😐A single person spends $693 per month in Surabaya vs $612 in Banjarmasin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,106 per month in Surabaya vs $947 in Banjarmasin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,520 per month in Surabaya vs $1,282 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 – Surabaya48% lower, Banjarmasin54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.58Rp 27.4K
$1.25Rp 21.6K
26.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.16Rp 210.8K
$12.39Rp 214.7K
-1.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.98Rp 51.7K
$2.66Rp 46.2K
12.03%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 30.1K
$1.06Rp 18.4K
64.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65Rp 11.4K
$1.01Rp 17.5K
-35.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,460
$0.33Rp 5,797
-21.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 41.8K
$2.53Rp 43.8K
-4.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05Rp 70.3K
$3.63Rp 62.9K
11.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 25.0K
$1.49Rp 25.9K
-3.36%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46Rp 25.2K
$0.96Rp 16.7K
52.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01Rp 17.4K
$1.62Rp 28.1K
-37.65%
Eggs
$1.46Rp 25.3K
$1.45Rp 25.2K
0.69%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.39Rp 162.7K
$8.06Rp 139.7K
16.50%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.31Rp 57.4K
$2.43Rp 42.1K
36.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.24Rp 142.9K
$4.01Rp 69.6K
105.49%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30Rp 39.9K
$1.95Rp 33.8K
17.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 26.2K
$1.01Rp 17.5K
49.50%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13Rp 36.9K
$0.99Rp 17.2K
115.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49Rp 25.9K
$0.70Rp 12.1K
112.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.0K
$1.05Rp 18.2K
26.67%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81Rp 31.3K
$1.09Rp 18.9K
66.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20Rp 20.9K
$0.84Rp 14.5K
42.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,874
$0.44Rp 7,641
2.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55Rp 44.3K
$1.88Rp 32.6K
35.64%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.75Rp 446.3K
$21.61Rp 374.6K
19.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85Rp 32.0K
$2.04Rp 35.4K
-9.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14Rp 54.4K
$3.17Rp 54.9K
-0.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48Rp 8,241
$0.29Rp 5,004
65.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.24Rp 160.1K
$18.20Rp 315.4K
-49.23%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,715
$1.20Rp 20.7K
-62.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,453
$0.75Rp 13.0K
-58.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.72Rp 47.2K
$2.90Rp 50.3K
-6.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 14.7K
$0.91Rp 15.8K
-6.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KRp 364.5M
$24.8KRp 429.3M
-15.11%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KRp 619.1M
$27.9KRp 484.2M
27.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.8Rp 1.5M
$44.13Rp 764.9K
89.89%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.29Rp 74.3K
$3.05Rp 52.9K
40.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.62Rp 340.1K
$18.84Rp 326.5K
4.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.80Rp 377.9K
$48.67Rp 843.5K
-55.21%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.42Rp 76.5K
$6.06Rp 105.1K
-27.06%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98Rp 51.7K
$6.29Rp 109.1K
-52.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186Rp 3.2M
$61.7Rp 1.1M
201.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,464Rp 164.0M
$7,717Rp 133.7M
22.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8Rp 1.1M
$27.70Rp 480.2K
126.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.18Rp 679.1K
$30.47Rp 528.1K
28.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.0Rp 1.4M
$59.8Rp 1.0M
30.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.3Rp 1.4M
$35.47Rp 614.8K
132.14%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.2M
$258Rp 4.5M
-5.37%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.3M
$158Rp 2.7M
-14.91%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$790Rp 13.7M
$593Rp 10.3M
33.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394Rp 6.8M
$339Rp 5.9M
16.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,262Rp 39.2M
$1,231Rp 21.3M
83.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,122Rp 19.4M
$789Rp 13.7M
42.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Banjarmasin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$302Rp 5.2M
$205Rp 3.6M
47.31%
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Banjarmasin: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Surabaya versus $258 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 47% 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 – $230 in Surabaya vs $182 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 $1,039 per month in Surabaya and $917 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 $693 in Surabaya and $612 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 $693 in Surabaya and $612 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.