🙂A single person spends $634 per month in Salatiga vs $676 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $971 per month in Salatiga vs $1,202 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,309 per month in Salatiga vs $1,728 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂Salatiga is about 6% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Salatiga and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Salatiga54% lower, Surabaya51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.89Rp 15.8K
$1.73Rp 30.6K
-48.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.31Rp 164.8K
$11.51Rp 203.8K
-19.11%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.88Rp 51.0K
$3.25Rp 57.5K
-11.38%
Cappuccino
$1.41Rp 24.9K
$1.58Rp 27.9K
-10.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35Rp 6,112
$0.62Rp 10.9K
-43.55%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21Rp 3,707
$0.26Rp 4,554
-19.23%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.02Rp 35.8K
$2.22Rp 39.3K
-9.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27Rp 75.7K
$4.36Rp 77.2K
-2.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.28Rp 22.7K
$1.27Rp 22.5K
0.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.34Rp 23.8K
$1.30Rp 23.0K
3.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.85Rp 15.1K
$0.90Rp 15.9K
-5.56%
Eggs
$1.25Rp 22.2K
$1.23Rp 21.8K
1.63%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.82Rp 138.4K
$7.62Rp 134.9K
2.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.12Rp 55.2K
$3.09Rp 54.8K
0.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.70Rp 136.3K
$7.60Rp 134.6K
1.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.12Rp 37.5K
$2.12Rp 37.5K
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.28Rp 22.7K
$1.28Rp 22.7K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.87Rp 33.0K
$1.92Rp 34.0K
-2.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59Rp 28.2K
$1.57Rp 27.7K
1.27%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.6K
$1.34Rp 23.7K
-0.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.94Rp 34.4K
$2.03Rp 35.9K
-4.43%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.33Rp 5,800
$0.99Rp 17.6K
-66.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39Rp 6,874
$0.41Rp 7,186
-4.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.00Rp 35.3K
$1.92Rp 34.0K
4.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.15Rp 445.4K
$25.23Rp 446.8K
-0.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72Rp 30.4K
$1.77Rp 31.4K
-2.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94Rp 52.1K
$2.92Rp 51.7K
0.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26Rp 4,664
$0.33Rp 5,825
-21.21%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.43Rp 7,619
$0.52Rp 9,236
-17.31%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46Rp 8,181
$0.43Rp 7,630
6.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.77Rp 49.0K
$2.76Rp 48.9K
0.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.68Rp 12.1K
$0.77Rp 13.6K
-11.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5KRp 451.9M
$24.8KRp 439.2M
2.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4KRp 573.5M
$32.5KRp 575.4M
-0.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.3Rp 1.6M
$86.6Rp 1.5M
1.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.62Rp 81.8K
$4.68Rp 82.9K
-1.28%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.47Rp 344.8K
$19.47Rp 344.7K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.47Rp 362.4K
$18.72Rp 331.4K
9.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.11Rp 161.3K
$6.96Rp 123.2K
30.89%
Cinema Ticket
$1.94Rp 34.3K
$2.70Rp 47.8K
-28.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$96.4Rp 1.7M
$283Rp 5.0M
-65.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,794Rp 173.4M
$9,866Rp 174.7M
-0.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.29Rp 394.6K
$71.9Rp 1.3M
-69.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.15Rp 197.5K
$40.23Rp 712.4K
-72.28%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$46.05Rp 815.4K
$83.0Rp 1.5M
-44.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.8Rp 1.3M
$75.9Rp 1.3M
-0.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$231Rp 4.1M
$282Rp 5.0M
-18.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$152Rp 2.7M
$150Rp 2.7M
1.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$610Rp 10.8M
$1,256Rp 22.2M
-51.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$327Rp 5.8M
$619Rp 11.0M
-47.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,303Rp 23.1M
$2,218Rp 39.3M
-41.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$615Rp 10.9M
$1,072Rp 19.0M
-42.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$277Rp 4.9M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.5
7.5
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Salatiga: September 15, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $231 in Salatiga 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Salatiga versus $12.00 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $209 vs $211 – 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 7% 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 $950 per month in Salatiga and $1,015 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.
How do dining costs compare in Salatiga and in Surabaya?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Salatiga and $12.00 in Surabaya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Salatiga or in Surabaya?
Groceries cost about 1% more in Surabaya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Salatiga or in Surabaya?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $634 in Salatiga and $676 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.