🙂A single person spends $657 per month in Salatiga vs $693 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,000 per month in Salatiga vs $1,106 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,343 per month in Salatiga vs $1,520 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂Salatiga is about 5% 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 16.5K
$1.58Rp 27.3K
-39.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$10.27Rp 177.3K
$12.16Rp 210.0K
-15.54%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.14Rp 54.3K
$2.98Rp 51.5K
5.37%
Cappuccino
$1.59Rp 27.4K
$1.74Rp 30.0K
-8.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35Rp 6,001
$0.65Rp 11.3K
-46.15%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.23Rp 3,980
$0.26Rp 4,443
-11.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.21Rp 38.2K
$2.41Rp 41.6K
-8.30%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95Rp 68.3K
$4.05Rp 70.0K
-2.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38Rp 23.9K
$1.44Rp 24.9K
-4.17%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52Rp 26.2K
$1.46Rp 25.1K
4.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.91Rp 15.6K
$1.01Rp 17.4K
-9.90%
Eggs
$1.26Rp 21.7K
$1.46Rp 25.2K
-13.70%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.00Rp 155.4K
$9.39Rp 162.1K
-4.15%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.71Rp 46.8K
$3.31Rp 57.2K
-18.13%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.35Rp 144.2K
$8.24Rp 142.3K
1.33%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37Rp 41.0K
$2.30Rp 39.8K
3.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 26.1K
$1.51Rp 26.1K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12Rp 36.6K
$2.13Rp 36.7K
-0.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49Rp 25.8K
$1.49Rp 25.8K
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.39Rp 23.9K
$1.33Rp 22.9K
4.51%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78Rp 30.7K
$1.81Rp 31.2K
-1.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.38Rp 6,579
$1.20Rp 20.8K
-68.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,254
$0.45Rp 7,844
-6.67%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33Rp 40.2K
$2.55Rp 44.1K
-8.63%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.76Rp 444.8K
$25.75Rp 444.6K
0.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77Rp 30.5K
$1.85Rp 31.9K
-4.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16Rp 54.6K
$3.14Rp 54.2K
0.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,584
$0.48Rp 8,210
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.01Rp 172.9K
$9.24Rp 159.5K
8.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,263
$0.45Rp 7,686
6.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,432
$0.31Rp 5,433
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.73Rp 47.1K
$2.72Rp 47.0K
0.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.69Rp 11.9K
$0.85Rp 14.6K
-18.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5KRp 353.4M
$21.0KRp 363.1M
-2.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KRp 612.2M
$35.7KRp 616.7M
-0.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.2Rp 1.5M
$83.8Rp 1.4M
0.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.31Rp 74.3K
$4.29Rp 74.1K
0.47%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.87Rp 343.1K
$19.62Rp 338.8K
1.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.82Rp 394.1K
$21.80Rp 376.4K
4.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.99Rp 103.5K
$4.42Rp 76.2K
35.52%
Cinema Ticket
$2.12Rp 36.6K
$2.98Rp 51.5K
-28.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$191Rp 3.3M
$186Rp 3.2M
2.77%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,480Rp 163.7M
$9,464Rp 163.4M
0.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.61Rp 735.6K
$62.8Rp 1.1M
-32.11%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$12.36Rp 213.4K
$39.18Rp 676.5K
-68.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$50.0Rp 863.3K
$78.0Rp 1.3M
-35.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.4Rp 1.4M
$82.3Rp 1.4M
0.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$254Rp 4.4M
$244Rp 4.2M
4.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$157Rp 2.7M
$135Rp 2.3M
16.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$588Rp 10.2M
$790Rp 13.6M
-25.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$333Rp 5.7M
$394Rp 6.8M
-15.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,211Rp 20.9M
$2,262Rp 39.1M
-46.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$745Rp 12.9M
$1,122Rp 19.4M
-33.62%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$302Rp 5.2M
-
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $254 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: $221 vs $230 – 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 vs Surabaya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $986 per month in Salatiga and $1,039 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 $657 in Salatiga and $693 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.