Cost of Living Comparison Between Medan and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Medan and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $607 in Medan versus $688 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $933 in Medan versus $1,205 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,260 in Medan versus $1,722 in Surabaya.

Living in Medan costs roughly 12% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medan 56% lower, Surabaya 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 Rp 30.6K

$1.66 Rp 29.6K

3.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.73 Rp 155.1K

$11.40 Rp 202.6K

-23.42%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.96 Rp 52.5K

$3.24 Rp 57.6K

-8.64%

Cappuccino

$1.55 Rp 27.6K

$1.56 Rp 27.7K

-0.64%

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

$0.34 Rp 6,114

$0.56 Rp 9,916

-39.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 Rp 4,458

$0.26 Rp 4,607

-3.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 Rp 30.7K

$2.25 Rp 39.9K

-23.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 Rp 63.6K

$4.37 Rp 77.6K

-18.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 Rp 19.1K

$1.21 Rp 21.6K

-10.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 Rp 20.2K

$1.34 Rp 23.9K

-14.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 Rp 14.8K

$0.86 Rp 15.3K

-3.49%

Eggs

$1.33 Rp 23.6K

$1.21 Rp 21.4K

9.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.91 Rp 140.5K

$7.80 Rp 138.5K

1.41%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 Rp 62.7K

$2.96 Rp 52.6K

19.26%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.44 Rp 114.4K

$7.87 Rp 139.9K

-18.17%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 Rp 43.2K

$2.02 Rp 35.9K

20.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 Rp 18.7K

$1.33 Rp 23.6K

-21.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 Rp 26.4K

$1.87 Rp 33.2K

-20.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.96 Rp 17.0K

$1.52 Rp 27.1K

-36.84%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$1.37 Rp 24.4K

-36.50%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 Rp 30.9K

$1.93 Rp 34.3K

-9.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 Rp 7,334

$0.97 Rp 17.3K

-57.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 Rp 7,756

$0.40 Rp 7,104

10.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 Rp 53.7K

$1.96 Rp 34.8K

54.08%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.41 Rp 291.5K

$25.35 Rp 450.4K

-35.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 Rp 34.2K

$1.71 Rp 30.3K

12.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 Rp 54.0K

$2.89 Rp 51.3K

5.19%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,759

$0.36 Rp 6,319

-25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.07 Rp 107.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.53 Rp 9,394

$0.47 Rp 8,397

12.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 Rp 3,602

$0.47 Rp 8,357

-57.45%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 Rp 48.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

-3.75%

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

$24.9K Rp 443.1M

$24.7K Rp 438.8M

0.98%

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

$31.6K Rp 561.0M

$33.1K Rp 587.8M

-4.55%

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

$86.5 Rp 1.5M

$88.9 Rp 1.6M

-2.77%

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

$3.29 Rp 58.5K

$4.83 Rp 85.9K

-31.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.34 Rp 414.6K

$19.84 Rp 352.4K

17.64%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.06 Rp 303.1K

$18.57 Rp 329.9K

-8.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.69 Rp 154.3K

$6.54 Rp 116.2K

32.87%

Cinema Ticket

$3.43 Rp 61.0K

$2.65 Rp 47.1K

29.43%

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

$114 Rp 2.0M

$286 Rp 5.1M

-59.94%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,720 Rp 30.6M

$9,694 Rp 172.2M

-82.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 Rp 1.0M

$71.2 Rp 1.3M

-20.75%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.16 Rp 695.6K

$39.47 Rp 701.2K

-0.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 Rp 1.9M

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

29.18%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 Rp 2.0M

$74.9 Rp 1.3M

53.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 Rp 3.1M

$290 Rp 5.1M

-38.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.9 Rp 1.6M

$150 Rp 2.7M

-40.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 Rp 8.8M

$1,276 Rp 22.7M

-61.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$211 Rp 3.8M

$618 Rp 11.0M

-65.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,148 Rp 20.4M

$2,231 Rp 39.6M

-48.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$571 Rp 10.1M

$1,073 Rp 19.1M

-46.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$214 Rp 3.8M

$277 Rp 4.9M

-22.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.25

7.5

23.33%

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

Last update for Medan: August 31, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $177 in Medan and $290 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surabaya pays 29% 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 Medan vs $11.00 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $211 per month, with Medan 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

Medan vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 29% 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: $177 in Medan versus $290 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Surabaya. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $607 per month in Medan versus $688 in Surabaya – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Medan 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 Medan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.