Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Binjai Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Binjai

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $702 in Surabaya versus $653 in Binjai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,129 in Surabaya versus $1,019 in Binjai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,557 in Surabaya versus $1,385 in Binjai.

Living in Surabaya is roughly 8% more expensive than in Binjai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya 47% lower, Binjai 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.56 Rp 28.2K

$1.58 Rp 28.5K

-1.27%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.42 Rp 224.2K

$12.51 Rp 225.9K

-0.72%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.03 Rp 54.6K

$3.47 Rp 62.6K

-12.68%

Cappuccino

$1.76 Rp 31.7K

$1.65 Rp 29.8K

6.67%

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

$0.66 Rp 11.9K

$0.55 Rp 10.0K

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 5,096

$0.28 Rp 5,074

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 Rp 44.1K

$2.52 Rp 45.5K

-3.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 Rp 73.8K

$3.45 Rp 62.4K

18.55%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 Rp 25.9K

$1.17 Rp 21.1K

23.08%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 Rp 27.4K

$1.12 Rp 20.3K

35.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 Rp 17.7K

$0.87 Rp 15.7K

12.64%

Eggs

$1.51 Rp 27.2K

$1.60 Rp 29.0K

-5.63%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 Rp 167.5K

$8.16 Rp 147.3K

13.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 Rp 58.5K

$3.25 Rp 58.7K

-0.31%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.13 Rp 146.7K

$8.07 Rp 145.7K

0.74%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 Rp 43.0K

$2.42 Rp 43.6K

-1.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 27.1K

$1.50 Rp 27.0K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 Rp 39.4K

$1.87 Rp 33.7K

16.58%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 Rp 25.6K

$1.49 Rp 26.9K

-4.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 23.8K

$1.38 Rp 24.9K

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 Rp 31.2K

$1.89 Rp 34.2K

-8.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$0.89 Rp 16.1K

29.21%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 Rp 8,229

$0.45 Rp 8,081

2.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 Rp 45.6K

$2.47 Rp 44.6K

2.02%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.18 Rp 454.5K

$21.96 Rp 396.5K

14.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 Rp 32.2K

$2.02 Rp 36.5K

-11.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 Rp 59.5K

$3.08 Rp 55.6K

7.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 Rp 8,032

$0.29 Rp 5,319

51.72%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.26 Rp 167.2K

$10.06 Rp 181.6K

-7.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,115

$0.57 Rp 10.3K

-21.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,634

$0.34 Rp 6,202

-8.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 Rp 49.5K

$2.86 Rp 51.6K

-4.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

$0.82 Rp 14.8K

6.10%

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

$20.8K Rp 374.8M

$25.0K Rp 451.5M

-17.00%

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

$34.9K Rp 629.2M

$27.6K Rp 498.8M

26.13%

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

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

$69.5 Rp 1.3M

19.36%

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

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

$4.37 Rp 78.9K

-4.12%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 Rp 350.9K

$22.87 Rp 412.8K

-15.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.63 Rp 390.4K

$23.23 Rp 419.3K

-6.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.38 Rp 79.1K

$5.99 Rp 108.1K

-26.88%

Cinema Ticket

$2.98 Rp 53.9K

$3.08 Rp 55.6K

-3.25%

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

$186 Rp 3.4M

$94.9 Rp 1.7M

95.98%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,266 Rp 167.3M

$7,692 Rp 138.9M

20.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 Rp 1.1M

$41.13 Rp 742.5K

52.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.49 Rp 694.9K

$30.39 Rp 548.7K

26.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.9 Rp 1.4M

$66.1 Rp 1.2M

16.34%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 Rp 1.5M

$73.7 Rp 1.3M

13.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$249 Rp 4.5M

$253 Rp 4.6M

-1.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 Rp 2.5M

$159 Rp 2.9M

-13.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$775 Rp 14.0M

$581 Rp 10.5M

33.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$392 Rp 7.1M

$330 Rp 6.0M

18.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,136 Rp 38.6M

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

109.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,064 Rp 19.2M

$715 Rp 12.9M

48.86%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 Rp 4.9M

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 Binjai: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $249 in Surabaya and $253 in Binjai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Surabaya vs $13.00 in Binjai. Groceries flip the comparison at $228 vs $211, with Binjai cheaper for home cooking.

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 Binjai: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Binjai is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,053 in Surabaya and $979 in Binjai to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $249 in Surabaya versus $253 in Binjai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $702 per month in Surabaya versus $653 in Binjai – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Binjai runs roughly 9% less than in Surabaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Binjai 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 Binjai gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.