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: $662 in Pontianak versus $702 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,014 in Pontianak versus $1,129 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,367 in Pontianak versus $1,557 in Surabaya.

Living in Pontianak costs roughly 6% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Pontianak 50% lower, Surabaya 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.50 Rp 27.0K

$1.56 Rp 28.2K

-3.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.25 Rp 221.2K

$12.42 Rp 224.2K

-1.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.26 Rp 58.8K

$3.03 Rp 54.6K

7.59%

Cappuccino

$1.71 Rp 30.8K

$1.76 Rp 31.7K

-2.84%

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

$0.55 Rp 9,891

$0.66 Rp 11.9K

-16.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,653

$0.28 Rp 5,096

-7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.11 Rp 56.1K

$2.44 Rp 44.1K

27.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.50 Rp 45.2K

$4.09 Rp 73.8K

-38.88%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 Rp 21.2K

$1.44 Rp 25.9K

-18.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 Rp 21.3K

$1.52 Rp 27.4K

-22.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 Rp 17.1K

$0.98 Rp 17.7K

-3.06%

Eggs

$1.52 Rp 27.4K

$1.51 Rp 27.2K

0.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.23 Rp 148.6K

$9.28 Rp 167.5K

-11.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.25 Rp 58.7K

$3.24 Rp 58.5K

0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.05 Rp 145.4K

$8.13 Rp 146.7K

-0.98%

Apples (1kg)

$2.31 Rp 41.6K

$2.38 Rp 43.0K

-2.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.43 Rp 25.8K

$1.50 Rp 27.1K

-4.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 32.7K

$2.18 Rp 39.4K

-16.97%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 Rp 26.9K

$1.42 Rp 25.6K

4.93%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 Rp 25.1K

$1.32 Rp 23.8K

5.30%

Onion (1kg)

$1.97 Rp 35.6K

$1.73 Rp 31.2K

13.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.95 Rp 17.2K

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

-17.39%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 8,054

$0.46 Rp 8,229

-2.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.82 Rp 32.9K

$2.52 Rp 45.6K

-27.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$20.24 Rp 365.4K

$25.18 Rp 454.5K

-19.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.05 Rp 37.1K

$1.78 Rp 32.2K

15.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 Rp 56.4K

$3.30 Rp 59.5K

-5.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 Rp 5,856

$0.44 Rp 8,032

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.00 Rp 180.6K

$9.26 Rp 167.2K

7.99%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.54 Rp 9,713

$0.45 Rp 8,115

20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.37 Rp 6,712

$0.31 Rp 5,634

19.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.85 Rp 51.5K

$2.74 Rp 49.5K

4.01%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 14.1K

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

-10.34%

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

$24.6K Rp 445.0M

$20.8K Rp 374.8M

18.74%

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

$28.2K Rp 508.9M

$34.9K Rp 629.2M

-19.11%

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

$69.9 Rp 1.3M

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

-15.81%

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

$4.27 Rp 77.1K

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

1.91%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.46 Rp 405.6K

$19.44 Rp 350.9K

15.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.15 Rp 417.9K

$21.63 Rp 390.4K

7.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.12 Rp 110.5K

$4.38 Rp 79.1K

39.73%

Cinema Ticket

$3.12 Rp 56.3K

$2.98 Rp 53.9K

4.70%

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

$91.6 Rp 1.7M

$186 Rp 3.4M

-50.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,664 Rp 138.4M

$9,266 Rp 167.3M

-17.29%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.87 Rp 755.9K

$62.9 Rp 1.1M

-33.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.00 Rp 559.6K

$38.49 Rp 694.9K

-19.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$67.2 Rp 1.2M

$76.9 Rp 1.4M

-12.62%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.9 Rp 1.4M

$83.8 Rp 1.5M

-10.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$259 Rp 4.7M

$249 Rp 4.5M

3.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$157 Rp 2.8M

$138 Rp 2.5M

14.16%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$585 Rp 10.6M

$775 Rp 14.0M

-24.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$339 Rp 6.1M

$392 Rp 7.1M

-13.42%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,049 Rp 18.9M

$2,136 Rp 38.6M

-50.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$644 Rp 11.6M

$1,064 Rp 19.2M

-39.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$336 Rp 6.1M

$269 Rp 4.9M

24.84%

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 Pontianak: July 25, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $259 in Pontianak and $249 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pontianak pays 25% 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 $208 vs $228 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, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 25% higher in Pontianak, 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: $259 in Pontianak versus $249 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $662 per month in Pontianak versus $702 in Surabaya – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pontianak runs roughly 8% 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 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 6% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.