Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Banjarmasin Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Banjarmasin

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Surabaya 51% lower, Banjarmasin 56% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.73 Rp 30.6K
$1.16 Rp 20.6K
49.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.51 Rp 203.8K
$14.18 Rp 251.1K
-18.83%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.25 Rp 57.5K
$3.45 Rp 61.2K
-5.80%
Cappuccino
$1.58 Rp 27.9K
$1.27 Rp 22.4K
24.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62 Rp 10.9K
$0.81 Rp 14.4K
-23.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 Rp 4,554
$0.34 Rp 6,055
-23.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.22 Rp 39.3K
$5.23 Rp 92.6K
-57.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36 Rp 77.2K
$3.37 Rp 59.6K
29.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.27 Rp 22.5K
$1.33 Rp 23.6K
-4.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 Rp 23.0K
$0.95 Rp 16.8K
36.84%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.90 Rp 15.9K
$0.86 Rp 15.2K
4.65%
Eggs
$1.23 Rp 21.8K
$1.61 Rp 28.5K
-23.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.62 Rp 134.9K
$8.16 Rp 144.5K
-6.62%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.09 Rp 54.8K
$2.21 Rp 39.1K
39.82%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 Rp 134.6K
$3.34 Rp 59.2K
127.54%
Apples (1kg)
$2.12 Rp 37.5K
$2.00 Rp 35.4K
6.00%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 Rp 22.7K
$1.14 Rp 20.2K
12.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 34.0K
$0.97 Rp 17.1K
97.94%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.57 Rp 27.7K
$1.25 Rp 22.1K
25.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 Rp 23.7K
$1.27 Rp 22.5K
5.51%
Onion (1kg)
$2.03 Rp 35.9K
$0.98 Rp 17.4K
107.14%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.99 Rp 17.6K
$0.77 Rp 13.7K
28.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41 Rp 7,186
$0.44 Rp 7,852
-6.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92 Rp 34.0K
$1.99 Rp 35.2K
-3.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$25.23 Rp 446.8K
$19.22 Rp 340.3K
31.27%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77 Rp 31.4K
$2.07 Rp 36.6K
-14.49%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 Rp 51.7K
$2.72 Rp 48.2K
7.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 Rp 5,825
$0.70 Rp 12.3K
-52.86%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$16.72 Rp 296.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.52 Rp 9,236
$0.50 Rp 8,793
4.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.43 Rp 7,630
$0.32 Rp 5,753
34.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.76 Rp 48.9K
$2.94 Rp 52.0K
-6.12%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
$0.84 Rp 14.8K
-8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8K Rp 439.2M
$25.6K Rp 452.7M
-2.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5K Rp 575.4M
$33.5K Rp 593.6M
-3.07%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.6 Rp 1.5M
$40.57 Rp 718.4K
113.56%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.68 Rp 82.9K
$2.77 Rp 49.1K
68.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.47 Rp 344.7K
$17.69 Rp 313.2K
10.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.72 Rp 331.4K
$20.43 Rp 361.7K
-8.37%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96 Rp 123.2K
$7.42 Rp 131.4K
-6.20%
Cinema Ticket
$2.70 Rp 47.8K
$5.52 Rp 97.8K
-51.09%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$283 Rp 5.0M
$96.0 Rp 1.7M
194.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,866 Rp 174.7M
$7,529 Rp 133.3M
31.03%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.9 Rp 1.3M
$43.38 Rp 768.1K
65.81%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.23 Rp 712.4K
$30.84 Rp 546.2K
30.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
$55.3 Rp 978.3K
50.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.9 Rp 1.3M
$33.34 Rp 590.3K
127.59%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$282 Rp 5.0M
$217 Rp 3.8M
30.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$150 Rp 2.7M
$165 Rp 2.9M
-8.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,256 Rp 22.2M
$563 Rp 10.0M
122.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$619 Rp 11.0M
$370 Rp 6.6M
67.17%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,218 Rp 39.3M
$1,228 Rp 21.7M
80.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,072 Rp 19.0M
$752 Rp 13.3M
42.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$277 Rp 4.9M
$204 Rp 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.

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