Cost of Living Comparison Between South Tangerang and Surabaya Cost of Living Comparison Between South Tangerang and Surabaya

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $684 in South Tangerang versus $676 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,040 in South Tangerang versus $1,202 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,396 in South Tangerang versus $1,728 in Surabaya.

Living in South Tangerang is roughly 1% more expensive than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: South Tangerang 50% lower, Surabaya 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.66 Rp 29.4K

$1.73 Rp 30.6K

-4.05%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$14.36 Rp 254.2K

$11.51 Rp 203.8K

24.76%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.33 Rp 59.0K

$3.25 Rp 57.5K

2.46%

Cappuccino

$1.58 Rp 27.9K

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

$0.46 Rp 8,163

$0.62 Rp 10.9K

-25.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 Rp 4,056

$0.26 Rp 4,554

-11.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.71 Rp 48.0K

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

22.07%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 Rp 54.8K

$4.36 Rp 77.2K

-28.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.25 Rp 22.2K

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

-1.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 Rp 17.8K

$1.30 Rp 23.0K

-23.08%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 Rp 15.2K

$0.90 Rp 15.9K

-4.44%

Eggs

$1.70 Rp 30.1K

$1.23 Rp 21.8K

38.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.35 Rp 130.2K

$7.62 Rp 134.9K

-3.54%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.14 Rp 55.6K

$3.09 Rp 54.8K

1.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.79 Rp 137.9K

$7.60 Rp 134.6K

2.50%

Apples (1kg)

$2.97 Rp 52.6K

$2.12 Rp 37.5K

40.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.24 Rp 22.0K

$1.28 Rp 22.7K

-3.13%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.05 Rp 36.3K

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

6.77%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

$1.57 Rp 27.7K

-19.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.36 Rp 24.0K

$1.34 Rp 23.7K

1.49%

Onion (1kg)

$2.18 Rp 38.7K

$2.03 Rp 35.9K

7.39%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 Rp 14.3K

$0.99 Rp 17.6K

-18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.48 Rp 8,530

$0.41 Rp 7,186

17.07%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.75 Rp 48.7K

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

43.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.20 Rp 375.4K

$25.23 Rp 446.8K

-15.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.99 Rp 35.2K

$1.77 Rp 31.4K

12.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.15 Rp 55.8K

$2.92 Rp 51.7K

7.88%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 Rp 3,880

$0.33 Rp 5,825

-33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.26 Rp 305.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.49 Rp 8,710

$0.52 Rp 9,236

-5.77%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.32 Rp 5,732

$0.43 Rp 7,630

-25.58%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.29 Rp 40.6K

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

-17.03%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.7K

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

1.30%

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

$22.7K Rp 402.1M

$24.8K Rp 439.2M

-8.44%

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

$33.5K Rp 594.0M

$32.5K Rp 575.4M

3.24%

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

$53.6 Rp 948.9K

$86.6 Rp 1.5M

-38.15%

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

$6.11 Rp 108.3K

$4.68 Rp 82.9K

30.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.62 Rp 347.5K

$19.47 Rp 344.7K

0.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.60 Rp 471.0K

$18.72 Rp 331.4K

42.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$9.67 Rp 171.3K

$6.96 Rp 123.2K

38.94%

Cinema Ticket

$2.90 Rp 51.3K

$2.70 Rp 47.8K

7.41%

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

$120 Rp 2.1M

$283 Rp 5.0M

-57.47%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,452 Rp 149.7M

$9,866 Rp 174.7M

-14.33%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.27 Rp 713.0K

$71.9 Rp 1.3M

-44.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$29.41 Rp 520.8K

$40.23 Rp 712.4K

-26.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$74.5 Rp 1.3M

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

-10.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.6 Rp 1.3M

$75.9 Rp 1.3M

-4.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$214 Rp 3.8M

$282 Rp 5.0M

-24.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$170 Rp 3.0M

$150 Rp 2.7M

13.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$379 Rp 6.7M

$1,256 Rp 22.2M

-69.85%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$309 Rp 5.5M

$619 Rp 11.0M

-50.04%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,199 Rp 21.2M

$2,218 Rp 39.3M

-45.93%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$969 Rp 17.2M

$1,072 Rp 19.0M

-9.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$446 Rp 7.9M

$277 Rp 4.9M

61.16%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.46

7.5

26.13%

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

Last update for South Tangerang: September 12, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: September 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $214 in South Tangerang and $282 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

South Tangerang pays 61% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $14.00 in South Tangerang vs $12.00 in Surabaya. Groceries flip the comparison at $207 vs $211, with South Tangerang cheaper for home cooking.

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

South Tangerang vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Surabaya is cheaper overall, especially in Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 61% higher in South Tangerang, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $214 in South Tangerang versus $282 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $120 in South Tangerang versus $283 in Surabaya. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Surabaya – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $14.00 in South Tangerang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Surabaya gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Surabaya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in South Tangerang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.