Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Bohol Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Bohol

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $688 per month in Surabaya vs $457 in Bohol, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,205 per month in Surabaya vs $782 in Bohol, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,722 per month in Surabaya vs $1,106 in Bohol, rent included.

Surabaya costs about 50% more than Bohol, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Surabaya and Bohol are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya 50% lower, Bohol 67% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.66 Rp 29.3K
$7.92 ₱496
-79.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.40 Rp 201.0K
$31.96 ₱2,000
-64.33%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.24 Rp 57.2K
$3.22 ₱202
0.62%
Cappuccino
$1.56 Rp 27.5K
$1.88 ₱118
-17.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56 Rp 9,841
-
-
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 Rp 4,572
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.25 Rp 39.6K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 Rp 77.0K
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 Rp 21.4K
$1.61 ₱101
-24.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.34 Rp 23.7K
$0.86 ₱53.8
55.81%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.86 Rp 15.2K
$0.97 ₱60.9
-11.34%
Eggs
$1.21 Rp 21.2K
$2.10 ₱131
-42.38%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.80 Rp 137.5K
$7.46 ₱467
4.56%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.96 Rp 52.2K
$4.83 ₱302
-38.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.87 Rp 138.8K
$9.49 ₱594
-17.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.02 Rp 35.7K
$1.48 ₱92.6
36.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 Rp 23.4K
$0.93 ₱58.5
43.01%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.87 Rp 32.9K
-
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.52 Rp 26.9K
$1.95 ₱122
-22.05%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 Rp 24.2K
$1.81 ₱113
-24.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.93 Rp 34.0K
$4.94 ₱309
-60.93%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 Rp 17.2K
$2.43 ₱152
-60.08%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.40 Rp 7,050
-
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96 Rp 34.5K
-
-
Wine (Bottle)
$25.35 Rp 447.0K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 Rp 30.1K
-
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.89 Rp 50.9K
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.36 Rp 6,271
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,334
-
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.47 Rp 8,293
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.70 Rp 47.7K
-
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.80 Rp 14.2K
$1.25 ₱78.0
-36.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K Rp 435.5M
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.1K Rp 583.3M
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$88.9 Rp 1.6M
-
-
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.83 Rp 85.2K
-
-
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.84 Rp 349.7K
$22.62 ₱1,416
-12.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.57 Rp 327.4K
$14.20 ₱889
30.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.54 Rp 115.3K
$5.54 ₱347
18.05%
Cinema Ticket
$2.65 Rp 46.7K
$3.92 ₱245
-32.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$286 Rp 5.0M
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,694 Rp 170.9M
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.2 Rp 1.3M
-
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.47 Rp 695.8K
-
-
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.5 Rp 1.4M
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.9 Rp 1.3M
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$290 Rp 5.1M
$190 ₱11.9K
52.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$150 Rp 2.6M
$163 ₱10.2K
-8.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,276 Rp 22.5M
$323 ₱20.2K
294.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$618 Rp 10.9M
$290 ₱18.1K
113.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,231 Rp 39.3M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,073 Rp 18.9M
$536 ₱33.6K
100.13%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$277 Rp 4.9M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.5
0
-

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

Last update for Surabaya: September 1, 2026

Last update for Bohol: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $290 in Surabaya versus $190 in Bohol. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Surabaya versus $32.00 in Bohol. Groceries tell a different story – $211 in Surabaya vs $160 in Bohol – so Bohol 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 Bohol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bohol cheaper than Surabaya?
Yes – Surabaya is pricier by about 50%, 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 $1,032 per month in Surabaya and $686 in Bohol. 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 Bohol, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Surabaya and in Bohol?
Groceries cost about 32% more in Surabaya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Surabaya or in Bohol?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Surabaya and $32.00 in Bohol. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Surabaya or Bohol?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $688 in Surabaya and $457 in Bohol, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Surabaya or Bohol more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Bohol – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Surabaya or Bohol?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Bohol. 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.

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