🙂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 – Purwokerto54% lower, Surabaya47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.30Rp 23.5K
$1.56Rp 28.2K
-16.67%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.99Rp 162.4K
$12.42Rp 224.2K
-27.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.36Rp 60.7K
$3.03Rp 54.6K
10.89%
Cappuccino
$1.38Rp 25.0K
$1.76Rp 31.7K
-21.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35Rp 6,357
$0.66Rp 11.9K
-46.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.17Rp 3,108
$0.28Rp 5,096
-39.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.75Rp 31.5K
$2.44Rp 44.1K
-28.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.63Rp 65.5K
$4.09Rp 73.8K
-11.25%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.17Rp 21.1K
$1.44Rp 25.9K
-18.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11Rp 20.1K
$1.52Rp 27.4K
-26.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.80Rp 14.4K
$0.98Rp 17.7K
-18.37%
Eggs
$1.52Rp 27.4K
$1.51Rp 27.2K
0.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.15Rp 165.3K
$9.28Rp 167.5K
-1.40%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.01Rp 54.4K
$3.24Rp 58.5K
-7.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.05Rp 145.4K
$8.13Rp 146.7K
-0.98%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38Rp 43.0K
$2.38Rp 43.0K
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.33Rp 24.0K
$1.50Rp 27.1K
-11.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.64Rp 29.5K
$2.18Rp 39.4K
-24.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55Rp 28.0K
$1.42Rp 25.6K
9.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.48Rp 26.7K
$1.32Rp 23.8K
12.12%
Onion(1kg)
$2.70Rp 48.7K
$1.73Rp 31.2K
56.07%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.91Rp 16.4K
$1.15Rp 20.7K
-20.87%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32Rp 5,858
$0.46Rp 8,229
-30.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52Rp 45.5K
$2.52Rp 45.6K
-
Wine(Bottle)
$21.90Rp 395.3K
$25.18Rp 454.5K
-13.03%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.10Rp 37.9K
$1.78Rp 32.2K
17.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.46Rp 62.4K
$3.30Rp 59.5K
4.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26Rp 4,719
$0.44Rp 8,032
-40.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.88Rp 178.3K
$9.26Rp 167.2K
6.70%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.75Rp 13.5K
$0.45Rp 8,115
66.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.76Rp 13.8K
$0.31Rp 5,634
145.16%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.58Rp 46.5K
$2.74Rp 49.5K
-5.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.63Rp 11.4K
$0.87Rp 15.6K
-27.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2KRp 437.8M
$20.8KRp 374.8M
16.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5KRp 459.9M
$34.9KRp 629.2M
-26.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$44.42Rp 801.9K
$83.0Rp 1.5M
-46.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.45Rp 80.4K
$4.19Rp 75.6K
6.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.78Rp 411.2K
$19.44Rp 350.9K
17.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.32Rp 330.7K
$21.63Rp 390.4K
-15.30%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.24Rp 112.6K
$4.38Rp 79.1K
42.47%
Cinema Ticket
$2.71Rp 48.9K
$2.98Rp 53.9K
-9.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.4Rp 1.7M
$186Rp 3.4M
-49.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,651Rp 138.1M
$9,266Rp 167.3M
-17.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.64Rp 751.8K
$62.9Rp 1.1M
-33.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.25Rp 546.1K
$38.49Rp 694.9K
-21.41%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$58.2Rp 1.1M
$76.9Rp 1.4M
-24.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.3Rp 1.2M
$83.8Rp 1.5M
-22.00%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$258Rp 4.7M
$249Rp 4.5M
3.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$160Rp 2.9M
$138Rp 2.5M
15.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$577Rp 10.4M
$775Rp 14.0M
-25.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$335Rp 6.1M
$392Rp 7.1M
-14.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,367Rp 24.7M
$2,136Rp 38.6M
-35.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$279Rp 5.0M
$1,064Rp 19.2M
-73.83%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Purwokerto
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$118Rp 2.1M
$269Rp 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.
Purwokerto vs other spots: cost of living compared