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: $775 in South Tangerang versus $702 in Surabaya.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,146 in South Tangerang versus $1,129 in Surabaya.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,518 in South Tangerang versus $1,557 in Surabaya.

Living in South Tangerang is roughly 10% more expensive than in Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.39 Rp 43.2K

$1.56 Rp 28.2K

53.21%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.76 Rp 338.7K

$12.42 Rp 224.2K

51.05%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.28 Rp 59.2K

$3.03 Rp 54.6K

8.25%

Cappuccino

$1.96 Rp 35.3K

$1.76 Rp 31.7K

11.36%

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

$0.52 Rp 9,401

$0.66 Rp 11.9K

-21.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 5,088

$0.28 Rp 5,096

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.70 Rp 48.7K

$2.44 Rp 44.1K

10.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.42 Rp 79.7K

$4.09 Rp 73.8K

8.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.30 Rp 23.4K

$1.44 Rp 25.9K

-9.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

$1.52 Rp 27.4K

-30.26%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 Rp 17.0K

$0.98 Rp 17.7K

-4.08%

Eggs

$1.63 Rp 29.5K

$1.51 Rp 27.2K

7.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.49 Rp 117.2K

$9.28 Rp 167.5K

-30.06%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 Rp 58.4K

$3.24 Rp 58.5K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.89 Rp 142.5K

$8.13 Rp 146.7K

-2.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.80 Rp 50.6K

$2.38 Rp 43.0K

17.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 28.0K

$1.50 Rp 27.1K

3.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.01 Rp 36.3K

$2.18 Rp 39.4K

-7.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 28.1K

$1.42 Rp 25.6K

9.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.62 Rp 29.2K

$1.32 Rp 23.8K

22.73%

Onion (1kg)

$2.62 Rp 47.3K

$1.73 Rp 31.2K

51.45%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 Rp 16.3K

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

-21.74%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 8,214

$0.46 Rp 8,229

-2.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.49 Rp 45.0K

$2.52 Rp 45.6K

-1.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$21.22 Rp 383.0K

$25.18 Rp 454.5K

-15.73%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.19 Rp 39.5K

$1.78 Rp 32.2K

23.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.08 Rp 55.5K

$3.30 Rp 59.5K

-6.67%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.21 Rp 3,790

$0.44 Rp 8,032

-52.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$18.70 Rp 337.5K

$9.26 Rp 167.2K

101.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 Rp 10.4K

$0.45 Rp 8,115

28.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 Rp 6,302

$0.31 Rp 5,634

12.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.49 Rp 44.9K

$2.74 Rp 49.5K

-9.12%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.75 Rp 13.6K

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

-13.79%

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

$25.1K Rp 453.3M

$20.8K Rp 374.8M

20.96%

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

$32.6K Rp 588.1M

$34.9K Rp 629.2M

-6.52%

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

$70.3 Rp 1.3M

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

-15.34%

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

$6.16 Rp 111.2K

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

47.02%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.11 Rp 417.1K

$19.44 Rp 350.9K

18.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$33.47 Rp 604.3K

$21.63 Rp 390.4K

54.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$10.17 Rp 183.5K

$4.38 Rp 79.1K

132.19%

Cinema Ticket

$2.99 Rp 53.9K

$2.98 Rp 53.9K

0.34%

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

$113 Rp 2.0M

$186 Rp 3.4M

-39.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,714 Rp 139.3M

$9,266 Rp 167.3M

-16.75%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.85 Rp 755.4K

$62.9 Rp 1.1M

-33.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.15 Rp 544.2K

$38.49 Rp 694.9K

-21.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$63.2 Rp 1.1M

$76.9 Rp 1.4M

-17.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$64.0 Rp 1.2M

$83.8 Rp 1.5M

-23.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$303 Rp 5.5M

$249 Rp 4.5M

21.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$250 Rp 4.5M

$138 Rp 2.5M

81.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$532 Rp 9.6M

$775 Rp 14.0M

-31.31%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$370 Rp 6.7M

$392 Rp 7.1M

-5.61%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,160 Rp 20.9M

$2,136 Rp 38.6M

-45.71%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$764 Rp 13.8M

$1,064 Rp 19.2M

-28.21%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$438 Rp 7.9M

$269 Rp 4.9M

62.84%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Surabaya: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $303 in South Tangerang and $249 in Surabaya. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

South Tangerang pays 63% 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: $19.00 in South Tangerang vs $12.00 in Surabaya. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $228, 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 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 63% 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: $303 in South Tangerang versus $249 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 $19.00 in South Tangerang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $775 per month in South Tangerang versus $702 in Surabaya – a 10% 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 10% less than in South Tangerang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.