Cost of Living Comparison Between Purwokerto and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Purwokerto and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $610 per month in Purwokerto vs $702 in Surabaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $944 per month in Purwokerto vs $1,129 in Surabaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,278 per month in Purwokerto vs $1,557 in Surabaya, rent included.

Purwokerto is about 13% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Purwokerto and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Purwokerto 54% lower, Surabaya 47% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.30 Rp 23.5K
$1.56 Rp 28.2K
-16.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.99 Rp 162.4K
$12.42 Rp 224.2K
-27.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.36 Rp 60.7K
$3.03 Rp 54.6K
10.89%
Cappuccino
$1.38 Rp 25.0K
$1.76 Rp 31.7K
-21.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 Rp 6,357
$0.66 Rp 11.9K
-46.97%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17 Rp 3,108
$0.28 Rp 5,096
-39.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.75 Rp 31.5K
$2.44 Rp 44.1K
-28.28%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63 Rp 65.5K
$4.09 Rp 73.8K
-11.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 Rp 21.1K
$1.44 Rp 25.9K
-18.75%
White Bread (500g)
$1.11 Rp 20.1K
$1.52 Rp 27.4K
-26.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.80 Rp 14.4K
$0.98 Rp 17.7K
-18.37%
Eggs
$1.52 Rp 27.4K
$1.51 Rp 27.2K
0.66%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.15 Rp 165.3K
$9.28 Rp 167.5K
-1.40%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.01 Rp 54.4K
$3.24 Rp 58.5K
-7.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.05 Rp 145.4K
$8.13 Rp 146.7K
-0.98%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 Rp 43.0K
$2.38 Rp 43.0K
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 Rp 24.0K
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
-11.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
$2.18 Rp 39.4K
-24.77%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 28.0K
$1.42 Rp 25.6K
9.15%
Potato (1kg)
$1.48 Rp 26.7K
$1.32 Rp 23.8K
12.12%
Onion (1kg)
$2.70 Rp 48.7K
$1.73 Rp 31.2K
56.07%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.91 Rp 16.4K
$1.15 Rp 20.7K
-20.87%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32 Rp 5,858
$0.46 Rp 8,229
-30.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52 Rp 45.5K
$2.52 Rp 45.6K
-
Wine (Bottle)
$21.90 Rp 395.3K
$25.18 Rp 454.5K
-13.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10 Rp 37.9K
$1.78 Rp 32.2K
17.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46 Rp 62.4K
$3.30 Rp 59.5K
4.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 Rp 4,719
$0.44 Rp 8,032
-40.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.88 Rp 178.3K
$9.26 Rp 167.2K
6.70%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.75 Rp 13.5K
$0.45 Rp 8,115
66.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 Rp 13.8K
$0.31 Rp 5,634
145.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.58 Rp 46.5K
$2.74 Rp 49.5K
-5.84%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.63 Rp 11.4K
$0.87 Rp 15.6K
-27.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K Rp 437.8M
$20.8K Rp 374.8M
16.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K Rp 459.9M
$34.9K Rp 629.2M
-26.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.42 Rp 801.9K
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
-46.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.45 Rp 80.4K
$4.19 Rp 75.6K
6.21%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.78 Rp 411.2K
$19.44 Rp 350.9K
17.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.32 Rp 330.7K
$21.63 Rp 390.4K
-15.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.24 Rp 112.6K
$4.38 Rp 79.1K
42.47%
Cinema Ticket
$2.71 Rp 48.9K
$2.98 Rp 53.9K
-9.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$93.4 Rp 1.7M
$186 Rp 3.4M
-49.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,651 Rp 138.1M
$9,266 Rp 167.3M
-17.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.64 Rp 751.8K
$62.9 Rp 1.1M
-33.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.25 Rp 546.1K
$38.49 Rp 694.9K
-21.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$58.2 Rp 1.1M
$76.9 Rp 1.4M
-24.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.3 Rp 1.2M
$83.8 Rp 1.5M
-22.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$258 Rp 4.7M
$249 Rp 4.5M
3.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$160 Rp 2.9M
$138 Rp 2.5M
15.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$577 Rp 10.4M
$775 Rp 14.0M
-25.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$335 Rp 6.1M
$392 Rp 7.1M
-14.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,367 Rp 24.7M
$2,136 Rp 38.6M
-35.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$279 Rp 5.0M
$1,064 Rp 19.2M
-73.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$118 Rp 2.1M
$269 Rp 4.9M
-56.00%
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 Purwokerto: July 26, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $258 in Purwokerto versus $249 in Surabaya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 127% higher in Surabaya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Purwokerto versus $12.00 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $228 – making Purwokerto the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Purwokerto vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surabaya cheaper than Purwokerto?
Yes – Surabaya is pricier by about 15%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $915 per month in Purwokerto and $1,053 in Surabaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Purwokerto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Purwokerto and in Surabaya?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Surabaya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Purwokerto or in Surabaya?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Purwokerto and $12.00 in Surabaya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Purwokerto or Surabaya?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $610 in Purwokerto and $702 in Surabaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Purwokerto or Surabaya more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Purwokerto – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Purwokerto or Surabaya?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Purwokerto. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Surabaya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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