🙂A single person spends $655 per month in Salatiga vs $700 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,018 per month in Salatiga vs $1,117 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,380 per month in Salatiga vs $1,535 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 – Salatiga51% lower, Surabaya48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.96Rp 17.2K
$1.52Rp 27.3K
-36.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.08Rp 180.5K
$12.46Rp 223.3K
-19.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.00Rp 53.8K
$3.13Rp 56.1K
-4.15%
Cappuccino
$1.56Rp 28.0K
$1.74Rp 31.1K
-10.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35Rp 6,186
$0.66Rp 11.8K
-46.97%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23Rp 4,123
$0.28Rp 5,017
-17.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.13Rp 38.1K
$2.50Rp 44.7K
-14.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.94Rp 70.6K
$3.92Rp 70.2K
0.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32Rp 23.6K
$1.42Rp 25.5K
-7.04%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45Rp 26.0K
$1.50Rp 26.9K
-3.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91Rp 16.2K
$0.93Rp 16.7K
-2.15%
Eggs
$1.26Rp 22.6K
$1.50Rp 26.8K
-16.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.13Rp 163.6K
$9.31Rp 166.7K
-1.93%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.81Rp 50.3K
$3.17Rp 56.9K
-11.36%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.40Rp 150.6K
$8.19Rp 146.8K
2.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.41Rp 43.2K
$2.40Rp 43.0K
0.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$1.50Rp 26.8K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.16Rp 38.8K
$2.17Rp 38.8K
-0.46%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.48Rp 26.6K
$1.42Rp 25.4K
4.23%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34Rp 24.0K
$1.38Rp 24.7K
-2.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.71Rp 30.7K
$1.78Rp 31.9K
-3.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.35Rp 6,338
$1.16Rp 20.7K
-69.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40Rp 7,134
$0.45Rp 8,099
-11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.22Rp 39.8K
$2.44Rp 43.7K
-9.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.45Rp 438.0K
$24.54Rp 439.7K
-0.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86Rp 33.3K
$1.83Rp 32.8K
1.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16Rp 56.7K
$3.27Rp 58.6K
-3.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,297
$0.47Rp 8,495
-36.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.71Rp 174.0K
$9.14Rp 163.8K
6.24%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47Rp 8,434
$0.47Rp 8,431
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,588
$0.31Rp 5,569
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.80Rp 50.1K
$2.75Rp 49.3K
1.82%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.69Rp 12.4K
$0.87Rp 15.6K
-20.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KRp 380.5M
$20.8KRp 373.4M
1.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KRp 639.6M
$34.9KRp 624.7M
2.38%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$85.0Rp 1.5M
$83.9Rp 1.5M
1.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.32Rp 77.4K
$4.10Rp 73.5K
5.37%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.52Rp 349.8K
$19.83Rp 355.3K
-1.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.89Rp 410.1K
$21.93Rp 393.0K
4.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.29Rp 112.7K
$4.44Rp 79.5K
41.67%
Cinema Ticket
$2.18Rp 39.0K
$2.96Rp 53.0K
-26.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$190Rp 3.4M
$192Rp 3.4M
-0.76%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,312Rp 166.8M
$9,350Rp 167.5M
-0.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.97Rp 769.8K
$62.9Rp 1.1M
-31.64%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.45Rp 223.0K
$39.45Rp 706.8K
-68.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$49.70Rp 890.4K
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-36.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$81.8Rp 1.5M
$82.0Rp 1.5M
-0.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$260Rp 4.7M
$244Rp 4.4M
6.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.8M
$135Rp 2.4M
17.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$597Rp 10.7M
$762Rp 13.7M
-21.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$333Rp 6.0M
$389Rp 7.0M
-14.51%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,177Rp 21.1M
$2,223Rp 39.8M
-47.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$744Rp 13.3M
$1,057Rp 18.9M
-29.64%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$269Rp 4.8M
-
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: June 9, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $260 in Salatiga versus $244 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: $218 vs $227 – 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 vs Surabaya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $983 per month in Salatiga and $1,050 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 Surabaya?
Groceries cost about 4% 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 vs 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 Surabaya?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $655 in Salatiga and $700 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 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.