😐A single person spends $676 per month in Surabaya vs $595 in Banjarmasin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,202 per month in Surabaya vs $941 in Banjarmasin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,728 per month in Surabaya vs $1,288 in Banjarmasin, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 14% more than Banjarmasin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Surabaya and Banjarmasin are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya51% lower, Banjarmasin56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.73Rp 30.6K
$1.16Rp 20.6K
49.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.51Rp 203.8K
$14.18Rp 251.1K
-18.83%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.25Rp 57.5K
$3.45Rp 61.2K
-5.80%
Cappuccino
$1.58Rp 27.9K
$1.27Rp 22.4K
24.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62Rp 10.9K
$0.81Rp 14.4K
-23.46%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,554
$0.34Rp 6,055
-23.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22Rp 39.3K
$5.23Rp 92.6K
-57.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36Rp 77.2K
$3.37Rp 59.6K
29.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27Rp 22.5K
$1.33Rp 23.6K
-4.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30Rp 23.0K
$0.95Rp 16.8K
36.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90Rp 15.9K
$0.86Rp 15.2K
4.65%
Eggs
$1.23Rp 21.8K
$1.61Rp 28.5K
-23.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.62Rp 134.9K
$8.16Rp 144.5K
-6.62%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.09Rp 54.8K
$2.21Rp 39.1K
39.82%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60Rp 134.6K
$3.34Rp 59.2K
127.54%
Apples(1kg)
$2.12Rp 37.5K
$2.00Rp 35.4K
6.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28Rp 22.7K
$1.14Rp 20.2K
12.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.0K
$0.97Rp 17.1K
97.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 27.7K
$1.25Rp 22.1K
25.60%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34Rp 23.7K
$1.27Rp 22.5K
5.51%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03Rp 35.9K
$0.98Rp 17.4K
107.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99Rp 17.6K
$0.77Rp 13.7K
28.57%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,186
$0.44Rp 7,852
-6.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92Rp 34.0K
$1.99Rp 35.2K
-3.52%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.23Rp 446.8K
$19.22Rp 340.3K
31.27%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77Rp 31.4K
$2.07Rp 36.6K
-14.49%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92Rp 51.7K
$2.72Rp 48.2K
7.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33Rp 5,825
$0.70Rp 12.3K
-52.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$16.72Rp 296.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.52Rp 9,236
$0.50Rp 8,793
4.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,630
$0.32Rp 5,753
34.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.76Rp 48.9K
$2.94Rp 52.0K
-6.12%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77Rp 13.6K
$0.84Rp 14.8K
-8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8KRp 439.2M
$25.6KRp 452.7M
-2.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 575.4M
$33.5KRp 593.6M
-3.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$86.6Rp 1.5M
$40.57Rp 718.4K
113.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.68Rp 82.9K
$2.77Rp 49.1K
68.95%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.47Rp 344.7K
$17.69Rp 313.2K
10.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.72Rp 331.4K
$20.43Rp 361.7K
-8.37%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96Rp 123.2K
$7.42Rp 131.4K
-6.20%
Cinema Ticket
$2.70Rp 47.8K
$5.52Rp 97.8K
-51.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$283Rp 5.0M
$96.0Rp 1.7M
194.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,866Rp 174.7M
$7,529Rp 133.3M
31.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.9Rp 1.3M
$43.38Rp 768.1K
65.81%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.23Rp 712.4K
$30.84Rp 546.2K
30.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0Rp 1.5M
$55.3Rp 978.3K
50.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.9Rp 1.3M
$33.34Rp 590.3K
127.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282Rp 5.0M
$217Rp 3.8M
30.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$150Rp 2.7M
$165Rp 2.9M
-8.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,256Rp 22.2M
$563Rp 10.0M
122.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$619Rp 11.0M
$370Rp 6.6M
67.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,218Rp 39.3M
$1,228Rp 21.7M
80.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,072Rp 19.0M
$752Rp 13.3M
42.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$277Rp 4.9M
$204Rp 3.6M
35.65%
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 Banjarmasin: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $282 in Surabaya versus $217 in Banjarmasin. 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 36% higher in Surabaya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya versus $14.00 in Banjarmasin. Groceries tell a different story – $211 in Surabaya vs $174 in Banjarmasin – so Banjarmasin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Banjarmasin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Banjarmasin cheaper than Surabaya?
Yes – Surabaya is pricier by about 14%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,015 per month in Surabaya and $893 in Banjarmasin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Banjarmasin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Surabaya and in Banjarmasin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $676 in Surabaya and $595 in Banjarmasin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $283 per month in Surabaya and $96.0 in Banjarmasin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Surabaya or Banjarmasin?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $676 in Surabaya and $595 in Banjarmasin, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Surabaya or Banjarmasin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Banjarmasin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Banjarmasin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Surabaya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.