Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Salatiga and Surabaya

For one person, living is cheaper in Salatiga: $450 a month against $682 in Surabaya, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Salatiga, Indonesia
Surabaya, Indonesia
Salatiga
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$450
/mo nomad
Surabaya
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$682
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Salatiga and in Surabaya

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Salatiga and in Surabaya actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $450 per month in Salatiga vs $682 in Surabaya, rent included.

  • Salatiga $450
  • Surabaya $682

A couple spends around $667 per month in Salatiga vs $1,188 in Surabaya, rent included.

  • Salatiga $667
  • Surabaya $1,188

A family of three spends $884 per month in Salatiga vs $1,694 in Surabaya, rent included.

  • Salatiga $884
  • Surabaya $1,694

Salatiga is about 34% cheaper than Surabaya, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Salatiga and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Salatiga 67% lower, Surabaya 50% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.87 Rp 15.8K
$1.62 Rp 29.4K
-46.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$8.84 Rp 160.4K
$11.34 Rp 205.7K
-22.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.79 Rp 50.5K
$2.74 Rp 49.7K
1.82%
Cappuccino
$1.34 Rp 24.3K
$1.51 Rp 27.4K
-11.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.34 Rp 6,087
$0.66 Rp 12.0K
-48.48%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 Rp 3,829
$0.28 Rp 5,141
-25.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.92 Rp 34.8K
$2.19 Rp 39.8K
-12.33%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04 Rp 73.4K
$4.07 Rp 73.9K
-0.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 Rp 21.8K
$1.20 Rp 21.8K
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 Rp 22.9K
$1.30 Rp 23.6K
-3.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.80 Rp 14.5K
$0.87 Rp 15.7K
-8.05%
Eggs
$1.18 Rp 21.3K
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
-0.84%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.72 Rp 140.1K
$7.45 Rp 135.2K
3.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.06 Rp 55.5K
$2.91 Rp 52.7K
5.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.47 Rp 135.4K
$7.47 Rp 135.4K
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.08 Rp 37.7K
$2.00 Rp 36.3K
4.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 Rp 22.5K
$1.28 Rp 23.3K
-3.13%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.88 Rp 34.1K
$1.82 Rp 33.0K
3.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 28.0K
$1.55 Rp 28.1K
-0.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 Rp 23.3K
$1.29 Rp 23.4K
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.99 Rp 36.0K
$1.96 Rp 35.5K
1.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.34 Rp 6,184
$0.95 Rp 17.2K
-64.21%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.37 Rp 6,744
$0.43 Rp 7,728
-13.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.88 Rp 34.1K
$1.89 Rp 34.3K
-0.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.47 Rp 443.9K
$24.59 Rp 446.0K
-0.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 Rp 30.2K
$1.68 Rp 30.4K
-1.19%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 Rp 54.2K
$2.82 Rp 51.1K
6.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.19 Rp 3,405
$0.29 Rp 5,325
-34.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$16.73 Rp 303.4K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,313
$0.50 Rp 9,041
-8.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,349
$0.42 Rp 7,613
9.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.64 Rp 47.8K
$2.58 Rp 46.7K
2.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 Rp 13.1K
$0.87 Rp 15.8K
-17.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K Rp 448.6M
$25.0K Rp 453.3M
-1.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.7K Rp 574.4M
$32.1K Rp 582.2M
-1.33%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$85.1 Rp 1.5M
$86.4 Rp 1.6M
-1.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.72 Rp 85.6K
$4.56 Rp 82.7K
3.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.14 Rp 347.2K
$19.27 Rp 349.6K
-0.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$11.18 Rp 202.7K
$15.43 Rp 280.0K
-27.54%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$6.74 Rp 122.3K
-
Cinema Ticket
$1.90 Rp 34.4K
$2.61 Rp 47.4K
-27.20%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$272 Rp 4.9M
$280 Rp 5.1M
-2.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,100 Rp 74.4M
$4,211 Rp 76.4M
-2.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.30 Rp 404.4K
$69.0 Rp 1.3M
-67.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$10.92 Rp 198.0K
$37.98 Rp 688.9K
-71.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$43.38 Rp 786.8K
$81.3 Rp 1.5M
-46.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.3 Rp 1.3M
$72.3 Rp 1.3M
2.77%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$163 Rp 3.0M
$273 Rp 5.0M
-40.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$146 Rp 2.6M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,230 Rp 22.3M
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$611 Rp 11.1M
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,179 Rp 39.5M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,072 Rp 19.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$149 Rp 2.7M
$253 Rp 4.6M
-41.32%
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: November 1, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: November 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Salatiga
$203
Surabaya
$205 0.9% $1.8
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salatiga
$109
Surabaya
$110 1.2% $1.3
Clothing & Footwear
Salatiga
$68
Surabaya
$117 72.7% $49
Eating Out
Salatiga
$51
Surabaya
$62 21.2% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Salatiga
$15
Surabaya
$21 38% $5.7
Getting Around
Salatiga
$3.5 *
Surabaya
$21 484% $17
Accommodation & Living
Salatiga
- *
Surabaya
$146

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $163 in Salatiga versus $273 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 70% higher in Surabaya. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $9 in Salatiga versus $11 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $203 vs $205 – making Salatiga the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Salatiga
🇮🇩 Surabaya
🕒 Local time
22:34 10:34 PM
22:34 10:34 PM
Same time as Salatiga
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
190,000
2,765,487
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 3, 2026: 1 USD = 18,140 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,309 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.92 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Salatiga Surabaya 250 km
From you
  • Salatiga
  • Surabaya

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 51% more than Salatiga, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. 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 $675 per month in Salatiga and $1,022 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: a one-bedroom in the center costs $163 there versus $273 in Surabaya.
How much does it cost to live in Salatiga compared to Surabaya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $450 in Salatiga and $682 in Surabaya. That makes Salatiga about 34% cheaper.
How do dining costs compare in Salatiga and in Surabaya?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $9 in Salatiga and $11 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 $450 in Salatiga and $682 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.
Should I move to Salatiga or to Surabaya?
If budget matters most, go with Salatiga. If higher salaries 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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