🙂A single person spends $517 per month in Purwokerto vs $676 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $847 per month in Purwokerto vs $1,202 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,176 per month in Purwokerto vs $1,728 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂Purwokerto is about 24% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Purwokerto and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Purwokerto62% lower, Surabaya51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.30Rp 23.0K
$1.73Rp 30.6K
-24.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.34Rp 147.6K
$11.51Rp 203.8K
-27.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.21Rp 56.8K
$3.25Rp 57.5K
-1.23%
Cappuccino
$1.40Rp 24.7K
$1.58Rp 27.9K
-11.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,355
$0.62Rp 10.9K
-32.26%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17Rp 3,075
$0.26Rp 4,554
-34.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.24Rp 39.7K
$2.22Rp 39.3K
0.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10Rp 54.9K
$4.36Rp 77.2K
-28.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15Rp 20.3K
$1.27Rp 22.5K
-9.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.89Rp 15.7K
$1.30Rp 23.0K
-31.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83Rp 14.8K
$0.90Rp 15.9K
-7.78%
Eggs
$1.48Rp 26.3K
$1.23Rp 21.8K
20.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.26Rp 128.5K
$7.62Rp 134.9K
-4.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.88Rp 51.0K
$3.09Rp 54.8K
-6.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60Rp 134.6K
$7.60Rp 134.6K
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.23Rp 39.5K
$2.12Rp 37.5K
5.19%
Banana(1kg)
$1.12Rp 19.8K
$1.28Rp 22.7K
-12.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.51Rp 26.8K
$1.92Rp 34.0K
-21.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.91Rp 16.1K
$1.57Rp 27.7K
-42.04%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11Rp 19.7K
$1.34Rp 23.7K
-17.16%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94Rp 34.3K
$2.03Rp 35.9K
-4.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.67Rp 11.8K
$0.99Rp 17.6K
-32.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.36Rp 6,299
$0.41Rp 7,186
-12.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.39Rp 42.4K
$1.92Rp 34.0K
24.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$22.29Rp 394.7K
$25.23Rp 446.8K
-11.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.87Rp 33.2K
$1.77Rp 31.4K
5.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12Rp 55.3K
$2.92Rp 51.7K
6.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22Rp 3,902
$0.33Rp 5,825
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.88Rp 210.3K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.49Rp 8,589
$0.52Rp 9,236
-5.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33Rp 5,793
$0.43Rp 7,630
-23.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.35Rp 41.6K
$2.76Rp 48.9K
-14.86%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.72Rp 12.8K
$0.77Rp 13.6K
-6.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.5KRp 380.2M
$24.8KRp 439.2M
-13.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.0KRp 512.8M
$32.5KRp 575.4M
-10.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$34.43Rp 609.6K
$86.6Rp 1.5M
-60.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.78Rp 49.2K
$4.68Rp 82.9K
-40.60%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.10Rp 338.1K
$19.47Rp 344.7K
-1.90%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.74Rp 349.6K
$18.72Rp 331.4K
5.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.29Rp 199.9K
$6.96Rp 123.2K
62.21%
Cinema Ticket
$2.51Rp 44.4K
$2.70Rp 47.8K
-7.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.4Rp 1.7M
$283Rp 5.0M
-66.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,263Rp 128.6M
$9,866Rp 174.7M
-26.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.61Rp 701.3K
$71.9Rp 1.3M
-44.93%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.60Rp 559.6K
$40.23Rp 712.4K
-21.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$73.0Rp 1.3M
$83.0Rp 1.5M
-11.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$73.2Rp 1.3M
$75.9Rp 1.3M
-3.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$140Rp 2.5M
$282Rp 5.0M
-50.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$72.3Rp 1.3M
$150Rp 2.7M
-51.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$587Rp 10.4M
$1,256Rp 22.2M
-53.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$259Rp 4.6M
$619Rp 11.0M
-58.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,409Rp 25.0M
$2,218Rp 39.3M
-36.47%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$288Rp 5.1M
$1,072Rp 19.0M
-73.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$120Rp 2.1M
$277Rp 4.9M
-56.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.45
7.5
12.67%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Purwokerto: September 12, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $140 in Purwokerto versus $282 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 131% 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 $8.00 in Purwokerto versus $12.00 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $191 vs $211 – 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 31%, 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 $776 per month in Purwokerto and $1,015 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Purwokerto or in Surabaya?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $8.00 in Purwokerto and $12.00 in Surabaya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Purwokerto and in Surabaya?
Groceries cost about 10% 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 $1,000 enough for either Purwokerto or Surabaya?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $517 in Purwokerto and $676 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.
Purwokerto vs other spots: cost of living compared