😐A single person spends $702 per month in Surabaya vs $619 in Banjarmasin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,129 per month in Surabaya vs $937 in Banjarmasin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,557 per month in Surabaya vs $1,254 in Banjarmasin, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 13% more than Banjarmasin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Surabaya and Banjarmasin are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya47% lower, Banjarmasin53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.56Rp 28.2K
$1.26Rp 22.7K
23.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.42Rp 224.2K
$12.12Rp 218.7K
2.48%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.03Rp 54.6K
$2.54Rp 45.9K
19.29%
Cappuccino
$1.76Rp 31.7K
$1.05Rp 19.0K
67.62%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66Rp 11.9K
$0.95Rp 17.2K
-30.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,096
$0.31Rp 5,513
-9.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44Rp 44.1K
$2.52Rp 45.5K
-3.17%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09Rp 73.8K
$3.51Rp 63.3K
16.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 25.9K
$1.48Rp 26.8K
-2.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52Rp 27.4K
$0.95Rp 17.1K
60.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.98Rp 17.7K
$1.60Rp 29.0K
-38.75%
Eggs
$1.51Rp 27.2K
$1.49Rp 26.9K
1.34%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.28Rp 167.5K
$8.30Rp 149.8K
11.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.24Rp 58.5K
$2.32Rp 41.8K
39.66%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.13Rp 146.7K
$4.04Rp 72.9K
101.24%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38Rp 43.0K
$1.88Rp 33.9K
26.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 27.1K
$1.06Rp 19.1K
41.51%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.18Rp 39.4K
$0.94Rp 17.0K
131.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.6K
$0.69Rp 12.4K
105.80%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.8K
$1.01Rp 18.2K
30.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73Rp 31.2K
$1.08Rp 19.5K
60.19%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15Rp 20.7K
$0.76Rp 13.7K
51.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,229
$0.47Rp 8,528
-2.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52Rp 45.6K
$1.87Rp 33.8K
34.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.18Rp 454.5K
$20.41Rp 368.5K
23.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78Rp 32.2K
$2.13Rp 38.4K
-16.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30Rp 59.5K
$3.08Rp 55.6K
7.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44Rp 8,032
$0.29Rp 5,153
51.72%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.26Rp 167.2K
$18.31Rp 330.5K
-49.43%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,115
$1.19Rp 21.6K
-62.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,634
$0.75Rp 13.6K
-58.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.74Rp 49.5K
$2.83Rp 51.2K
-3.18%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87Rp 15.6K
$0.86Rp 15.6K
1.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KRp 374.8M
$24.8KRp 448.3M
-16.41%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KRp 629.2M
$28.2KRp 508.3M
23.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0Rp 1.5M
$44.96Rp 811.7K
84.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.19Rp 75.6K
$2.99Rp 53.9K
40.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.44Rp 350.9K
$18.69Rp 337.3K
4.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.63Rp 390.4K
$49.17Rp 887.6K
-56.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.38Rp 79.1K
$6.02Rp 108.8K
-27.24%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98Rp 53.9K
$6.30Rp 113.8K
-52.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186Rp 3.4M
$61.2Rp 1.1M
204.17%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,266Rp 167.3M
$7,693Rp 138.9M
20.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9Rp 1.1M
$27.36Rp 494.0K
129.82%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.49Rp 694.9K
$30.75Rp 555.2K
25.17%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.9Rp 1.4M
$59.7Rp 1.1M
28.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8Rp 1.5M
$36.21Rp 653.6K
131.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$249Rp 4.5M
$255Rp 4.6M
-2.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138Rp 2.5M
$160Rp 2.9M
-14.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$775Rp 14.0M
$589Rp 10.6M
31.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$392Rp 7.1M
$330Rp 6.0M
18.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,136Rp 38.6M
$1,167Rp 21.1M
83.09%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,064Rp 19.2M
$728Rp 13.1M
46.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$269Rp 4.9M
$199Rp 3.6M
35.08%
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 Banjarmasin: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $249 in Surabaya versus $255 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 35% 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 $12.00 in Banjarmasin. Groceries tell a different story – $228 in Surabaya vs $180 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 13%, 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 $1,053 per month in Surabaya and $929 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Surabaya or in Banjarmasin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya and $12.00 in Banjarmasin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Surabaya and in Banjarmasin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $702 in Surabaya and $619 in Banjarmasin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 enough for either Surabaya or Banjarmasin?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $702 in Surabaya and $619 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.