Cost of Living Comparison Between Malang and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Malang and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $466 per month in Malang vs $693 in Surabaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $739 per month in Malang vs $1,106 in Surabaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,013 per month in Malang vs $1,520 in Surabaya, rent included.

Malang is about 33% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Malang and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Malang 65% lower, Surabaya 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.26 Rp 21.7K

$1.58 Rp 27.3K

-20.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.23 Rp 211.2K

$12.16 Rp 210.0K

0.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.09 Rp 53.4K

$2.98 Rp 51.5K

3.69%

Cappuccino

$1.46 Rp 25.2K

$1.74 Rp 30.0K

-16.09%

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

$0.62 Rp 10.7K

$0.65 Rp 11.3K

-4.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 Rp 3,784

$0.26 Rp 4,443

-15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 Rp 41.5K

$2.41 Rp 41.6K

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.99 Rp 51.7K

$4.05 Rp 70.0K

-26.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 Rp 19.4K

$1.44 Rp 24.9K

-22.22%

White Bread (500g)

$1.45 Rp 25.0K

$1.46 Rp 25.1K

-0.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 Rp 14.9K

$1.01 Rp 17.4K

-13.86%

Eggs

$1.49 Rp 25.8K

$1.46 Rp 25.2K

2.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.40 Rp 110.5K

$9.39 Rp 162.1K

-31.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.36 Rp 58.1K

$3.31 Rp 57.2K

1.51%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.26 Rp 125.4K

$8.24 Rp 142.3K

-11.89%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 Rp 39.6K

$2.30 Rp 39.8K

-0.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 25.9K

$1.51 Rp 26.1K

-0.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.73 Rp 29.9K

$2.13 Rp 36.7K

-18.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.48 Rp 25.5K

$1.49 Rp 25.8K

-0.67%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 Rp 23.1K

$1.33 Rp 22.9K

0.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 31.2K

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 Rp 9,492

$1.20 Rp 20.8K

-54.17%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 Rp 7,661

$0.45 Rp 7,844

-2.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.56 Rp 44.2K

$2.55 Rp 44.1K

0.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.97 Rp 224.0K

$25.75 Rp 444.6K

-49.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.79 Rp 30.9K

$1.85 Rp 31.9K

-3.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.33 Rp 57.4K

$3.14 Rp 54.2K

6.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 Rp 10.8K

$0.48 Rp 8,210

29.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.15 Rp 106.3K

$9.24 Rp 159.5K

-33.44%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 Rp 8,182

$0.45 Rp 7,686

4.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,390

$0.31 Rp 5,433

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.09 Rp 105.1K

$2.72 Rp 47.0K

123.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 Rp 14.3K

$0.85 Rp 14.6K

-2.35%

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

$20.6K Rp 355.7M

$21.0K Rp 363.1M

-2.04%

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

$27.3K Rp 470.9M

$35.7K Rp 616.7M

-23.65%

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

$34.15 Rp 589.7K

$83.8 Rp 1.4M

-59.25%

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

$2.55 Rp 44.0K

$4.29 Rp 74.1K

-40.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.25 Rp 332.4K

$19.62 Rp 338.8K

-1.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$14.69 Rp 253.7K

$21.80 Rp 376.4K

-32.61%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.06 Rp 87.4K

$4.42 Rp 76.2K

14.48%

Cinema Ticket

$2.20 Rp 38.0K

$2.98 Rp 51.5K

-26.17%

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

$33.37 Rp 576.1K

$186 Rp 3.2M

-82.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,438 Rp 163.0M

$9,464 Rp 163.4M

-0.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.85 Rp 739.9K

$62.8 Rp 1.1M

-31.72%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.27 Rp 522.6K

$39.18 Rp 676.5K

-22.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$59.5 Rp 1.0M

$78.0 Rp 1.3M

-23.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$82.3 Rp 1.4M

-0.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$160 Rp 2.8M

$244 Rp 4.2M

-34.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$48.52 Rp 837.7K

$135 Rp 2.3M

-63.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$281 Rp 4.9M

$790 Rp 13.6M

-64.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$91.6 Rp 1.6M

$394 Rp 6.8M

-76.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,262 Rp 39.1M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,122 Rp 19.4M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$209 Rp 3.6M

$302 Rp 5.2M

-30.90%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.33

-51.98%

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

Last update for Malang: April 26, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $160 in Malang 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 45% 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 $12.00 in Malang versus $12.00 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $184 vs $230 – making Malang 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

Malang vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Surabaya is pricier by about 49%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $698 per month in Malang and $1,039 in Surabaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Malang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Public transport costs about 50% less in Malang. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

Kindergarten costs $33.37 per month in Malang and $186 in Surabaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $466 in Malang and $693 in Surabaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Malang – 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 Malang. 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.