Cost of Living Comparison Between Pontianak and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Pontianak and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $485 in Pontianak versus $676 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $602 in Pontianak versus $1,202 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $719 in Pontianak versus $1,728 in Surabaya.

Living in Pontianak costs roughly 28% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pontianak 65% lower, Surabaya 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.69 Rp 29.9K

$1.73 Rp 30.6K

-2.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.41 Rp 148.9K

$11.51 Rp 203.8K

-26.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.05 Rp 54.0K

$3.25 Rp 57.5K

-6.15%

Cappuccino

$1.20 Rp 21.3K

$1.58 Rp 27.9K

-24.05%

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

$0.47 Rp 8,295

$0.62 Rp 10.9K

-24.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.22 Rp 3,882

$0.26 Rp 4,554

-15.38%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.87 Rp 50.9K

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

29.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.73 Rp 66.1K

$4.36 Rp 77.2K

-14.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

-12.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 Rp 25.4K

$1.30 Rp 23.0K

10.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 Rp 16.4K

$0.90 Rp 15.9K

3.33%

Eggs

$1.51 Rp 26.8K

$1.23 Rp 21.8K

22.76%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.62 Rp 134.9K

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.33 Rp 58.9K

$3.09 Rp 54.8K

7.77%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 Rp 134.6K

Apples (1kg)

$3.07 Rp 54.4K

$2.12 Rp 37.5K

44.81%

Banana (1kg)

$1.93 Rp 34.2K

$1.28 Rp 22.7K

50.78%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.0K

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

20.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 27.7K

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 Rp 23.7K

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 Rp 35.9K

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 Rp 17.6K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.50 Rp 8,773

$0.41 Rp 7,186

21.95%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.85 Rp 50.4K

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

48.44%

Wine (Bottle)

$22.54 Rp 399.1K

$25.23 Rp 446.8K

-10.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 Rp 31.4K

$1.77 Rp 31.4K

0.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.17 Rp 38.4K

$2.92 Rp 51.7K

-25.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.29 Rp 5,163

$0.33 Rp 5,825

-12.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 Rp 9,236

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,630

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 Rp 13.2K

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

-2.60%

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

$24.8K Rp 439.2M

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

$32.5K Rp 575.4M

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

$71.7 Rp 1.3M

$86.6 Rp 1.5M

-17.23%

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

$5.52 Rp 97.8K

$4.68 Rp 82.9K

17.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.67 Rp 401.4K

$19.47 Rp 344.7K

16.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$24.36 Rp 431.4K

$18.72 Rp 331.4K

30.13%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.07 Rp 213.7K

$6.96 Rp 123.2K

73.42%

Cinema Ticket

$3.72 Rp 65.8K

$2.70 Rp 47.8K

37.78%

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

$283 Rp 5.0M

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,866 Rp 174.7M

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$33.65 Rp 595.8K

$71.9 Rp 1.3M

-53.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.35 Rp 608.3K

$40.23 Rp 712.4K

-14.62%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.9 Rp 1.3M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$172 Rp 3.1M

$282 Rp 5.0M

-38.81%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$112 Rp 2.0M

$150 Rp 2.7M

-25.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 Rp 22.2M

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 Rp 11.0M

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,218 Rp 39.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,072 Rp 19.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$270 Rp 4.8M

$277 Rp 4.9M

-2.29%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

33.33%

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

Last update for Pontianak: September 13, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $172 in Pontianak and $282 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surabaya pays 2% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $8.00 in Pontianak vs $12.00 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $152 vs $211 per month, with Pontianak cheaper across the board.

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

Pontianak vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pontianak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 39% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 2% lower in Surabaya. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $172 in Pontianak versus $282 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 39% higher in Surabaya. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Pontianak – a meal for two runs $8.00 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 Pontianak 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 Pontianak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 39% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.