Cost of Living Comparison Between Palangkaraya and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Palangkaraya and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $656 per month in Palangkaraya vs $693 in Surabaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,008 per month in Palangkaraya vs $1,106 in Surabaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,360 per month in Palangkaraya vs $1,520 in Surabaya, rent included.

Palangkaraya is about 5% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Palangkaraya and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Palangkaraya 51% lower, Surabaya 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Palangkaraya
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52 Rp 26.3K
$1.58 Rp 27.4K
-3.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.34 Rp 213.9K
$12.16 Rp 210.8K
1.48%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.03 Rp 69.8K
$2.98 Rp 51.7K
35.23%
Cappuccino
$1.71 Rp 29.6K
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
-1.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 Rp 9,689
$0.65 Rp 11.4K
-13.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.30 Rp 5,192
$0.26 Rp 4,460
15.38%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.83 Rp 49.1K
$2.41 Rp 41.8K
17.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 Rp 61.8K
$4.05 Rp 70.3K
-12.10%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Palangkaraya
Surabaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.26 Rp 21.9K
$1.44 Rp 25.0K
-12.50%
White Bread (500g)
$1.35 Rp 23.4K
$1.46 Rp 25.2K
-7.53%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.88 Rp 15.2K
$1.01 Rp 17.4K
-12.87%
Eggs
$1.56 Rp 27.1K
$1.46 Rp 25.3K
6.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.19 Rp 141.9K
$9.39 Rp 162.7K
-12.78%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.46 Rp 42.6K
$3.31 Rp 57.4K
-25.68%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.82 Rp 135.6K
$8.24 Rp 142.9K
-5.10%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 Rp 41.6K
$2.30 Rp 39.9K
4.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 33.2K
$1.51 Rp 26.2K
27.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 Rp 31.5K
$2.13 Rp 36.9K
-14.55%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.09 Rp 18.9K
$1.49 Rp 25.9K
-26.85%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 Rp 23.2K
$1.33 Rp 23.0K
0.75%
Onion (1kg)
$3.11 Rp 54.0K
$1.81 Rp 31.3K
71.82%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.59 Rp 10.2K
$1.20 Rp 20.9K
-50.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.48 Rp 8,257
$0.45 Rp 7,874
6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.87 Rp 32.4K
$2.55 Rp 44.3K
-26.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.64 Rp 409.7K
$25.75 Rp 446.3K
-8.19%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.04 Rp 35.3K
$1.85 Rp 32.0K
10.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 Rp 53.1K
$3.14 Rp 54.4K
-2.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Palangkaraya
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 Rp 5,639
$0.48 Rp 8,241
-31.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.68 Rp 167.8K
$9.24 Rp 160.1K
4.76%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.53 Rp 9,206
$0.45 Rp 7,715
17.78%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.35 Rp 6,006
$0.31 Rp 5,453
12.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.84 Rp 49.2K
$2.72 Rp 47.2K
4.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 Rp 12.4K
$0.85 Rp 14.7K
-15.29%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K Rp 429.8M
$21.0K Rp 364.5M
17.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2K Rp 472.1M
$35.7K Rp 619.1M
-23.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palangkaraya
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 Rp 1.2M
$83.8 Rp 1.5M
-15.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.35 Rp 75.4K
$4.29 Rp 74.3K
1.40%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.64 Rp 323.1K
$19.62 Rp 340.1K
-4.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Palangkaraya
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$6.04 Rp 104.7K
$21.80 Rp 377.9K
-72.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.18 Rp 107.1K
$4.42 Rp 76.5K
39.82%
Cinema Ticket
$3.09 Rp 53.6K
$2.98 Rp 51.7K
3.69%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palangkaraya
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$94.2 Rp 1.6M
$186 Rp 3.2M
-49.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,596 Rp 131.6M
$9,464 Rp 164.0M
-19.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Palangkaraya
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.41 Rp 717.7K
$62.8 Rp 1.1M
-34.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.25 Rp 524.3K
$39.18 Rp 679.1K
-22.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$67.8 Rp 1.2M
$78.0 Rp 1.4M
-13.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.7 Rp 1.3M
$82.3 Rp 1.4M
-11.72%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palangkaraya
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$261 Rp 4.5M
$244 Rp 4.2M
6.93%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$160 Rp 2.8M
$135 Rp 2.3M
18.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$593 Rp 10.3M
$790 Rp 13.7M
-24.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$336 Rp 5.8M
$394 Rp 6.8M
-14.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,140 Rp 19.8M
$2,262 Rp 39.2M
-49.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$770 Rp 13.4M
$1,122 Rp 19.4M
-31.35%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Palangkaraya
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$166 Rp 2.9M
$302 Rp 5.2M
-44.98%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
9.15
8.33
9.84%

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

Last update for Palangkaraya: April 25, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: April 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $261 in Palangkaraya 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 82% 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 Palangkaraya versus $12.00 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $230 – making Palangkaraya 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
Palangkaraya vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Palangkaraya or Surabaya?
Surabaya costs about 6% more than Palangkaraya, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Palangkaraya vs Surabaya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $985 per month in Palangkaraya and $1,039 in Surabaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Palangkaraya or Surabaya?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Palangkaraya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do childcare costs compare in Palangkaraya and Surabaya?
Kindergarten costs $94.2 per month in Palangkaraya and $186 in Surabaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Palangkaraya or Surabaya?
Groceries cost about 7% more in Surabaya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Palangkaraya or Surabaya?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $656 in Palangkaraya and $693 in Surabaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Palangkaraya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Palangkaraya or Surabaya?
If budget matters most, go with Palangkaraya. 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.

Palangkaraya vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities