Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Batam Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Batam

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $676 in Surabaya versus $616 in Batam.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,202 in Surabaya versus $1,017 in Batam.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,728 in Surabaya versus $1,418 in Batam.

Living in Surabaya is roughly 10% more expensive than in Batam, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya 51% lower, Batam 55% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 Rp 30.6K

$2.01 Rp 35.5K

-13.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.51 Rp 203.8K

$8.68 Rp 153.7K

32.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.25 Rp 57.5K

$4.07 Rp 72.0K

-20.15%

Cappuccino

$1.58 Rp 27.9K

$2.14 Rp 38.0K

-26.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 Rp 10.9K

$0.62 Rp 11.1K

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,554

$0.31 Rp 5,506

-16.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

$2.60 Rp 46.0K

-14.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 Rp 77.2K

$3.72 Rp 65.9K

17.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

$1.16 Rp 20.6K

9.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 Rp 23.0K

$1.09 Rp 19.3K

19.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 Rp 15.9K

$0.78 Rp 13.9K

15.38%

Eggs

$1.23 Rp 21.8K

$1.30 Rp 23.1K

-5.38%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.62 Rp 134.9K

$7.71 Rp 136.5K

-1.17%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.09 Rp 54.8K

$2.54 Rp 45.0K

21.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 Rp 134.6K

$4.61 Rp 81.6K

64.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 Rp 37.5K

$2.19 Rp 38.7K

-3.20%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 Rp 22.7K

$2.09 Rp 37.0K

-38.76%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

$2.06 Rp 36.6K

-6.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 27.7K

$1.06 Rp 18.8K

48.11%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 Rp 23.7K

$0.97 Rp 17.2K

38.14%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 Rp 35.9K

$1.99 Rp 35.3K

2.01%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 Rp 17.6K

$1.33 Rp 23.6K

-25.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,186

$0.45 Rp 8,033

-8.89%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

$2.76 Rp 48.8K

-30.43%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.23 Rp 446.8K

$13.89 Rp 245.9K

81.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 Rp 31.4K

$1.75 Rp 31.1K

1.14%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 Rp 51.7K

$2.49 Rp 44.1K

17.27%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 Rp 5,825

$0.41 Rp 7,309

-19.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 Rp 9,236

$1.14 Rp 20.2K

-54.39%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,630

$0.60 Rp 10.6K

-28.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

$3.58 Rp 63.3K

-22.91%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.79 Rp 14.0K

-2.53%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.8K Rp 439.2M

$28.5K Rp 504.0M

-12.86%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.5K Rp 575.4M

$24.7K Rp 438.2M

31.31%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$86.6 Rp 1.5M

$72.0 Rp 1.3M

20.38%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.68 Rp 82.9K

$4.16 Rp 73.6K

12.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.47 Rp 344.7K

$23.70 Rp 419.6K

-17.85%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.72 Rp 331.4K

$26.92 Rp 476.7K

-30.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 Rp 123.2K

$5.63 Rp 99.7K

23.62%

Cinema Ticket

$2.70 Rp 47.8K

$2.66 Rp 47.0K

1.50%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$283 Rp 5.0M

$83.4 Rp 1.5M

239.14%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,866 Rp 174.7M

$3,257 Rp 57.7M

202.87%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.9 Rp 1.3M

$32.47 Rp 574.9K

121.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.23 Rp 712.4K

$19.15 Rp 339.0K

110.08%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

$67.0 Rp 1.2M

23.81%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.9 Rp 1.3M

$25.03 Rp 443.1K

203.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$282 Rp 5.0M

$274 Rp 4.8M

2.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 Rp 2.7M

$149 Rp 2.6M

0.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 Rp 22.2M

$823 Rp 14.6M

52.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 Rp 11.0M

$514 Rp 9.1M

20.60%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,218 Rp 39.3M

$556 Rp 9.8M

298.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,072 Rp 19.0M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$277 Rp 4.9M

$354 Rp 6.3M

-21.85%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

13.17

-43.05%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Surabaya: September 15, 2026

Last update for Batam: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Surabaya and $274 in Batam. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Batam pays 28% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Surabaya vs $9.00 in Batam for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $177 per month, with Batam cheaper across the board.

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 Batam: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Batam is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 28% lower in Batam. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $282 in Surabaya versus $274 in Batam. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 19% higher in Surabaya. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $676 per month in Surabaya versus $616 in Batam – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Batam gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Batam gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.