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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $702 per month in Surabaya vs $688 in Bohol, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,117 per month in Surabaya vs $1,118 in Bohol, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,532 per month in Surabaya vs $1,549 in Bohol, rent included.

Surabaya costs about 2% more than Bohol, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Surabaya and Bohol are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya 47% lower, Bohol 49% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.58 Rp 28.4K
$3.60 ₱222
-56.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.11 Rp 217.6K
$35.11 ₱2,165
-65.51%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.05 Rp 54.9K
$4.52 ₱279
-32.52%
Cappuccino
$1.80 Rp 32.4K
$3.27 ₱201
-44.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64 Rp 11.5K
$0.84 ₱51.8
-23.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 Rp 5,048
$0.40 ₱24.51
-30.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.40 Rp 43.2K
$1.29 ₱79.6
86.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09 Rp 73.5K
$2.16 ₱133
89.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.38 Rp 24.7K
$1.92 ₱119
-28.13%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 Rp 26.9K
$1.21 ₱74.6
23.97%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.94 Rp 17.0K
$1.01 ₱62.6
-6.93%
Eggs
$1.50 Rp 26.9K
$2.08 ₱128
-27.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.24 Rp 166.1K
$8.23 ₱507
12.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.19 Rp 57.3K
$4.19 ₱258
-23.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.13 Rp 146.0K
$8.62 ₱531
-5.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.41 Rp 43.3K
$2.97 ₱183
-18.86%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 28.1K
$1.54 ₱95.0
1.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.20 Rp 39.5K
$2.69 ₱166
-18.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 Rp 27.0K
$1.54 ₱94.9
-2.60%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 Rp 23.8K
$2.08 ₱128
-36.06%
Onion (1kg)
$1.73 Rp 31.1K
$2.64 ₱163
-34.47%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.19 Rp 21.4K
$1.06 ₱65.3
12.26%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 8,091
$0.72 ₱44.17
-37.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.45 Rp 44.1K
$2.33 ₱144
5.15%
Wine (Bottle)
$25.13 Rp 451.6K
-
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 Rp 33.5K
$1.17 ₱72.1
58.97%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31 Rp 59.5K
$1.96 ₱121
68.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.44 Rp 7,860
$0.26 ₱16.02
69.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.48 Rp 170.4K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,592
$0.78 ₱47.99
-38.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 Rp 5,615
$0.22 ₱13.51
40.91%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
$2.15 ₱133
26.98%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 Rp 15.4K
$1.28 ₱78.7
-32.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K Rp 368.6M
$26.4K ₱1.6M
-22.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0K Rp 629.7M
$20.3K ₱1.3M
72.30%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
$113 ₱6,972
-26.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.31 Rp 77.5K
$32.97 ₱2,033
-86.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.61 Rp 352.5K
$26.95 ₱1,662
-27.24%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.82 Rp 392.2K
$18.83 ₱1,161
15.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.59 Rp 82.6K
$4.48 ₱276
2.46%
Cinema Ticket
$2.87 Rp 51.7K
$5.72 ₱353
-49.83%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$186 Rp 3.3M
$154 ₱9,474
20.98%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,556 Rp 171.7M
$4,388 ₱270.6K
117.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 Rp 1.1M
$45.98 ₱2,836
36.80%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.85 Rp 698.2K
$26.73 ₱1,648
45.34%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.8 Rp 1.4M
$76.3 ₱4,704
2.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.1 Rp 1.5M
$52.5 ₱3,239
58.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$244 Rp 4.4M
$140 ₱8,663
73.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$136 Rp 2.4M
$108 ₱6,656
25.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$792 Rp 14.2M
$522 ₱32.2K
51.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$399 Rp 7.2M
$225 ₱13.9K
76.80%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,202 Rp 39.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,045 Rp 18.8M
$533 ₱32.9K
96.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Bohol
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$269 Rp 4.8M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.33
6.67
24.89%

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

Last update for Surabaya: July 11, 2026

Last update for Bohol: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Surabaya versus $140 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 $12.00 in Surabaya versus $35.00 in Bohol. Groceries tell a different story – $228 in Surabaya vs $192 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 2%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,054 per month in Surabaya and $1,031 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.
What are total monthly expenses in Surabaya and in Bohol?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $702 in Surabaya and $688 in Bohol. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $186 per month in Surabaya and $154 in Bohol. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Surabaya or Bohol?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $702 in Surabaya and $688 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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