Cost of Living Comparison Between Palembang and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Palembang and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $625 in Palembang versus $676 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,007 in Palembang versus $1,202 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,389 in Palembang versus $1,728 in Surabaya.

Living in Palembang costs roughly 8% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Palembang 54% lower, Surabaya 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.16 Rp 20.5K

$1.73 Rp 30.6K

-32.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.43 Rp 290.9K

$11.51 Rp 203.8K

42.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.75 Rp 48.6K

$3.25 Rp 57.5K

-15.38%

Cappuccino

$1.29 Rp 22.9K

$1.58 Rp 27.9K

-18.35%

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

$0.84 Rp 14.9K

$0.62 Rp 10.9K

35.48%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 Rp 4,340

$0.26 Rp 4,554

-3.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 Rp 30.6K

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

-22.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.35 Rp 59.4K

$4.36 Rp 77.2K

-23.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 Rp 20.0K

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

-11.02%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 Rp 19.5K

$1.30 Rp 23.0K

-15.38%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.84 Rp 14.8K

$0.90 Rp 15.9K

-6.67%

Eggs

$1.29 Rp 22.9K

$1.23 Rp 21.8K

4.88%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.39 Rp 130.8K

$7.62 Rp 134.9K

-3.02%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.92 Rp 51.7K

$3.09 Rp 54.8K

-5.50%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.61 Rp 134.7K

$7.60 Rp 134.6K

0.13%

Apples (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 38.8K

$2.12 Rp 37.5K

3.30%

Banana (1kg)

$1.17 Rp 20.7K

$1.28 Rp 22.7K

-8.59%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 34.9K

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

2.60%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.39 Rp 24.6K

$1.57 Rp 27.7K

-11.46%

Potato (1kg)

$1.40 Rp 24.9K

$1.34 Rp 23.7K

4.48%

Onion (1kg)

$2.21 Rp 39.1K

$2.03 Rp 35.9K

8.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 Rp 13.3K

$0.99 Rp 17.6K

-24.24%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,239

$0.41 Rp 7,186

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.22 Rp 39.4K

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

15.63%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.38 Rp 360.9K

$25.23 Rp 446.8K

-19.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.84 Rp 32.6K

$1.77 Rp 31.4K

3.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.02 Rp 53.5K

$2.92 Rp 51.7K

3.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 Rp 7,968

$0.33 Rp 5,825

36.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.53 Rp 9,459

$0.52 Rp 9,236

1.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,494

$0.43 Rp 7,630

-27.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 Rp 48.2K

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

-1.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.76 Rp 13.4K

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

-1.30%

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

$22.8K Rp 403.9M

$24.8K Rp 439.2M

-8.03%

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

$30.4K Rp 538.9M

$32.5K Rp 575.4M

-6.33%

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

$67.9 Rp 1.2M

$86.6 Rp 1.5M

-21.60%

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

$4.52 Rp 80.1K

$4.68 Rp 82.9K

-3.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.12 Rp 338.6K

$19.47 Rp 344.7K

-1.80%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.87 Rp 351.9K

$18.72 Rp 331.4K

6.14%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.34 Rp 129.9K

$6.96 Rp 123.2K

5.46%

Cinema Ticket

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

$2.70 Rp 47.8K

2.22%

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

$97.1 Rp 1.7M

$283 Rp 5.0M

-65.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,938 Rp 122.8M

$9,866 Rp 174.7M

-29.68%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$43.91 Rp 777.4K

$71.9 Rp 1.3M

-38.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.03 Rp 514.0K

$40.23 Rp 712.4K

-27.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.1 Rp 1.3M

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

-11.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

$75.9 Rp 1.3M

-3.94%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$234 Rp 4.2M

$282 Rp 5.0M

-16.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$156 Rp 2.8M

$150 Rp 2.7M

3.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$539 Rp 9.5M

$1,256 Rp 22.2M

-57.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$422 Rp 7.5M

$619 Rp 11.0M

-31.83%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,249 Rp 22.1M

$2,218 Rp 39.3M

-43.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$739 Rp 13.1M

$1,072 Rp 19.0M

-31.08%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$312 Rp 5.5M

$277 Rp 4.9M

12.66%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.46

7.5

26.13%

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

Last update for Palembang: September 14, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $234 in Palembang and $282 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Palembang pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $16.00 in Palembang vs $12.00 in Surabaya. Groceries flip the comparison at $196 vs $211, with Palembang cheaper for home cooking.

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

Palembang vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Palembang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 13% higher in Palembang, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $234 in Palembang versus $282 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $97.1 in Palembang versus $283 in Surabaya. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Palembang – a meal for two runs $16.00 versus $12.00 in Surabaya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Palembang 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 Palembang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.