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: $773 in South Tangerang versus $708 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,141 in South Tangerang versus $1,133 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,510 in South Tangerang versus $1,557 in Surabaya.

Living in South Tangerang is roughly 9% more expensive than Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: South Tangerang 42% lower, Surabaya 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.53 Rp 45.1K

$1.52 Rp 27.1K

66.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.39 Rp 328.4K

$12.12 Rp 216.4K

51.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.44 Rp 61.5K

$3.13 Rp 55.9K

9.90%

Cappuccino

$1.97 Rp 35.2K

$1.82 Rp 32.4K

8.24%

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

$0.49 Rp 8,669

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

-18.33%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 5,060

$0.26 Rp 4,602

7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.79 Rp 49.9K

$2.41 Rp 43.0K

15.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.22 Rp 75.4K

$4.02 Rp 71.7K

4.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.26 Rp 22.5K

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

-8.70%

White Bread (500g)

$1.07 Rp 19.1K

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

-26.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.89 Rp 15.9K

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

-4.30%

Eggs

$1.62 Rp 28.8K

$1.44 Rp 25.8K

12.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.32 Rp 112.8K

$9.04 Rp 161.5K

-30.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.25 Rp 58.0K

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

-1.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.04 Rp 143.5K

$8.45 Rp 151.0K

-4.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 Rp 52.6K

$2.42 Rp 43.2K

21.90%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

$1.54 Rp 27.5K

-2.60%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.08 Rp 37.1K

$2.19 Rp 39.2K

-5.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

9.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.65 Rp 29.4K

$1.32 Rp 23.6K

25.00%

Onion (1kg)

$2.61 Rp 46.6K

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

45.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 Rp 16.1K

$1.18 Rp 21.1K

-23.73%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,473

$0.42 Rp 7,529

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 Rp 45.0K

$2.54 Rp 45.4K

-0.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.45 Rp 383.0K

$24.78 Rp 442.6K

-13.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.18 Rp 39.0K

$1.77 Rp 31.5K

23.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.13 Rp 55.8K

$3.14 Rp 56.2K

-0.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.23 Rp 4,116

$0.48 Rp 8,489

-52.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.68 Rp 333.7K

$9.40 Rp 168.0K

98.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

$0.44 Rp 7,919

27.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 Rp 6,170

$0.29 Rp 5,165

20.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 Rp 45.9K

$2.77 Rp 49.5K

-7.22%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.81 Rp 14.4K

$0.84 Rp 15.1K

-3.57%

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

$25.1K Rp 448.2M

$20.6K Rp 368.5M

21.63%

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

$33.0K Rp 588.6M

$35.8K Rp 639.4M

-7.94%

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

$68.5 Rp 1.2M

$84.9 Rp 1.5M

-19.26%

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

$5.97 Rp 106.7K

$4.09 Rp 73.0K

45.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.80 Rp 425.0K

$19.75 Rp 352.7K

20.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$34.26 Rp 611.9K

$21.59 Rp 385.6K

58.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.44 Rp 186.4K

$4.57 Rp 81.6K

128.45%

Cinema Ticket

$3.13 Rp 55.9K

$2.85 Rp 50.9K

9.82%

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

$109 Rp 2.0M

$188 Rp 3.3M

-41.69%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,628 Rp 136.2M

$9,556 Rp 170.7M

-20.17%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.00 Rp 732.2K

$61.6 Rp 1.1M

-33.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.56 Rp 545.7K

$38.56 Rp 688.5K

-20.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.2 Rp 1.1M

$77.8 Rp 1.4M

-18.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.3 Rp 1.2M

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

-21.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$310 Rp 5.5M

$242 Rp 4.3M

27.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$242 Rp 4.3M

$135 Rp 2.4M

79.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$528 Rp 9.4M

$762 Rp 13.6M

-30.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 Rp 6.6M

$393 Rp 7.0M

-6.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,178 Rp 21.0M

$2,209 Rp 39.5M

-46.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$770 Rp 13.7M

$1,067 Rp 19.0M

-27.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$445 Rp 7.9M

$276 Rp 4.9M

61.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.59

8.33

15.13%

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

Last update for South Tangerang: June 1, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $310 in South Tangerang and $242 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

South Tangerang pays 62% 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: $18.00 in South Tangerang vs $12.00 in Surabaya. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $226, 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 Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

South Tangerang pays 62% more on average, 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: $310 in South Tangerang versus $242 in Surabaya. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Surabaya – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $18.00 in South Tangerang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $773 per month in South Tangerang versus $708 in Surabaya – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 9% less than in South Tangerang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.