Cost of Living Comparison Between Semarang and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between Semarang and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $581 per month in Semarang vs $692 in Surabaya, rent included.

A couple spends around $928 per month in Semarang vs $1,196 in Surabaya, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,274 per month in Semarang vs $1,700 in Surabaya, rent included.

Semarang is about 16% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Semarang and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Semarang 58% lower, Surabaya 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.45 Rp 25.5K

$1.73 Rp 30.5K

-16.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.54 Rp 185.6K

$11.58 Rp 203.9K

-8.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.14 Rp 55.3K

Cappuccino

$1.24 Rp 21.9K

$1.59 Rp 28.0K

-22.01%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,635

$0.57 Rp 10.1K

-14.04%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.18 Rp 3,148

$0.26 Rp 4,556

-30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

$2.31 Rp 40.7K

-24.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.43 Rp 60.3K

$4.30 Rp 75.7K

-20.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

$1.22 Rp 21.4K

-8.20%

White Bread (500g)

$0.96 Rp 16.9K

$1.30 Rp 22.9K

-26.15%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.79 Rp 14.0K

$0.84 Rp 14.7K

-5.95%

Eggs

$1.38 Rp 24.3K

$1.21 Rp 21.3K

14.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$5.66 Rp 99.6K

$7.90 Rp 139.1K

-28.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.36 Rp 41.6K

$2.97 Rp 52.3K

-20.54%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.16 Rp 143.6K

$7.60 Rp 133.8K

7.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.52 Rp 44.5K

$2.13 Rp 37.5K

18.31%

Banana (1kg)

$1.53 Rp 27.0K

$1.33 Rp 23.4K

15.04%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 31.9K

$1.85 Rp 32.6K

-2.16%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.5K

$1.56 Rp 27.6K

Potato (1kg)

$1.79 Rp 31.5K

$1.34 Rp 23.6K

33.58%

Onion (1kg)

$2.23 Rp 39.3K

$2.00 Rp 35.1K

11.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.83 Rp 14.6K

$0.97 Rp 17.0K

-14.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,375

$0.43 Rp 7,648

-2.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.26 Rp 39.8K

$2.04 Rp 35.9K

10.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.17 Rp 249.5K

$25.91 Rp 456.1K

-45.31%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 Rp 41.4K

$1.75 Rp 30.8K

34.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.70 Rp 47.5K

$3.03 Rp 53.4K

-10.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 Rp 4,246

$0.33 Rp 5,732

-27.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.32 Rp 252.2K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.89 Rp 15.6K

$0.48 Rp 8,409

85.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 Rp 5,129

$0.46 Rp 8,175

-36.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 Rp 48.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.0K

$0.81 Rp 14.2K

-1.23%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.0K Rp 405.1M

$25.4K Rp 446.3M

-9.24%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.1K Rp 547.6M

$32.7K Rp 575.2M

-4.80%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$68.1 Rp 1.2M

$89.2 Rp 1.6M

-23.71%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.69 Rp 47.3K

$4.62 Rp 81.4K

-41.77%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$20.77 Rp 365.6K

$19.75 Rp 347.8K

5.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.00 Rp 369.8K

$18.50 Rp 325.7K

13.51%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.76 Rp 83.8K

$6.79 Rp 119.5K

-29.90%

Cinema Ticket

$2.22 Rp 39.1K

$2.71 Rp 47.6K

-18.08%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$40.97 Rp 721.3K

$278 Rp 4.9M

-85.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,231 Rp 39.3M

$9,802 Rp 172.6M

-77.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$28.65 Rp 504.3K

$72.7 Rp 1.3M

-60.59%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.45 Rp 518.4K

$40.01 Rp 704.5K

-26.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$58.8 Rp 1.0M

$82.2 Rp 1.4M

-28.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$39.84 Rp 701.5K

$76.4 Rp 1.3M

-47.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$229 Rp 4.0M

$290 Rp 5.1M

-21.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$143 Rp 2.5M

$150 Rp 2.6M

-4.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$496 Rp 8.7M

$1,277 Rp 22.5M

-61.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 Rp 6.9M

$607 Rp 10.7M

-35.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,178 Rp 20.7M

$2,202 Rp 38.8M

-46.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$557 Rp 9.8M

$1,066 Rp 18.8M

-47.79%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$196 Rp 3.5M

$279 Rp 4.9M

-29.70%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.83

7.5

4.40%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Semarang: September 6, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $229 in Semarang versus $290 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 42% higher in Surabaya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Semarang versus $12.00 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $212 – making Semarang 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

Semarang vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Surabaya is pricier by about 19%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $872 per month in Semarang and $1,038 in Surabaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Semarang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Semarang and $12.00 in Surabaya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 16% more in Surabaya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $581 in Semarang and $692 in Surabaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Semarang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

If budget matters most, go with Semarang. 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.