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: $676 in Surabaya versus $658 in Ambon.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,202 in Surabaya versus $1,038 in Ambon.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,728 in Surabaya versus $1,417 in Ambon.

Living in Surabaya is roughly 3% more expensive than in Ambon, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya 51% lower, Ambon 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 Rp 30.6K

$1.12 Rp 19.8K

54.46%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.51 Rp 203.8K

$13.95 Rp 247.0K

-17.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.25 Rp 57.5K

$3.91 Rp 69.3K

-16.88%

Cappuccino

$1.58 Rp 27.9K

$1.50 Rp 26.6K

5.33%

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

$0.62 Rp 10.9K

$0.47 Rp 8,319

31.91%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,554

$0.29 Rp 5,068

-10.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

$2.48 Rp 43.8K

-10.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 Rp 77.2K

$3.49 Rp 61.8K

24.93%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

$1.05 Rp 18.5K

20.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 Rp 23.0K

$1.04 Rp 18.4K

25.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 Rp 15.9K

$0.88 Rp 15.5K

2.27%

Eggs

$1.23 Rp 21.8K

$1.39 Rp 24.6K

-11.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.62 Rp 134.9K

$7.25 Rp 128.4K

5.10%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.09 Rp 54.8K

$2.93 Rp 51.9K

5.46%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 Rp 134.6K

$7.64 Rp 135.3K

-0.52%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 Rp 37.5K

$2.28 Rp 40.3K

-7.02%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 Rp 22.7K

$1.32 Rp 23.4K

-3.03%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

$1.70 Rp 30.2K

12.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 27.7K

$1.29 Rp 22.8K

21.71%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 Rp 23.7K

$1.31 Rp 23.2K

2.29%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 Rp 35.9K

$1.97 Rp 34.8K

3.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 Rp 17.6K

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

26.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,186

$0.41 Rp 7,302

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

$2.23 Rp 39.6K

-13.90%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.23 Rp 446.8K

$21.27 Rp 376.6K

18.62%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 Rp 31.4K

$1.94 Rp 34.3K

-8.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 Rp 51.7K

$2.98 Rp 52.8K

-2.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 Rp 5,825

$0.24 Rp 4,243

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.99 Rp 300.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 Rp 9,236

$0.50 Rp 8,778

4.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,630

$0.31 Rp 5,435

38.71%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

$3.34 Rp 59.2K

-17.37%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

1.32%

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

$24.8K Rp 439.2M

$23.0K Rp 406.6M

8.02%

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

$32.5K Rp 575.4M

$31.1K Rp 550.3M

4.55%

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

$86.6 Rp 1.5M

$77.5 Rp 1.4M

11.76%

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

$4.68 Rp 82.9K

$5.82 Rp 103.1K

-19.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.47 Rp 344.7K

$19.77 Rp 350.1K

-1.52%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.72 Rp 331.4K

$18.75 Rp 332.0K

-0.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 Rp 123.2K

$7.70 Rp 136.3K

-9.61%

Cinema Ticket

$2.70 Rp 47.8K

$1.38 Rp 24.5K

95.65%

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

$283 Rp 5.0M

$94.2 Rp 1.7M

200.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,866 Rp 174.7M

$7,888 Rp 139.7M

25.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.9 Rp 1.3M

$43.70 Rp 773.8K

64.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.23 Rp 712.4K

$31.00 Rp 548.9K

29.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

$74.3 Rp 1.3M

11.69%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.9 Rp 1.3M

$73.1 Rp 1.3M

3.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$282 Rp 5.0M

$262 Rp 4.6M

7.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 Rp 2.7M

$161 Rp 2.9M

-6.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 Rp 22.2M

$571 Rp 10.1M

120.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 Rp 11.0M

$359 Rp 6.4M

72.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,218 Rp 39.3M

$1,120 Rp 19.8M

98.05%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,072 Rp 19.0M

$618 Rp 10.9M

73.60%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$277 Rp 4.9M

$126 Rp 2.2M

120.11%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

9.46

-20.72%

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

Last update for Surabaya: September 15, 2026

Last update for Ambon: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Surabaya and $262 in Ambon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surabaya pays 120% 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 $14.00 in Ambon. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $196, 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 3% 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 120% 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: $282 in Surabaya versus $262 in Ambon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Surabaya. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $676 per month in Surabaya versus $658 in Ambon – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 3% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.