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

🙂 Solo nomad: Medan is 4.2% cheaper than Surabaya without rent, and 6.9% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Medan is 11.4% cheaper than Surabaya without rent, and 13.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medan
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.81 Rp 31.1K
$1.56 Rp 26.7K
16.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.77 Rp 184.6K
$12.25 Rp 210.0K
-12.08%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.26 Rp 55.9K
$3.04 Rp 52.1K
7.24%
Cappuccino
$1.74 Rp 29.9K
$1.79 Rp 30.7K
-2.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42 Rp 7,250
$0.65 Rp 11.1K
-35.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 Rp 4,666
$0.26 Rp 4,415
3.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.50 Rp 25.8K
$2.44 Rp 41.8K
-38.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.07 Rp 86.9K
$4.10 Rp 70.3K
23.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medan
Surabaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.23 Rp 21.0K
$1.43 Rp 24.6K
-13.99%
White Bread (500g)
$1.14 Rp 19.5K
$1.45 Rp 24.9K
-21.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.82 Rp 14.1K
$0.93 Rp 16.0K
-11.83%
Eggs
$1.57 Rp 26.9K
$1.52 Rp 26.0K
3.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.84 Rp 168.7K
$9.00 Rp 154.2K
9.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.91 Rp 67.1K
$3.21 Rp 55.1K
21.81%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.12 Rp 122.0K
$8.22 Rp 140.8K
-13.38%
Apples (1kg)
$2.29 Rp 39.2K
$2.41 Rp 41.3K
-4.98%
Banana (1kg)
$1.04 Rp 17.8K
$1.48 Rp 25.4K
-29.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 26.1K
$2.18 Rp 37.3K
-30.28%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.92 Rp 15.9K
$1.50 Rp 25.7K
-38.67%
Potato (1kg)
$0.69 Rp 11.8K
$1.36 Rp 23.4K
-49.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.30 Rp 22.3K
$1.74 Rp 29.7K
-25.29%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.45 Rp 7,795
$1.14 Rp 19.5K
-60.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47 Rp 7,987
$0.43 Rp 7,352
9.30%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.41 Rp 41.3K
$2.56 Rp 43.8K
-5.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.72 Rp 286.6K
$26.52 Rp 454.6K
-36.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.40 Rp 24.0K
$1.83 Rp 31.4K
-23.50%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 Rp 54.6K
$3.17 Rp 54.4K
0.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Medan
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.30 Rp 5,070
$0.48 Rp 8,157
-37.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.65 Rp 165.4K
$9.44 Rp 161.8K
2.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.57 Rp 9,736
$0.47 Rp 8,066
21.28%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.20 Rp 3,425
$0.29 Rp 4,956
-31.03%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.18 Rp 106.0K
$2.79 Rp 47.9K
121.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.82 Rp 14.1K
$0.79 Rp 13.6K
3.80%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K Rp 471.6M
$21.2K Rp 363.2M
29.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.4K Rp 590.1M
$35.6K Rp 610.8M
-3.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medan
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$81.7 Rp 1.4M
$83.2 Rp 1.4M
-1.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.49 Rp 59.8K
$4.10 Rp 70.3K
-14.88%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.41 Rp 572.6K
$19.18 Rp 328.8K
74.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medan
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.19 Rp 397.6K
$22.08 Rp 378.5K
5.03%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.18 Rp 123.1K
$4.54 Rp 77.9K
58.15%
Cinema Ticket
$3.48 Rp 59.6K
$2.94 Rp 50.3K
18.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medan
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$124 Rp 2.1M
$190 Rp 3.3M
-34.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.9K Rp 187.2M
$9,402 Rp 161.2M
16.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medan
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.8 Rp 1.1M
$62.7 Rp 1.1M
3.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.15 Rp 739.6K
$38.47 Rp 659.4K
12.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$117 Rp 2.0M
$77.7 Rp 1.3M
50.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.8 Rp 1.1M
$83.8 Rp 1.4M
-21.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medan
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$196 Rp 3.4M
$247 Rp 4.2M
-20.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$97.3 Rp 1.7M
$135 Rp 2.3M
-28.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$528 Rp 9.1M
$772 Rp 13.2M
-31.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$231 Rp 4.0M
$392 Rp 6.7M
-41.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,205 Rp 20.7M
$2,259 Rp 38.7M
-46.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$587 Rp 10.1M
$1,092 Rp 18.7M
-46.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medan
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$223 Rp 3.8M
$299 Rp 5.1M
-25.53%
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: April 13, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: April 13, 2026

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 other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities