Cost of Living Comparison Between Salatiga and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Salatiga and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Salatiga 54% lower, Surabaya 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$0.89 Rp 15.8K
$1.73 Rp 30.6K
-48.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.31 Rp 164.8K
$11.51 Rp 203.8K
-19.11%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.88 Rp 51.0K
$3.25 Rp 57.5K
-11.38%
Cappuccino
$1.41 Rp 24.9K
$1.58 Rp 27.9K
-10.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.35 Rp 6,112
$0.62 Rp 10.9K
-43.55%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.21 Rp 3,707
$0.26 Rp 4,554
-19.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 Rp 35.8K
$2.22 Rp 39.3K
-9.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27 Rp 75.7K
$4.36 Rp 77.2K
-2.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.28 Rp 22.7K
$1.27 Rp 22.5K
0.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.34 Rp 23.8K
$1.30 Rp 23.0K
3.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.85 Rp 15.1K
$0.90 Rp 15.9K
-5.56%
Eggs
$1.25 Rp 22.2K
$1.23 Rp 21.8K
1.63%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.82 Rp 138.4K
$7.62 Rp 134.9K
2.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.12 Rp 55.2K
$3.09 Rp 54.8K
0.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.70 Rp 136.3K
$7.60 Rp 134.6K
1.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.12 Rp 37.5K
$2.12 Rp 37.5K
-
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 Rp 22.7K
$1.28 Rp 22.7K
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 Rp 33.0K
$1.92 Rp 34.0K
-2.60%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.59 Rp 28.2K
$1.57 Rp 27.7K
1.27%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 Rp 23.6K
$1.34 Rp 23.7K
-0.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.94 Rp 34.4K
$2.03 Rp 35.9K
-4.43%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.33 Rp 5,800
$0.99 Rp 17.6K
-66.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 Rp 6,874
$0.41 Rp 7,186
-4.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.00 Rp 35.3K
$1.92 Rp 34.0K
4.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$25.15 Rp 445.4K
$25.23 Rp 446.8K
-0.32%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 Rp 30.4K
$1.77 Rp 31.4K
-2.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.94 Rp 52.1K
$2.92 Rp 51.7K
0.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 Rp 4,664
$0.33 Rp 5,825
-21.21%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.43 Rp 7,619
$0.52 Rp 9,236
-17.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,181
$0.43 Rp 7,630
6.98%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.77 Rp 49.0K
$2.76 Rp 48.9K
0.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.68 Rp 12.1K
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
-11.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.5K Rp 451.9M
$24.8K Rp 439.2M
2.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.4K Rp 573.5M
$32.5K Rp 575.4M
-0.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.3 Rp 1.6M
$86.6 Rp 1.5M
1.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.62 Rp 81.8K
$4.68 Rp 82.9K
-1.28%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.47 Rp 344.8K
$19.47 Rp 344.7K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.47 Rp 362.4K
$18.72 Rp 331.4K
9.35%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$9.11 Rp 161.3K
$6.96 Rp 123.2K
30.89%
Cinema Ticket
$1.94 Rp 34.3K
$2.70 Rp 47.8K
-28.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$96.4 Rp 1.7M
$283 Rp 5.0M
-65.91%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,794 Rp 173.4M
$9,866 Rp 174.7M
-0.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$22.29 Rp 394.6K
$71.9 Rp 1.3M
-69.01%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$11.15 Rp 197.5K
$40.23 Rp 712.4K
-72.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$46.05 Rp 815.4K
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
-44.48%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.8 Rp 1.3M
$75.9 Rp 1.3M
-0.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$231 Rp 4.1M
$282 Rp 5.0M
-18.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$152 Rp 2.7M
$150 Rp 2.7M
1.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$610 Rp 10.8M
$1,256 Rp 22.2M
-51.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$327 Rp 5.8M
$619 Rp 11.0M
-47.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,303 Rp 23.1M
$2,218 Rp 39.3M
-41.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$615 Rp 10.9M
$1,072 Rp 19.0M
-42.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Salatiga
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$277 Rp 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.

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