🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $657 in Sidoarjo versus $687 in Surabaya.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $997 in Sidoarjo versus $1,113 in Surabaya.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,337 in Sidoarjo versus $1,540 in Surabaya.
🌍Living in Sidoarjo costs roughly 4% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Sidoarjo51% lower, Surabaya49% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.57Rp 28.2K
$1.58Rp 28.3K
-0.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.45Rp 223.3K
$12.41Rp 222.6K
0.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.99Rp 53.6K
$3.09Rp 55.4K
-3.24%
Cappuccino
$0.58Rp 10.4K
$1.78Rp 32.0K
-67.42%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.47Rp 8,356
$0.61Rp 10.9K
-22.95%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,618
$0.28Rp 5,043
-7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.39Rp 43.0K
$2.52Rp 45.2K
-5.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.89Rp 69.8K
$3.91Rp 70.2K
-0.51%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42Rp 25.5K
$1.38Rp 24.7K
2.90%
White Bread(500g)
$1.08Rp 19.3K
$1.45Rp 26.0K
-25.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.7K
$0.94Rp 16.8K
-1.06%
Eggs
$1.43Rp 25.6K
$1.52Rp 27.3K
-5.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.24Rp 165.8K
$9.26Rp 166.1K
-0.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.64Rp 47.3K
$3.34Rp 59.9K
-20.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.32Rp 113.4K
$8.17Rp 146.5K
-22.64%
Apples(1kg)
$0.94Rp 16.8K
$2.29Rp 41.1K
-58.95%
Banana(1kg)
$0.64Rp 11.4K
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-58.71%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.77Rp 13.7K
$2.19Rp 39.3K
-64.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.64Rp 11.4K
$1.45Rp 26.0K
-55.86%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79Rp 14.1K
$1.38Rp 24.7K
-42.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12Rp 20.1K
$1.78Rp 32.0K
-37.08%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.30Rp 5,346
$1.15Rp 20.7K
-73.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,657
$0.46Rp 8,244
-6.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18Rp 39.1K
$2.54Rp 45.6K
-14.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.74Rp 443.6K
$25.47Rp 456.8K
-2.87%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77Rp 31.8K
$1.80Rp 32.3K
-1.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.20Rp 57.5K
$3.27Rp 58.7K
-2.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,800
$0.47Rp 8,500
-31.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.94Rp 178.4K
$9.17Rp 164.5K
8.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,659
$0.45Rp 7,993
6.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,635
$0.31Rp 5,573
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.24Rp 22.3K
$2.70Rp 48.4K
-54.07%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77Rp 13.9K
$0.82Rp 14.6K
-6.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7KRp 371.0M
$20.9KRp 375.5M
-1.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.8KRp 624.6M
$34.9KRp 625.3M
-0.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.8Rp 1.5M
$83.2Rp 1.5M
-1.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.22Rp 75.7K
$4.12Rp 74.0K
2.43%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.18Rp 218.4K
$19.34Rp 346.8K
-37.02%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.39Rp 419.5K
$21.77Rp 390.4K
7.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.24Rp 111.9K
$4.46Rp 79.9K
39.91%
Cinema Ticket
$2.88Rp 51.6K
$2.89Rp 51.9K
-0.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$188Rp 3.4M
$186Rp 3.3M
1.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,435Rp 169.2M
$9,359Rp 167.9M
0.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.0Rp 1.1M
$61.0Rp 1.1M
-0.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.68Rp 693.7K
$38.67Rp 693.5K
0.03%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.1Rp 1.4M
$77.0Rp 1.4M
2.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.4Rp 1.5M
$82.2Rp 1.5M
0.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$261Rp 4.7M
$248Rp 4.4M
5.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$155Rp 2.8M
$134Rp 2.4M
15.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$582Rp 10.4M
$784Rp 14.1M
-25.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$339Rp 6.1M
$402Rp 7.2M
-15.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,180Rp 21.2M
$2,205Rp 39.6M
-46.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$703Rp 12.6M
$1,058Rp 19.0M
-33.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$268Rp 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 Sidoarjo: July 20, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: July 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $261 in Sidoarjo and $248 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Sidoarjo vs $12.00 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $228 per month, with Sidoarjo cheaper across the board.
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
Sidoarjo vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surabaya cheaper than Sidoarjo?
Sidoarjo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 5% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $985 in Sidoarjo and $1,031 in Surabaya to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Sidoarjo and Surabaya?
Rent for a central apartment: $261 in Sidoarjo versus $248 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Sidoarjo and in Surabaya?
All in, you'll spend $657 per month in Sidoarjo versus $687 in Surabaya – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Sidoarjo runs roughly 8% less than in Surabaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Sidoarjo or Surabaya?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Sidoarjo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Sidoarjo or in Surabaya?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Sidoarjo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.