Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $708 per month in Surabaya vs $1,288 in Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,133 per month in Surabaya vs $2,328 in Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,557 per month in Surabaya vs $3,367 in Bali, rent included.

Surabaya is about 45% cheaper than Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Surabaya and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya 47% lower, Bali 4% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.52 Rp 27.4K

$2.97 Rp 53.5K

-48.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.12 Rp 218.6K

$26.53 Rp 478.4K

-54.32%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.13 Rp 56.4K

$4.09 Rp 73.7K

-23.47%

Cappuccino

$1.82 Rp 32.7K

$2.25 Rp 40.5K

-19.11%

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

$0.60 Rp 10.8K

$1.14 Rp 20.6K

-47.37%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,648

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

-58.06%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 Rp 43.5K

$2.42 Rp 43.7K

-0.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 Rp 72.4K

$3.30 Rp 59.5K

21.82%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 Rp 25.0K

$1.73 Rp 31.1K

-20.23%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 Rp 26.3K

$2.42 Rp 43.6K

-39.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 Rp 16.8K

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

-19.13%

Eggs

$1.44 Rp 26.0K

$2.31 Rp 41.6K

-37.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.04 Rp 163.1K

$13.70 Rp 247.0K

-34.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.29 Rp 59.4K

$4.13 Rp 74.5K

-20.34%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.45 Rp 152.5K

$11.33 Rp 204.3K

-25.42%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 Rp 43.6K

$3.45 Rp 62.3K

-29.86%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 Rp 27.8K

$1.53 Rp 27.5K

0.65%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 39.6K

$2.70 Rp 48.7K

-18.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 Rp 25.7K

$2.15 Rp 38.7K

-33.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 23.8K

$1.83 Rp 32.9K

-27.87%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 Rp 32.4K

$2.13 Rp 38.4K

-15.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 Rp 21.4K

$0.98 Rp 17.7K

20.41%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,603

$0.67 Rp 12.2K

-37.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 Rp 45.8K

$3.16 Rp 57.0K

-19.62%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.78 Rp 446.9K

$22.80 Rp 411.2K

8.68%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 Rp 31.8K

$2.65 Rp 47.8K

-33.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 Rp 56.7K

$2.72 Rp 49.1K

15.44%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 Rp 8,572

$0.27 Rp 4,830

77.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.40 Rp 169.6K

$8.46 Rp 152.6K

11.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,997

$0.46 Rp 8,240

-4.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 Rp 5,216

$0.46 Rp 8,256

-36.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 Rp 50.0K

$6.00 Rp 108.3K

-53.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 15.2K

$0.82 Rp 14.8K

2.44%

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

$20.6K Rp 372.2M

$26.0K Rp 468.8M

-20.62%

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

$35.8K Rp 645.7M

$31.9K Rp 574.7M

12.35%

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

$84.9 Rp 1.5M

$79.7 Rp 1.4M

6.46%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.7K

$3.92 Rp 70.7K

4.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.75 Rp 356.2K

$24.36 Rp 439.2K

-18.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.59 Rp 389.4K

$82.3 Rp 1.5M

-73.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.57 Rp 82.4K

$5.30 Rp 95.5K

-13.77%

Cinema Ticket

$2.85 Rp 51.4K

$3.44 Rp 62.1K

-17.15%

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

$188 Rp 3.4M

$267 Rp 4.8M

-29.84%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,556 Rp 172.3M

$5,920 Rp 106.8M

61.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 Rp 1.1M

$51.0 Rp 919.9K

20.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.56 Rp 695.3K

$36.67 Rp 661.3K

5.15%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 Rp 1.4M

$83.9 Rp 1.5M

-7.30%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$74.8 Rp 1.3M

11.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 Rp 4.4M

$854 Rp 15.4M

-71.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 Rp 2.4M

$574 Rp 10.3M

-76.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$762 Rp 13.7M

$2,981 Rp 53.8M

-74.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 Rp 7.1M

$1,784 Rp 32.2M

-77.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,209 Rp 39.8M

$2,374 Rp 42.8M

-6.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,067 Rp 19.2M

$1,973 Rp 35.6M

-45.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$276 Rp 5.0M

$223 Rp 4.0M

23.60%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.33

13.28

-37.27%

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

Last update for Surabaya: May 31, 2026

Last update for Bali: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $242 in Surabaya versus $854 in Bali. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 24% higher in Surabaya, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya versus $27.00 in Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $285 – making Surabaya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bali costs about 82% more than Surabaya, with the gap driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,062 per month in Surabaya and $1,932 in Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Surabaya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya and $27.00 in Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $708 in Surabaya and $1,288 in Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surabaya, where all-in costs run around $708, than in Bali at $1,288. In Surabaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Surabaya costs $708 versus $1,288 in Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Surabaya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.