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: $651 in Medan versus $708 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $982 in Medan versus $1,133 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,313 in Medan versus $1,557 in Surabaya.

Living in Medan costs roughly 8% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medan 51% lower, Surabaya 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.83 Rp 32.6K

$1.52 Rp 27.1K

20.39%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.63 Rp 189.9K

$12.12 Rp 216.4K

-12.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.22 Rp 57.4K

$3.13 Rp 55.9K

2.88%

Cappuccino

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

$1.82 Rp 32.4K

-1.10%

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

$0.40 Rp 7,122

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

-33.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 Rp 4,419

$0.26 Rp 4,602

-3.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.58 Rp 28.1K

$2.41 Rp 43.0K

-34.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 Rp 91.7K

$4.02 Rp 71.7K

27.61%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 Rp 21.0K

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

-14.49%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

-19.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

-6.45%

Eggs

$1.58 Rp 28.2K

$1.44 Rp 25.8K

9.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.78 Rp 174.6K

$9.04 Rp 161.5K

8.19%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.88 Rp 69.3K

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

17.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.86 Rp 122.5K

$8.45 Rp 151.0K

-18.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 Rp 41.0K

$2.42 Rp 43.2K

-5.37%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 Rp 17.8K

$1.54 Rp 27.5K

-35.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 Rp 26.3K

$2.19 Rp 39.2K

-32.88%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.94 Rp 16.8K

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

-33.80%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 Rp 13.2K

$1.32 Rp 23.6K

-43.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 Rp 23.1K

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

-28.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 Rp 8,163

$1.18 Rp 21.1K

-61.02%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 Rp 8,201

$0.42 Rp 7,529

9.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.48 Rp 44.2K

$2.54 Rp 45.4K

-2.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.75 Rp 281.3K

$24.78 Rp 442.6K

-36.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 Rp 24.1K

$1.77 Rp 31.5K

-23.73%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 Rp 56.6K

$3.14 Rp 56.2K

0.96%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 Rp 5,318

$0.48 Rp 8,489

-37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.86 Rp 176.1K

$9.40 Rp 168.0K

4.89%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 Rp 9,345

$0.44 Rp 7,919

18.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 Rp 3,931

$0.29 Rp 5,165

-24.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.27 Rp 111.9K

$2.77 Rp 49.5K

126.35%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

$0.84 Rp 15.1K

-2.38%

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

$28.1K Rp 501.4M

$20.6K Rp 368.5M

36.04%

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

$33.8K Rp 604.3M

$35.8K Rp 639.4M

-5.48%

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

$83.4 Rp 1.5M

$84.9 Rp 1.5M

-1.72%

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

$3.64 Rp 65.1K

$4.09 Rp 73.0K

-11.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.53 Rp 598.8K

$19.75 Rp 352.7K

69.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.40 Rp 417.8K

$21.59 Rp 385.6K

8.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 Rp 129.8K

$4.57 Rp 81.6K

59.08%

Cinema Ticket

$3.58 Rp 63.9K

$2.85 Rp 50.9K

25.61%

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

$126 Rp 2.3M

$188 Rp 3.3M

-32.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K Rp 188.8M

$9,556 Rp 170.7M

10.63%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.3 Rp 1.2M

$61.6 Rp 1.1M

7.57%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.49 Rp 758.9K

$38.56 Rp 688.5K

10.19%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 Rp 2.1M

$77.8 Rp 1.4M

48.58%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.6 Rp 1.2M

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-21.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$191 Rp 3.4M

$242 Rp 4.3M

-20.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$135 Rp 2.4M

-27.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 Rp 9.7M

$762 Rp 13.6M

-28.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$231 Rp 4.1M

$393 Rp 7.0M

-41.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 Rp 21.0M

$2,209 Rp 39.5M

-46.75%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$567 Rp 10.1M

$1,067 Rp 19.0M

-46.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$215 Rp 3.8M

$276 Rp 4.9M

-21.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.25

8.33

11.04%

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

Last update for Medan: June 1, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $191 in Medan and $242 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: $11.00 in Medan vs $12.00 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $226 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, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Surabaya earns 28% less. 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: $191 in Medan versus $242 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Medan runs roughly 5% less than in Surabaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $126 in Medan versus $188 in Surabaya. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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 9% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.