🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $666 in Pontianak versus $693 in Surabaya.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,038 in Pontianak versus $1,106 in Surabaya.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,409 in Pontianak versus $1,520 in Surabaya.
🙂Living in Pontianak costs roughly 4% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Pontianak50% lower, Surabaya48% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Pontianak
Surabaya
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.49Rp 25.9K
$1.58Rp 27.4K
-5.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.48Rp 216.3K
$12.16Rp 210.8K
2.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.16Rp 54.8K
$2.98Rp 51.7K
6.04%
Cappuccino
$1.73Rp 29.9K
$1.74Rp 30.1K
-0.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,476
$0.65Rp 11.4K
-15.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,460
$0.26Rp 4,460
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.11Rp 53.9K
$2.41Rp 41.8K
29.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.40Rp 41.6K
$4.05Rp 70.3K
-40.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Pontianak
Surabaya
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23Rp 21.2K
$1.44Rp 25.0K
-14.58%
White Bread(500g)
$1.14Rp 19.7K
$1.46Rp 25.2K
-21.92%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92Rp 16.0K
$1.01Rp 17.4K
-8.91%
Eggs
$1.58Rp 27.4K
$1.46Rp 25.3K
8.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.05Rp 139.5K
$9.39Rp 162.7K
-14.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.24Rp 56.1K
$3.31Rp 57.4K
-2.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.94Rp 137.6K
$8.24Rp 142.9K
-3.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.36Rp 41.0K
$2.30Rp 39.9K
2.61%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 26.2K
$1.51Rp 26.2K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86Rp 32.2K
$2.13Rp 36.9K
-12.68%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50Rp 26.1K
$1.49Rp 25.9K
0.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36Rp 23.6K
$1.33Rp 23.0K
2.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.88Rp 32.6K
$1.81Rp 31.3K
3.87%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90Rp 15.6K
$1.20Rp 20.9K
-25.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,272
$0.45Rp 7,874
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.83Rp 31.7K
$2.55Rp 44.3K
-28.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.33Rp 387.1K
$25.75Rp 446.3K
-13.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11Rp 36.6K
$1.85Rp 32.0K
14.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.09Rp 53.5K
$3.14Rp 54.4K
-1.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Pontianak
Surabaya
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,168
$0.48Rp 8,241
-37.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.68Rp 167.7K
$9.24Rp 160.1K
4.76%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,206
$0.45Rp 7,715
17.78%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34Rp 5,944
$0.31Rp 5,453
9.68%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.95Rp 51.1K
$2.72Rp 47.2K
8.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.6K
$0.85Rp 14.7K
-1.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KRp 424.0M
$21.0KRp 364.5M
16.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KRp 470.1M
$35.7KRp 619.1M
-24.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Pontianak
Surabaya
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.5Rp 1.2M
$83.8Rp 1.5M
-17.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.26Rp 73.8K
$4.29Rp 74.3K
-0.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.38Rp 387.8K
$19.62Rp 340.1K
14.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Pontianak
Surabaya
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.87Rp 396.4K
$21.80Rp 377.9K
4.91%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.18Rp 107.1K
$4.42Rp 76.5K
39.82%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01Rp 52.3K
$2.98Rp 51.7K
1.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Pontianak
Surabaya
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.0Rp 1.6M
$186Rp 3.2M
-50.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,626Rp 132.2M
$9,464Rp 164.0M
-19.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Pontianak
Surabaya
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.97Rp 710.2K
$62.8Rp 1.1M
-34.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.91Rp 535.7K
$39.18Rp 679.1K
-21.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.1Rp 1.1M
$78.0Rp 1.4M
-15.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.0Rp 1.3M
$82.3Rp 1.4M
-8.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Pontianak
Surabaya
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$255Rp 4.4M
$244Rp 4.2M
4.83%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$155Rp 2.7M
$135Rp 2.3M
14.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$596Rp 10.3M
$790Rp 13.7M
-24.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331Rp 5.7M
$394Rp 6.8M
-15.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,116Rp 19.3M
$2,262Rp 39.2M
-50.65%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$828Rp 14.3M
$1,122Rp 19.4M
-26.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Pontianak
Surabaya
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$355Rp 6.1M
$302Rp 5.2M
17.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
8.33
9.84%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Pontianak: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Surabaya: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $255 in Pontianak and $244 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pontianak pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Pontianak vs $12.00 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $230 per month, with Pontianak cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Pontianak vs Surabaya: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Surabaya cheaper than Pontianak?
Pontianak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Pontianak or Surabaya?
Pontianak pays 17% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Pontianak and Surabaya?
Rent for a central apartment: $255 in Pontianak versus $244 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Pontianak vs Surabaya?
All in, you'll spend $666 per month in Pontianak versus $693 in Surabaya – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Pontianak runs roughly 5% less than in Surabaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Pontianak or Surabaya?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Pontianak gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Pontianak or Surabaya?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Pontianak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Pontianak vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado