😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $702 in Surabaya versus $626 in Cimahi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,129 in Surabaya versus $963 in Cimahi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,557 in Surabaya versus $1,300 in Cimahi.
🌍Living in Surabaya is roughly 12% more expensive than in Cimahi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya47% lower, Cimahi53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.56Rp 28.2K
$1.27Rp 22.9K
22.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.42Rp 224.2K
$9.43Rp 170.2K
31.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.03Rp 54.6K
$3.44Rp 62.1K
-11.92%
Cappuccino
$1.76Rp 31.7K
$1.55Rp 28.0K
13.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66Rp 11.9K
$0.52Rp 9,462
26.92%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,096
$0.27Rp 4,896
3.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44Rp 44.1K
$2.68Rp 48.4K
-8.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09Rp 73.8K
$3.60Rp 65.0K
13.61%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 25.9K
$1.22Rp 22.1K
18.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52Rp 27.4K
$1.11Rp 20.0K
36.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.98Rp 17.7K
$0.87Rp 15.7K
12.64%
Eggs
$1.51Rp 27.2K
$1.52Rp 27.5K
-0.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.28Rp 167.5K
$6.58Rp 118.8K
41.03%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.24Rp 58.5K
$3.00Rp 54.1K
8.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.13Rp 146.7K
$7.87Rp 142.1K
3.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38Rp 43.0K
$2.27Rp 41.0K
4.85%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 27.1K
$1.28Rp 23.1K
17.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.18Rp 39.4K
$1.64Rp 29.6K
32.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.6K
$1.55Rp 28.0K
-8.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.8K
$1.43Rp 25.7K
-7.69%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73Rp 31.2K
$2.62Rp 47.4K
-33.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15Rp 20.7K
$0.91Rp 16.5K
26.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,229
$0.43Rp 7,680
6.98%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52Rp 45.6K
$2.60Rp 47.0K
-3.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.18Rp 454.5K
$20.67Rp 373.2K
21.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78Rp 32.2K
$2.03Rp 36.6K
-12.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30Rp 59.5K
$3.19Rp 57.6K
3.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44Rp 8,032
$0.30Rp 5,406
46.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.26Rp 167.2K
$10.05Rp 181.5K
-7.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,115
$0.54Rp 9,744
-16.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,634
$0.38Rp 6,809
-18.42%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.74Rp 49.5K
$2.50Rp 45.2K
9.60%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87Rp 15.6K
$0.82Rp 14.8K
6.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KRp 374.8M
$24.2KRp 437.5M
-14.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KRp 629.2M
$26.1KRp 470.6M
33.69%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0Rp 1.5M
$43.95Rp 793.5K
88.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.19Rp 75.6K
$4.58Rp 82.7K
-8.52%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.44Rp 350.9K
$22.97Rp 414.7K
-15.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.63Rp 390.4K
$23.39Rp 422.2K
-7.52%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.38Rp 79.1K
$6.05Rp 109.3K
-27.60%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98Rp 53.9K
$3.08Rp 55.7K
-3.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186Rp 3.4M
$94.8Rp 1.7M
96.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,266Rp 167.3M
$7,589Rp 137.0M
22.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9Rp 1.1M
$41.30Rp 745.6K
52.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.49Rp 694.9K
$30.90Rp 557.9K
24.56%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.9Rp 1.4M
$59.4Rp 1.1M
29.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8Rp 1.5M
$64.8Rp 1.2M
29.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$249Rp 4.5M
$261Rp 4.7M
-4.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138Rp 2.5M
$158Rp 2.9M
-13.03%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$775Rp 14.0M
$584Rp 10.5M
32.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$392Rp 7.1M
$333Rp 6.0M
17.71%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,136Rp 38.6M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,064Rp 19.2M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$269Rp 4.9M
$245Rp 4.4M
9.65%
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 Cimahi: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $249 in Surabaya and $261 in Cimahi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Surabaya pays 10% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Surabaya vs $9.00 in Cimahi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 vs $201 per month, with Cimahi 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 Cimahi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Surabaya or Cimahi?
Cimahi wins on cost – living expenses run 12% lower than in Surabaya. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Cimahi the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Surabaya or in Cimahi?
Average pay runs 10% higher in Surabaya, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Surabaya compared to Cimahi?
Rent for a central apartment: $249 in Surabaya versus $261 in Cimahi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Surabaya compared to Cimahi?
A monthly transit pass in Cimahi runs roughly 9% less than in Surabaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Surabaya and in Cimahi?
Childcare runs $186 in Surabaya versus $94.8 in Cimahi. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $800/month in Surabaya or in Cimahi?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Cimahi gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Surabaya or Cimahi?
Both work as nomad bases, but Cimahi delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $626 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Cimahi hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Cimahi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 12% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.