.7K
-15.31%
Eggs
$1.45Rp 26.1K
$1.51Rp 27.2K
-3.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.17Rp 129.5K
$9.28Rp 167.5K
-22.74%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.51Rp 45.2K
$3.24Rp 58.5K
-22.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.75Rp 140.0K
$8.13Rp 146.7K
-4.67%
Apples(1kg)
$2.19Rp 39.5K
$2.38Rp 43.0K
-7.98%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29Rp 23.3K
$1.50Rp 27.1K
-14.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.39Rp 25.1K
$2.18Rp 39.4K
-36.24%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.02Rp 18.4K
$1.42Rp 25.6K
-28.17%
Potato(1kg)
$1.07Rp 19.3K
$1.32Rp 23.8K
-18.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.44Rp 26.0K
$1.73Rp 31.2K
-16.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85Rp 15.3K
$1.15Rp 20.7K
-26.09%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37Rp 6,630
$0.46Rp 8,229
-19.57%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.48Rp 44.7K
$2.52Rp 45.6K
-1.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.35Rp 295.2K
$25.18Rp 454.5K
-35.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.70Rp 30.6K
$1.78Rp 32.2K
-4.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.29Rp 41.3K
$3.30Rp 59.5K
-30.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,402
$0.44Rp 8,032
-31.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.04Rp 181.2K
$9.26Rp 167.2K
8.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,994
$0.45Rp 8,115
-2.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,661
$0.31Rp 5,634
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.51Rp 45.3K
$2.74Rp 49.5K
-8.39%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77Rp 13.8K
$0.87Rp 15.6K
-11.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.1KRp 507.0M
$20.8KRp 374.8M
35.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KRp 579.3M
$34.9KRp 629.2M
-7.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$50.7Rp 914.5K
$83.0Rp 1.5M
-38.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.20Rp 75.8K
$4.19Rp 75.6K
0.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.83Rp 357.9K
$19.44Rp 350.9K
2.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.27Rp 275.6K
$21.63Rp 390.4K
-29.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.93Rp 71.0K
$4.38Rp 79.1K
-10.27%
Cinema Ticket
$2.73Rp 49.3K
$2.98Rp 53.9K
-8.39%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$49.98Rp 902.3K
$186Rp 3.4M
-73.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,352Rp 78.6M
$9,266Rp 167.3M
-53.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.29Rp 384.3K
$62.9Rp 1.1M
-66.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.69Rp 391.6K
$38.49Rp 694.9K
-43.65%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$63.7Rp 1.1M
$76.9Rp 1.4M
-17.22%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.6Rp 1.0M
$83.8Rp 1.5M
-31.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$262Rp 4.7M
$249Rp 4.5M
5.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$155Rp 2.8M
$138Rp 2.5M
12.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$579Rp 10.4M
$775Rp 14.0M
-25.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$330Rp 6.0M
$392Rp 7.1M
-15.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,132Rp 20.4M
$2,136Rp 38.6M
-46.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$682Rp 12.3M
$1,064Rp 19.2M
-35.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$171Rp 3.1M
$269Rp 4.9M
-36.59%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Magelang versus $249 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 58% 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: $179 vs $228 – 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 in Surabaya compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $573 in Magelang, $702 in Surabaya – roughly 22% 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 $860 per month in Magelang and $1,053 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 compared to Surabaya?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $573 in Magelang and $702 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.