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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Magelang 58% lower, Surabaya 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.51 Rp 26.1K
$1.58 Rp 27.3K
-4.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.16 Rp 158.1K
$12.16 Rp 210.0K
-24.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.95 Rp 50.9K
$2.98 Rp 51.5K
-1.01%
Cappuccino
$0.84 Rp 14.6K
$1.74 Rp 30.0K
-51.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.36 Rp 6,145
$0.65 Rp 11.3K
-44.62%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.20 Rp 3,447
$0.26 Rp 4,443
-23.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.51 Rp 26.1K
$2.41 Rp 41.6K
-37.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 Rp 52.8K
$4.05 Rp 70.0K
-24.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.16 Rp 20.0K
$1.44 Rp 24.9K
-19.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.25 Rp 21.6K
$1.46 Rp 25.1K
-14.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.89 Rp 15.3K
$1.01 Rp 17.4K
-11.88%
Eggs
$1.51 Rp 26.1K
$1.46 Rp 25.2K
3.42%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.40 Rp 127.8K
$9.39 Rp 162.1K
-21.19%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.66 Rp 45.8K
$3.31 Rp 57.2K
-19.64%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.50 Rp 129.5K
$8.24 Rp 142.3K
-8.98%
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 Rp 37.4K
$2.30 Rp 39.8K
-5.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 Rp 21.5K
$1.51 Rp 26.1K
-17.88%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 Rp 22.9K
$2.13 Rp 36.7K
-37.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.99 Rp 17.0K
$1.49 Rp 25.8K
-33.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.2K
$1.33 Rp 22.9K
-16.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.44 Rp 24.9K
$1.81 Rp 31.2K
-20.44%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.87 Rp 15.1K
$1.20 Rp 20.8K
-27.50%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36 Rp 6,280
$0.45 Rp 7,844
-20.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 Rp 42.1K
$2.55 Rp 44.1K
-4.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.12 Rp 295.7K
$25.75 Rp 444.6K
-33.51%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.65 Rp 28.6K
$1.85 Rp 31.9K
-10.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.31 Rp 39.9K
$3.14 Rp 54.2K
-26.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.32 Rp 5,591
$0.48 Rp 8,210
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.77 Rp 168.7K
$9.24 Rp 159.5K
5.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,264
$0.45 Rp 7,686
6.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 Rp 4,944
$0.31 Rp 5,433
-6.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.51 Rp 43.3K
$2.72 Rp 47.0K
-7.72%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.83 Rp 14.4K
$0.85 Rp 14.6K
-2.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.3K Rp 489.3M
$21.0K Rp 363.1M
34.77%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K Rp 550.0M
$35.7K Rp 616.7M
-10.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$51.2 Rp 883.3K
$83.8 Rp 1.4M
-38.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25 Rp 73.4K
$4.29 Rp 74.1K
-0.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.25 Rp 332.4K
$19.62 Rp 338.8K
-1.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.02 Rp 259.4K
$21.80 Rp 376.4K
-31.10%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.97 Rp 68.5K
$4.42 Rp 76.2K
-10.18%
Cinema Ticket
$2.80 Rp 48.3K
$2.98 Rp 51.5K
-6.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$48.68 Rp 840.5K
$186 Rp 3.2M
-73.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,385 Rp 75.7M
$9,464 Rp 163.4M
-53.66%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$21.69 Rp 374.5K
$62.8 Rp 1.1M
-65.44%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$21.92 Rp 378.5K
$39.18 Rp 676.5K
-44.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$63.3 Rp 1.1M
$78.0 Rp 1.3M
-18.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.6 Rp 994.7K
$82.3 Rp 1.4M
-30.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$254 Rp 4.4M
$244 Rp 4.2M
4.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$157 Rp 2.7M
$135 Rp 2.3M
16.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$595 Rp 10.3M
$790 Rp 13.6M
-24.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$339 Rp 5.9M
$394 Rp 6.8M
-13.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,216 Rp 21.0M
$2,262 Rp 39.1M
-46.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$777 Rp 13.4M
$1,122 Rp 19.4M
-30.78%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Magelang
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$185 Rp 3.2M
$302 Rp 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.

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