😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $676 in Surabaya versus $597 in Cimahi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,202 in Surabaya versus $961 in Cimahi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,728 in Surabaya versus $1,326 in Cimahi.
🌍Living in Surabaya is roughly 13% more expensive than in Cimahi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya51% lower, Cimahi56% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.73Rp 30.6K
$1.66Rp 29.4K
4.22%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.51Rp 203.8K
$14.29Rp 253.0K
-19.45%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.25Rp 57.5K
$3.49Rp 61.8K
-6.88%
Cappuccino
$1.58Rp 27.9K
$1.58Rp 27.9K
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62Rp 10.9K
$0.46Rp 8,163
34.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,554
$0.23Rp 4,052
13.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22Rp 39.3K
$2.76Rp 48.8K
-19.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36Rp 77.2K
$3.07Rp 54.3K
42.02%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27Rp 22.5K
$1.13Rp 20.0K
12.39%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30Rp 23.0K
$1.03Rp 18.3K
26.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90Rp 15.9K
$0.83Rp 14.7K
8.43%
Eggs
$1.23Rp 21.8K
$1.50Rp 26.5K
-18.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.62Rp 134.9K
$7.33Rp 129.8K
3.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.09Rp 54.8K
$2.88Rp 51.1K
7.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60Rp 134.6K
$7.80Rp 138.2K
-2.56%
Apples(1kg)
$2.12Rp 37.5K
$2.23Rp 39.6K
-4.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28Rp 22.7K
$1.13Rp 19.9K
13.27%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.0K
$1.55Rp 27.4K
23.87%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 27.7K
$0.98Rp 17.4K
60.20%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34Rp 23.7K
$1.08Rp 19.1K
24.07%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03Rp 35.9K
$1.90Rp 33.6K
6.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99Rp 17.6K
$0.70Rp 12.5K
41.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,186
$0.43Rp 7,642
-4.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92Rp 34.0K
$2.77Rp 49.0K
-30.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.23Rp 446.8K
$21.11Rp 373.8K
19.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77Rp 31.4K
$1.88Rp 33.2K
-5.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92Rp 51.7K
$3.09Rp 54.7K
-5.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33Rp 5,825
$0.29Rp 5,093
13.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.52Rp 9,236
$0.52Rp 9,288
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,630
$0.35Rp 6,217
22.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.76Rp 48.9K
$2.37Rp 41.9K
16.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77Rp 13.6K
$0.84Rp 14.9K
-8.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8KRp 439.2M
$21.3KRp 377.1M
16.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 575.4M
$29.1KRp 516.1M
11.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$86.6Rp 1.5M
$34.20Rp 605.5K
153.33%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.68Rp 82.9K
$4.42Rp 78.3K
5.88%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.47Rp 344.7K
$19.15Rp 339.0K
1.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.72Rp 331.4K
$20.00Rp 354.1K
-6.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96Rp 123.2K
$8.37Rp 148.3K
-16.85%
Cinema Ticket
$2.70Rp 47.8K
$2.76Rp 48.8K
-2.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$283Rp 5.0M
$95.9Rp 1.7M
194.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,866Rp 174.7M
$8,308Rp 147.1M
18.75%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.9Rp 1.3M
$40.42Rp 715.7K
77.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.23Rp 712.4K
$29.43Rp 521.2K
36.70%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0Rp 1.5M
$74.3Rp 1.3M
11.63%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.9Rp 1.3M
$70.8Rp 1.3M
7.11%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282Rp 5.0M
$218Rp 3.9M
29.01%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$150Rp 2.7M
$138Rp 2.4M
8.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,256Rp 22.2M
$632Rp 11.2M
98.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$619Rp 11.0M
$321Rp 5.7M
93.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,218Rp 39.3M
$1,138Rp 20.2M
94.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,072Rp 19.0M
$739Rp 13.1M
44.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$277Rp 4.9M
$258Rp 4.6M
7.23%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.5
9.46
-20.72%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surabaya: September 15, 2026
Last update for Cimahi: September 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Surabaya and $218 in Cimahi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Surabaya pays 7% 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 $14.00 in Cimahi. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $193, with Cimahi 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 Cimahi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Surabaya or Cimahi?
Cimahi wins on cost – living expenses run 13% 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 7% 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: $282 in Surabaya versus $218 in Cimahi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Surabaya or in Cimahi?
Supermarket bills run roughly 10% higher in Surabaya. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Surabaya compared to Cimahi?
All in, you'll spend $676 per month in Surabaya versus $597 in Cimahi – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
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 $597 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 13% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.