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: $657 in Palembang versus $708 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,031 in Palembang versus $1,133 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,404 in Palembang versus $1,557 in Surabaya.

Living in Palembang costs roughly 7% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$1.52 Rp 27.1K

-21.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.59 Rp 314.1K

$12.12 Rp 216.4K

45.13%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.14 Rp 56.0K

$3.13 Rp 55.9K

0.32%

Cappuccino

$1.40 Rp 25.0K

$1.82 Rp 32.4K

-23.08%

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

$0.97 Rp 17.4K

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

61.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 5,004

$0.26 Rp 4,602

7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 Rp 32.7K

$2.41 Rp 43.0K

-24.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.59 Rp 64.2K

$4.02 Rp 71.7K

-10.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.31 Rp 23.4K

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

-5.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

-20.55%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 Rp 25.1K

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

51.61%

Eggs

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$1.44 Rp 25.8K

-16.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 Rp 142.6K

$9.04 Rp 161.5K

-11.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.13 Rp 55.9K

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

-4.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.70 Rp 155.3K

$8.45 Rp 151.0K

2.96%

Apples (1kg)

$2.39 Rp 42.7K

$2.42 Rp 43.2K

-1.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.44 Rp 25.7K

$1.54 Rp 27.5K

-6.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

$2.19 Rp 39.2K

-13.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 Rp 26.6K

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

4.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

$1.32 Rp 23.6K

4.55%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 Rp 34.5K

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

7.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 Rp 17.3K

$1.18 Rp 21.1K

-17.80%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 Rp 8,973

$0.42 Rp 7,529

19.05%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 Rp 43.6K

$2.54 Rp 45.4K

-3.94%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.68 Rp 387.2K

$24.78 Rp 442.6K

-12.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.02 Rp 36.0K

$1.77 Rp 31.5K

14.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.16 Rp 56.5K

$3.14 Rp 56.2K

0.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 Rp 8,466

$0.48 Rp 8,489

-2.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.74 Rp 173.9K

$9.40 Rp 168.0K

3.62%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 Rp 9,363

$0.44 Rp 7,919

18.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 Rp 6,685

$0.29 Rp 5,165

27.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.96 Rp 52.8K

$2.77 Rp 49.5K

6.86%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

$0.84 Rp 15.1K

-10.71%

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

$24.3K Rp 433.2M

$20.6K Rp 368.5M

17.56%

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

$28.1K Rp 502.5M

$35.8K Rp 639.4M

-21.40%

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

$69.8 Rp 1.2M

$84.9 Rp 1.5M

-17.76%

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

$4.23 Rp 75.6K

$4.09 Rp 73.0K

3.42%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.64 Rp 422.1K

$19.75 Rp 352.7K

19.70%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.44 Rp 418.6K

$21.59 Rp 385.6K

8.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.00 Rp 107.1K

$4.57 Rp 81.6K

31.29%

Cinema Ticket

$3.04 Rp 54.3K

$2.85 Rp 50.9K

6.67%

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

$92.3 Rp 1.6M

$188 Rp 3.3M

-50.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,546 Rp 134.8M

$9,556 Rp 170.7M

-21.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$42.12 Rp 752.2K

$61.6 Rp 1.1M

-31.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.14 Rp 556.1K

$38.56 Rp 688.5K

-19.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.4 Rp 1.2M

$77.8 Rp 1.4M

-13.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$73.6 Rp 1.3M

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-12.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$257 Rp 4.6M

$242 Rp 4.3M

6.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 Rp 2.8M

$135 Rp 2.4M

15.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$584 Rp 10.4M

$762 Rp 13.6M

-23.38%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$331 Rp 5.9M

$393 Rp 7.0M

-15.84%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,346 Rp 24.0M

$2,209 Rp 39.5M

-39.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$783 Rp 14.0M

$1,067 Rp 19.0M

-26.56%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$309 Rp 5.5M

$276 Rp 4.9M

12.23%

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 Palembang: May 30, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $257 in Palembang and $242 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Palembang pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Palembang vs $12.00 in Surabaya. Groceries flip the comparison at $214 vs $226, 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. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Palembang pays 12% more on average, 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: $257 in Palembang versus $242 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $657 per month in Palembang versus $708 in Surabaya – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Palembang runs roughly 4% less than in Surabaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

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.