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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $702 per month in Surabaya vs $1,290 in Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,117 per month in Surabaya vs $2,302 in Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,532 per month in Surabaya vs $3,314 in Bali, rent included.

Surabaya is about 46% cheaper than Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both Surabaya and Bali are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya 47% lower, Bali 3% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.58 Rp 28.4K

$2.86 Rp 51.4K

-44.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.11 Rp 217.6K

$27.11 Rp 487.2K

-55.33%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.05 Rp 54.9K

$4.25 Rp 76.3K

-28.24%

Cappuccino

$1.80 Rp 32.4K

$2.24 Rp 40.3K

-19.64%

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

$0.64 Rp 11.5K

$1.15 Rp 20.6K

-44.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 5,048

$0.58 Rp 10.5K

-51.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 Rp 43.2K

$2.42 Rp 43.5K

-0.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 Rp 73.5K

$3.32 Rp 59.6K

23.19%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

$1.66 Rp 29.9K

-16.87%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

$2.44 Rp 43.8K

-38.52%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 Rp 17.0K

$1.09 Rp 19.6K

-13.76%

Eggs

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

$2.25 Rp 40.5K

-33.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.24 Rp 166.1K

$13.93 Rp 250.3K

-33.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 Rp 57.3K

$4.10 Rp 73.7K

-22.20%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.13 Rp 146.0K

$11.34 Rp 203.8K

-28.31%

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 Rp 43.3K

$3.66 Rp 65.8K

-34.15%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

$1.54 Rp 27.7K

1.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$2.66 Rp 47.8K

-17.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 27.0K

$2.21 Rp 39.7K

-32.13%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 Rp 23.8K

$1.82 Rp 32.6K

-26.92%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 Rp 31.1K

$2.08 Rp 37.4K

-16.83%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 Rp 21.4K

$1.04 Rp 18.6K

14.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 8,091

$0.69 Rp 12.3K

-34.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 Rp 44.1K

$3.10 Rp 55.8K

-20.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.13 Rp 451.6K

$22.34 Rp 401.5K

12.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 Rp 33.5K

$2.62 Rp 47.2K

-29.01%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 Rp 59.5K

$2.65 Rp 47.6K

24.91%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 Rp 7,860

$0.27 Rp 4,804

62.96%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.48 Rp 170.4K

$8.19 Rp 147.1K

15.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,592

$0.45 Rp 8,084

6.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,615

$0.46 Rp 8,243

-32.61%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

$5.99 Rp 107.7K

-54.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

4.88%

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

$20.5K Rp 368.6M

$26.0K Rp 466.5M

-20.98%

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

$35.0K Rp 629.7M

$32.6K Rp 585.7M

7.51%

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

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

$79.4 Rp 1.4M

4.55%

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

$4.31 Rp 77.5K

$4.07 Rp 73.1K

5.90%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.61 Rp 352.5K

$24.04 Rp 432.1K

-18.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.82 Rp 392.2K

$80.6 Rp 1.4M

-72.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.59 Rp 82.6K

$5.47 Rp 98.2K

-16.09%

Cinema Ticket

$2.87 Rp 51.7K

$3.29 Rp 59.1K

-12.77%

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

$186 Rp 3.3M

$273 Rp 4.9M

-31.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,556 Rp 171.7M

$6,104 Rp 109.7M

56.53%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 Rp 1.1M

$52.5 Rp 943.7K

19.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.85 Rp 698.2K

$37.11 Rp 666.9K

4.69%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 Rp 1.4M

$83.2 Rp 1.5M

-6.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.1 Rp 1.5M

$72.8 Rp 1.3M

14.17%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$244 Rp 4.4M

$860 Rp 15.5M

-71.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 Rp 2.4M

$582 Rp 10.5M

-76.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 Rp 14.2M

$2,932 Rp 52.7M

-72.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$399 Rp 7.2M

$1,801 Rp 32.4M

-77.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,202 Rp 39.6M

$2,406 Rp 43.2M

-8.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,045 Rp 18.8M

$1,957 Rp 35.2M

-46.59%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 Rp 4.8M

$221 Rp 4.0M

21.65%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bali: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Surabaya versus $860 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 22% 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: $228 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 84% 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 $1,054 per month in Surabaya and $1,935 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 $702 in Surabaya and $1,290 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 $702, than in Bali at $1,290. 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 $702 versus $1,290 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.