Cost of Living Comparison Between Makassar and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Makassar and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $660 in Makassar versus $688 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $990 in Makassar versus $1,205 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,319 in Makassar versus $1,722 in Surabaya.

Living in Makassar costs roughly 4% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Makassar 52% lower, Surabaya 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

$1.66 Rp 29.6K

5.42%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$9.14 Rp 162.4K

$11.40 Rp 202.6K

-19.82%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.31 Rp 58.8K

$3.24 Rp 57.6K

2.16%

Cappuccino

$1.93 Rp 34.4K

$1.56 Rp 27.7K

23.72%

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

$0.47 Rp 8,344

$0.56 Rp 9,916

-16.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 Rp 6,423

$0.26 Rp 4,607

38.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.55 Rp 45.4K

$2.25 Rp 39.9K

13.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 Rp 58.0K

$4.37 Rp 77.6K

-25.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.56 Rp 27.7K

$1.21 Rp 21.6K

28.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 Rp 18.6K

$1.34 Rp 23.9K

-21.64%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

$0.86 Rp 15.3K

-26.74%

Eggs

$1.50 Rp 26.7K

$1.21 Rp 21.4K

23.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.29 Rp 111.7K

$7.80 Rp 138.5K

-19.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.51 Rp 62.4K

$2.96 Rp 52.6K

18.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.24 Rp 93.1K

$7.87 Rp 139.9K

-33.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.47 Rp 43.9K

$2.02 Rp 35.9K

22.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.40 Rp 24.8K

$1.33 Rp 23.6K

5.26%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.02 Rp 35.8K

$1.87 Rp 33.2K

8.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.88 Rp 33.5K

$1.52 Rp 27.1K

23.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.14 Rp 20.3K

$1.37 Rp 24.4K

-16.79%

Onion (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

$1.93 Rp 34.3K

-17.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 Rp 13.1K

$0.97 Rp 17.3K

-23.71%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.38 Rp 6,834

$0.40 Rp 7,104

-5.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 Rp 46.9K

$1.96 Rp 34.8K

34.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.51 Rp 399.9K

$25.35 Rp 450.4K

-11.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 Rp 32.6K

$1.71 Rp 30.3K

7.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

$2.89 Rp 51.3K

-22.84%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,159

$0.36 Rp 6,319

-19.44%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$4.27 Rp 75.8K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 Rp 9,106

$0.47 Rp 8,397

8.51%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 Rp 6,252

$0.47 Rp 8,357

-25.53%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 Rp 49.1K

$2.70 Rp 48.0K

2.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

-2.50%

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

$15.5K Rp 274.7M

$24.7K Rp 438.8M

-37.39%

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

$17.1K Rp 302.9M

$33.1K Rp 587.8M

-48.47%

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

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

$88.9 Rp 1.6M

-0.29%

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

$2.65 Rp 47.1K

$4.83 Rp 85.9K

-45.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.53 Rp 453.6K

$19.84 Rp 352.4K

28.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.97 Rp 390.3K

$18.57 Rp 329.9K

18.31%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$22.62 Rp 401.9K

$6.54 Rp 116.2K

245.87%

Cinema Ticket

$3.42 Rp 60.7K

$2.65 Rp 47.1K

29.06%

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

$95.8 Rp 1.7M

$286 Rp 5.1M

-66.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$3,864 Rp 68.6M

$9,694 Rp 172.2M

-60.14%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$27.10 Rp 481.4K

$71.2 Rp 1.3M

-61.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$23.75 Rp 421.9K

$39.47 Rp 701.2K

-39.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.1 Rp 1.3M

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

-9.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$41.26 Rp 733.0K

$74.9 Rp 1.3M

-44.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$197 Rp 3.5M

$290 Rp 5.1M

-32.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 Rp 2.7M

0.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$399 Rp 7.1M

$1,276 Rp 22.7M

-68.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$315 Rp 5.6M

$618 Rp 11.0M

-49.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,415 Rp 25.1M

$2,231 Rp 39.6M

-36.58%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$558 Rp 9.9M

$1,073 Rp 19.1M

-48.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$216 Rp 3.8M

$277 Rp 4.9M

-21.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

-20.00%

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

Last update for Makassar: August 31, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $197 in Makassar and $290 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surabaya pays 28% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $9.00 in Makassar vs $11.00 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $198 vs $211 per month, with Makassar 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

Makassar vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Makassar wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Surabaya. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Makassar the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 28% lower in Surabaya. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $197 in Makassar versus $290 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $95.8 in Makassar versus $286 in Surabaya. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Makassar – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $11.00 in Surabaya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Makassar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Makassar 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.