😐A single person spends $700 per month in Surabaya vs $623 in Banjarmasin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,117 per month in Surabaya vs $948 in Banjarmasin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,535 per month in Surabaya vs $1,272 in Banjarmasin, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 12% more than Banjarmasin, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Surabaya and Banjarmasin are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya48% lower, Banjarmasin54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52Rp 27.3K
$1.21Rp 21.7K
25.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.46Rp 223.3K
$12.08Rp 216.5K
3.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.13Rp 56.1K
$2.54Rp 45.6K
23.23%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 31.1K
$1.11Rp 19.9K
56.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66Rp 11.8K
$1.02Rp 18.2K
-35.29%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,017
$0.31Rp 5,540
-9.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50Rp 44.7K
$2.43Rp 43.6K
2.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92Rp 70.2K
$3.45Rp 61.8K
13.62%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42Rp 25.5K
$1.44Rp 25.7K
-1.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$0.89Rp 16.0K
68.54%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.7K
$1.64Rp 29.3K
-43.29%
Eggs
$1.50Rp 26.8K
$1.44Rp 25.9K
4.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.31Rp 166.7K
$8.08Rp 144.7K
15.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17Rp 56.9K
$2.36Rp 42.3K
34.32%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.19Rp 146.8K
$4.07Rp 73.0K
101.23%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40Rp 43.0K
$1.97Rp 35.3K
21.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 26.8K
$1.02Rp 18.3K
47.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17Rp 38.8K
$0.95Rp 17.1K
128.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.4K
$0.73Rp 13.1K
94.52%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 24.7K
$1.05Rp 18.8K
31.43%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78Rp 31.9K
$1.07Rp 19.2K
66.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16Rp 20.7K
$0.82Rp 14.7K
41.46%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,099
$0.47Rp 8,492
-4.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44Rp 43.7K
$1.81Rp 32.4K
34.81%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.54Rp 439.7K
$21.00Rp 376.2K
16.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83Rp 32.8K
$2.01Rp 36.0K
-8.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27Rp 58.6K
$3.06Rp 54.8K
6.86%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47Rp 8,495
$0.29Rp 5,193
62.07%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.14Rp 163.8K
$18.47Rp 331.0K
-50.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47Rp 8,431
$1.24Rp 22.2K
-62.10%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,569
$0.73Rp 13.1K
-57.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.75Rp 49.3K
$2.88Rp 51.7K
-4.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87Rp 15.6K
$0.85Rp 15.1K
2.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KRp 373.4M
$24.1KRp 431.7M
-13.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KRp 624.7M
$27.3KRp 489.3M
27.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.9Rp 1.5M
$44.99Rp 806.1K
86.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.10Rp 73.5K
$3.09Rp 55.4K
32.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.83Rp 355.3K
$19.26Rp 345.0K
2.96%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.93Rp 393.0K
$49.50Rp 886.9K
-55.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.44Rp 79.5K
$6.04Rp 108.2K
-26.49%
Cinema Ticket
$2.96Rp 53.0K
$6.22Rp 111.5K
-52.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$192Rp 3.4M
$62.1Rp 1.1M
208.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,350Rp 167.5M
$7,503Rp 134.4M
24.61%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9Rp 1.1M
$27.74Rp 496.9K
126.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.45Rp 706.8K
$30.53Rp 547.1K
29.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$60.1Rp 1.1M
29.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0Rp 1.5M
$34.98Rp 626.7K
134.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.4M
$256Rp 4.6M
-4.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.4M
$157Rp 2.8M
-14.16%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$762Rp 13.7M
$575Rp 10.3M
32.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389Rp 7.0M
$328Rp 5.9M
18.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,223Rp 39.8M
$1,167Rp 20.9M
90.46%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,057Rp 18.9M
$745Rp 13.3M
41.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$269Rp 4.8M
$198Rp 3.5M
35.92%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Banjarmasin: June 9, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Surabaya versus $256 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 $12.00 in Banjarmasin. Groceries tell a different story – $227 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 12%, 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 $1,050 per month in Surabaya and $935 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 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 vs Banjarmasin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $700 in Surabaya and $623 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 $700 in Surabaya and $623 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.