🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $649 in Sidoarjo versus $689 in Surabaya.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $990 in Sidoarjo versus $1,115 in Surabaya.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,331 in Sidoarjo versus $1,542 in Surabaya.
🙂Living in Sidoarjo costs roughly 6% less than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Sidoarjo52% lower, Surabaya49% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.51Rp 26.0K
$1.52Rp 26.2K
-0.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.44Rp 213.8K
$12.11Rp 208.2K
2.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.12Rp 53.7K
$3.10Rp 53.2K
0.65%
Cappuccino
$0.63Rp 10.8K
$1.81Rp 31.1K
-65.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 8,692
$0.65Rp 11.2K
-21.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,410
$0.28Rp 4,872
-7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44Rp 41.9K
$2.41Rp 41.4K
1.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07Rp 70.0K
$4.04Rp 69.4K
0.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.37Rp 23.6K
$1.44Rp 24.8K
-4.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.08Rp 18.5K
$1.49Rp 25.7K
-27.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.99Rp 17.0K
$0.92Rp 15.9K
7.61%
Eggs
$1.43Rp 24.5K
$1.51Rp 26.0K
-5.30%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.28Rp 159.4K
$9.21Rp 158.3K
0.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.53Rp 43.5K
$3.35Rp 57.6K
-24.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.18Rp 106.2K
$8.17Rp 140.5K
-24.36%
Apples(1kg)
$0.96Rp 16.4K
$2.32Rp 39.8K
-58.62%
Banana(1kg)
$0.60Rp 10.3K
$1.48Rp 25.4K
-59.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.82Rp 14.0K
$2.09Rp 36.0K
-60.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.63Rp 10.9K
$1.44Rp 24.7K
-56.25%
Potato(1kg)
$0.79Rp 13.6K
$1.38Rp 23.7K
-42.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08Rp 18.5K
$1.79Rp 30.7K
-39.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.30Rp 5,099
$1.15Rp 19.8K
-73.91%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,245
$0.43Rp 7,323
-2.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.09Rp 35.9K
$2.46Rp 42.2K
-15.04%
Wine(Bottle)
$26.16Rp 449.6K
$26.02Rp 447.1K
0.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83Rp 31.5K
$1.77Rp 30.4K
3.39%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30Rp 56.8K
$3.32Rp 57.1K
-0.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,517
$0.48Rp 8,202
-33.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.74Rp 167.4K
$9.47Rp 162.7K
2.85%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,583
$0.44Rp 7,580
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,390
$0.31Rp 5,358
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$1.26Rp 21.6K
$2.70Rp 46.4K
-53.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 14.4K
$0.86Rp 14.8K
-2.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6KRp 354.1M
$21.2KRp 364.4M
-2.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7KRp 596.9M
$34.6KRp 594.4M
0.42%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$82.7Rp 1.4M
$83.8Rp 1.4M
-1.30%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09Rp 70.3K
$4.17Rp 71.7K
-1.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$12.33Rp 211.9K
$19.55Rp 336.0K
-36.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.18Rp 398.4K
$21.75Rp 373.7K
6.57%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.02Rp 103.5K
$4.36Rp 75.0K
38.07%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98Rp 51.2K
$2.97Rp 51.0K
0.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$191Rp 3.3M
$190Rp 3.3M
0.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,506Rp 163.4M
$9,220Rp 158.5M
3.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8Rp 1.1M
$62.5Rp 1.1M
0.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.51Rp 661.9K
$38.60Rp 663.4K
-0.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.7Rp 1.4M
$76.3Rp 1.3M
3.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.1Rp 1.4M
$82.9Rp 1.4M
1.52%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$256Rp 4.4M
$249Rp 4.3M
2.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$160Rp 2.8M
$137Rp 2.4M
17.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$576Rp 9.9M
$764Rp 13.1M
-24.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$335Rp 5.8M
$400Rp 6.9M
-16.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,246Rp 21.4M
$2,309Rp 39.7M
-46.04%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$787Rp 13.5M
$1,123Rp 19.3M
-29.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sidoarjo
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$304Rp 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 Sidoarjo: April 20, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $256 in Sidoarjo and $249 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12 in Sidoarjo vs $12 in Surabaya for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 vs $229 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, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $974 in Sidoarjo and $1,033 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: $256 in Sidoarjo versus $249 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Sidoarjo vs Surabaya?
All in, you'll spend $649 per month in Sidoarjo versus $689 in Surabaya – a 6% 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 3% 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 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 6% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.