🙂A single person spends $671 per month in Salatiga vs $702 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,026 per month in Salatiga vs $1,129 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,382 per month in Salatiga vs $1,557 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂Salatiga is about 4% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Salatiga and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Salatiga50% lower, Surabaya47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.94Rp 17.0K
$1.56Rp 28.2K
-39.74%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.94Rp 179.4K
$12.42Rp 224.2K
-19.97%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.06Rp 55.2K
$3.03Rp 54.6K
0.99%
Cappuccino
$1.51Rp 27.3K
$1.76Rp 31.7K
-14.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.37Rp 6,698
$0.66Rp 11.9K
-43.94%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23Rp 4,169
$0.28Rp 5,096
-17.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.09Rp 37.7K
$2.44Rp 44.1K
-14.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89Rp 70.2K
$4.09Rp 73.8K
-4.89%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32Rp 23.8K
$1.44Rp 25.9K
-8.33%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50Rp 27.0K
$1.52Rp 27.4K
-1.32%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.95Rp 17.2K
$0.98Rp 17.7K
-3.06%
Eggs
$1.33Rp 23.9K
$1.51Rp 27.2K
-11.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.49Rp 171.3K
$9.28Rp 167.5K
2.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.73Rp 49.3K
$3.24Rp 58.5K
-15.74%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.41Rp 151.9K
$8.13Rp 146.7K
3.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37Rp 42.7K
$2.38Rp 43.0K
-0.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55Rp 28.0K
$1.50Rp 27.1K
3.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.7K
$2.18Rp 39.4K
0.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.43Rp 25.8K
$1.42Rp 25.6K
0.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.9K
$1.32Rp 23.8K
-
Onion(1kg)
$1.72Rp 31.1K
$1.73Rp 31.2K
-0.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.36Rp 6,484
$1.15Rp 20.7K
-68.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40Rp 7,166
$0.46Rp 8,229
-13.04%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.31Rp 41.7K
$2.52Rp 45.6K
-8.33%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.15Rp 454.0K
$25.18Rp 454.5K
-0.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85Rp 33.3K
$1.78Rp 32.2K
3.93%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.22Rp 58.1K
$3.30Rp 59.5K
-2.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,371
$0.44Rp 8,032
-31.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.01Rp 180.6K
$9.26Rp 167.2K
8.10%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 8,007
$0.45Rp 8,115
-2.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,650
$0.31Rp 5,634
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.79Rp 50.4K
$2.74Rp 49.5K
1.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.71Rp 12.9K
$0.87Rp 15.6K
-18.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.1KRp 381.2M
$20.8KRp 374.8M
1.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.5KRp 623.1M
$34.9KRp 629.2M
-0.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0Rp 1.5M
$83.0Rp 1.5M
-0.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.16Rp 75.2K
$4.19Rp 75.6K
-0.72%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.21Rp 346.7K
$19.44Rp 350.9K
-1.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.73Rp 410.4K
$21.63Rp 390.4K
5.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.30Rp 113.7K
$4.38Rp 79.1K
43.84%
Cinema Ticket
$2.10Rp 37.8K
$2.98Rp 53.9K
-29.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$189Rp 3.4M
$186Rp 3.4M
1.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,453Rp 170.7M
$9,266Rp 167.3M
2.02%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.81Rp 790.8K
$62.9Rp 1.1M
-30.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.44Rp 224.6K
$38.49Rp 694.9K
-67.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$49.71Rp 897.5K
$76.9Rp 1.4M
-35.35%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.0Rp 1.5M
$83.8Rp 1.5M
0.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$259Rp 4.7M
$249Rp 4.5M
4.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$155Rp 2.8M
$138Rp 2.5M
12.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$593Rp 10.7M
$775Rp 14.0M
-23.47%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331Rp 6.0M
$392Rp 7.1M
-15.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,192Rp 21.5M
$2,136Rp 38.6M
-44.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$717Rp 12.9M
$1,064Rp 19.2M
-32.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$269Rp 4.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
8.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Salatiga: July 26, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $259 in Salatiga 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Salatiga versus $12.00 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $221 vs $228 – making Salatiga 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
Salatiga vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Salatiga or Surabaya?
Surabaya costs about 5% more than Salatiga, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Salatiga and in Surabaya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,007 per month in Salatiga and $1,053 in Surabaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Salatiga or Surabaya?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Salatiga, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Salatiga or in Surabaya?
Groceries cost about 3% more in Surabaya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Salatiga and in Surabaya?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $10.00 in Salatiga and $12.00 in Surabaya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Salatiga or in Surabaya?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $671 in Salatiga and $702 in Surabaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Salatiga – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How safe is Salatiga compared to 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.
Should I move to Salatiga or to Surabaya?
If budget matters most, go with Salatiga. 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.