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: $693 in Surabaya versus $656 in Binjai.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,106 in Surabaya versus $1,018 in Binjai.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Surabaya versus $1,380 in Binjai.

Living in Surabaya is roughly 6% more expensive than Binjai, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya 48% lower, Binjai 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.58 Rp 27.4K

$1.57 Rp 27.2K

0.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.16 Rp 210.8K

$12.22 Rp 211.8K

-0.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.98 Rp 51.7K

$3.47 Rp 60.1K

-14.12%

Cappuccino

$1.74 Rp 30.1K

$1.67 Rp 28.9K

4.19%

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

$0.65 Rp 11.4K

$0.52 Rp 8,991

25.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,460

$0.26 Rp 4,492

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 Rp 41.8K

$2.51 Rp 43.6K

-3.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.05 Rp 70.3K

$3.56 Rp 61.6K

13.76%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 Rp 25.0K

$1.22 Rp 21.2K

18.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 Rp 25.2K

$1.13 Rp 19.6K

29.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.01 Rp 17.4K

$0.88 Rp 15.2K

14.77%

Eggs

$1.46 Rp 25.3K

$1.53 Rp 26.4K

-4.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.39 Rp 162.7K

$8.10 Rp 140.5K

15.93%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.31 Rp 57.4K

$3.14 Rp 54.4K

5.41%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.24 Rp 142.9K

$8.11 Rp 140.5K

1.60%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 Rp 39.9K

$2.36 Rp 40.9K

-2.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.51 Rp 26.2K

$1.45 Rp 25.1K

4.14%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.13 Rp 36.9K

$1.82 Rp 31.5K

17.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.49 Rp 25.9K

$1.56 Rp 27.0K

-4.49%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 Rp 23.0K

$1.36 Rp 23.6K

-2.21%

Onion (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 31.3K

$1.94 Rp 33.6K

-6.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.20 Rp 20.9K

$0.92 Rp 15.9K

30.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 7,874

$0.45 Rp 7,726

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.55 Rp 44.3K

$2.51 Rp 43.4K

1.59%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.75 Rp 446.3K

$20.98 Rp 363.6K

22.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.85 Rp 32.0K

$2.01 Rp 34.9K

-7.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 Rp 54.4K

$3.08 Rp 53.3K

1.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 Rp 8,241

$0.32 Rp 5,576

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.24 Rp 160.1K

$9.64 Rp 167.1K

-4.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 7,715

$0.57 Rp 9,952

-21.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,453

$0.34 Rp 5,942

-8.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.72 Rp 47.2K

$2.95 Rp 51.2K

-7.80%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.85 Rp 14.7K

$0.84 Rp 14.5K

1.19%

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

$21.0K Rp 364.5M

$24.9K Rp 432.0M

-15.64%

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

$35.7K Rp 619.1M

$27.7K Rp 480.8M

28.76%

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

$83.8 Rp 1.5M

$70.9 Rp 1.2M

18.19%

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

$4.29 Rp 74.3K

$4.37 Rp 75.7K

-1.83%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.62 Rp 340.1K

$22.73 Rp 394.0K

-13.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.80 Rp 377.9K

$22.86 Rp 396.3K

-4.64%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.42 Rp 76.5K

$6.12 Rp 106.0K

-27.78%

Cinema Ticket

$2.98 Rp 51.7K

$3.04 Rp 52.7K

-1.97%

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

$186 Rp 3.2M

$94.8 Rp 1.6M

96.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,464 Rp 164.0M

$7,443 Rp 129.0M

27.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.8 Rp 1.1M

$41.01 Rp 710.7K

53.04%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.18 Rp 679.1K

$30.78 Rp 533.4K

27.29%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.0 Rp 1.4M

$66.6 Rp 1.2M

17.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.3 Rp 1.4M

$73.3 Rp 1.3M

12.38%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$244 Rp 4.2M

$255 Rp 4.4M

-4.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 Rp 2.3M

$158 Rp 2.7M

-14.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$790 Rp 13.7M

$575 Rp 10.0M

37.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$394 Rp 6.8M

$329 Rp 5.7M

19.72%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,262 Rp 39.2M

$1,258 Rp 21.8M

79.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,122 Rp 19.4M

$858 Rp 14.9M

30.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$302 Rp 5.2M

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 Binjai: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Surabaya and $255 in Binjai. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $12.00 in Surabaya vs $12.00 in Binjai. Groceries flip the comparison at $230 vs $208, 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 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,039 in Surabaya and $985 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: $244 in Surabaya versus $255 in Binjai. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $693 per month in Surabaya versus $656 in Binjai – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Binjai runs roughly 4% 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 6% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.