Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Ambon Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Ambon

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $702 in Surabaya versus $661 in Ambon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,129 in Surabaya versus $1,017 in Ambon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,557 in Surabaya versus $1,373 in Ambon.

Living in Surabaya is roughly 6% more expensive than in Ambon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya 47% lower, Ambon 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.56 Rp 28.2K

$0.88 Rp 16.0K

77.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.42 Rp 224.2K

$12.22 Rp 220.6K

1.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.03 Rp 54.6K

$3.36 Rp 60.7K

-9.82%

Cappuccino

$1.76 Rp 31.7K

$1.74 Rp 31.3K

1.15%

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

$0.66 Rp 11.9K

$0.51 Rp 9,186

29.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 5,096

$0.26 Rp 4,733

7.69%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 Rp 44.1K

$2.49 Rp 44.9K

-2.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 Rp 73.8K

$3.45 Rp 62.3K

18.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 Rp 25.9K

$1.19 Rp 21.4K

21.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 Rp 27.4K

$1.16 Rp 21.0K

31.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 Rp 17.7K

$0.93 Rp 16.8K

5.38%

Eggs

$1.51 Rp 27.2K

$1.55 Rp 27.9K

-2.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 Rp 167.5K

$8.19 Rp 147.8K

13.31%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 Rp 58.5K

$3.11 Rp 56.2K

4.18%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.13 Rp 146.7K

$8.07 Rp 145.7K

0.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 Rp 43.0K

$2.34 Rp 42.2K

1.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 27.1K

$1.50 Rp 27.0K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 Rp 39.4K

$1.82 Rp 32.8K

19.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 Rp 25.6K

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

-8.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 23.8K

$1.33 Rp 23.9K

-0.75%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 Rp 31.2K

$1.89 Rp 34.1K

-8.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$0.95 Rp 17.2K

21.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 Rp 8,229

$0.45 Rp 8,112

2.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 Rp 45.6K

$2.54 Rp 45.9K

-0.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.18 Rp 454.5K

$19.90 Rp 359.2K

26.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 Rp 32.2K

$2.13 Rp 38.4K

-16.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 Rp 59.5K

$3.07 Rp 55.4K

7.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 Rp 8,032

$0.32 Rp 5,778

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.26 Rp 167.2K

$9.70 Rp 175.2K

-4.54%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,115

$0.57 Rp 10.3K

-21.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,634

$0.37 Rp 6,736

-16.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 Rp 49.5K

$2.94 Rp 53.0K

-6.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

$0.83 Rp 15.0K

4.82%

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

$20.8K Rp 374.8M

$24.7K Rp 446.0M

-15.97%

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

$34.9K Rp 629.2M

$27.6K Rp 497.4M

26.49%

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

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

$70.9 Rp 1.3M

17.04%

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

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

$4.21 Rp 76.0K

-0.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 Rp 350.9K

$22.67 Rp 409.3K

-14.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.63 Rp 390.4K

$23.43 Rp 422.9K

-7.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.38 Rp 79.1K

$6.00 Rp 108.4K

-27.00%

Cinema Ticket

$2.98 Rp 53.9K

$3.04 Rp 54.8K

-1.97%

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

$186 Rp 3.4M

$91.5 Rp 1.7M

103.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,266 Rp 167.3M

$7,444 Rp 134.4M

24.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 Rp 1.1M

$42.02 Rp 758.5K

49.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.49 Rp 694.9K

$31.12 Rp 561.7K

23.68%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.9 Rp 1.4M

$66.9 Rp 1.2M

14.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 Rp 1.5M

$72.5 Rp 1.3M

15.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$249 Rp 4.5M

$261 Rp 4.7M

-4.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 Rp 2.5M

$158 Rp 2.9M

-12.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$775 Rp 14.0M

$582 Rp 10.5M

33.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$392 Rp 7.1M

$329 Rp 5.9M

19.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,136 Rp 38.6M

$1,166 Rp 21.0M

83.22%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,064 Rp 19.2M

$611 Rp 11.0M

74.24%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 Rp 4.9M

$170 Rp 3.1M

58.58%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.33

9.15

-8.96%

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

Last update for Surabaya: July 27, 2026

Last update for Ambon: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $249 in Surabaya and $261 in Ambon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surabaya pays 59% 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: $12.00 in Surabaya vs $12.00 in Ambon. Groceries flip the comparison at $228 vs $207, with Ambon 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

Surabaya vs Ambon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ambon wins on cost – living expenses run 6% lower than in Surabaya. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ambon the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 59% higher in Surabaya, 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: $249 in Surabaya versus $261 in Ambon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $702 per month in Surabaya versus $661 in Ambon – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ambon runs roughly 5% less than in Surabaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Ambon 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.

Safety-wise, Surabaya and Ambon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Ambon 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.