😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $700 in Surabaya versus $629 in Cimahi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,117 in Surabaya versus $960 in Cimahi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,535 in Surabaya versus $1,291 in Cimahi.
😐Living in Surabaya is roughly 11% more expensive than Cimahi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya48% lower, Cimahi53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52Rp 27.3K
$1.27Rp 22.8K
19.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.46Rp 223.3K
$9.19Rp 164.7K
35.58%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.13Rp 56.1K
$3.39Rp 60.8K
-7.67%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 31.1K
$1.55Rp 27.8K
12.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66Rp 11.8K
$0.49Rp 8,739
34.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,017
$0.25Rp 4,436
12.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50Rp 44.7K
$2.78Rp 49.8K
-10.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92Rp 70.2K
$3.63Rp 65.0K
7.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42Rp 25.5K
$1.17Rp 20.9K
21.37%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$1.10Rp 19.7K
36.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.7K
$0.87Rp 15.6K
6.90%
Eggs
$1.50Rp 26.8K
$1.60Rp 28.7K
-6.25%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.31Rp 166.7K
$6.62Rp 118.7K
40.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17Rp 56.9K
$2.99Rp 53.5K
6.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.19Rp 146.8K
$7.52Rp 134.7K
8.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40Rp 43.0K
$2.39Rp 42.9K
0.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 26.8K
$1.29Rp 23.2K
16.28%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17Rp 38.8K
$1.71Rp 30.6K
26.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.4K
$1.56Rp 28.0K
-8.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 24.7K
$1.48Rp 26.5K
-6.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78Rp 31.9K
$2.62Rp 46.9K
-32.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16Rp 20.7K
$0.95Rp 17.0K
22.11%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,099
$0.43Rp 7,629
4.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44Rp 43.7K
$2.52Rp 45.1K
-3.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.54Rp 439.7K
$21.32Rp 382.0K
15.10%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83Rp 32.8K
$2.02Rp 36.1K
-9.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27Rp 58.6K
$3.18Rp 57.1K
2.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47Rp 8,495
$0.32Rp 5,802
46.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.14Rp 163.8K
$10.10Rp 181.0K
-9.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47Rp 8,431
$0.54Rp 9,601
-12.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,569
$0.37Rp 6,703
-16.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.75Rp 49.3K
$2.55Rp 45.6K
7.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87Rp 15.6K
$0.76Rp 13.7K
14.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KRp 373.4M
$24.2KRp 433.6M
-13.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KRp 624.7M
$25.8KRp 461.5M
35.37%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.9Rp 1.5M
$44.30Rp 793.8K
89.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.10Rp 73.5K
$4.55Rp 81.5K
-9.89%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.83Rp 355.3K
$22.74Rp 407.4K
-12.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.93Rp 393.0K
$23.21Rp 415.8K
-5.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.44Rp 79.5K
$6.26Rp 112.2K
-29.07%
Cinema Ticket
$2.96Rp 53.0K
$3.02Rp 54.1K
-1.99%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$192Rp 3.4M
$93.4Rp 1.7M
105.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,350Rp 167.5M
$7,733Rp 138.5M
20.91%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9Rp 1.1M
$42.42Rp 759.9K
48.18%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.45Rp 706.8K
$31.25Rp 559.9K
26.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$59.1Rp 1.1M
31.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0Rp 1.5M
$64.5Rp 1.2M
27.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.4M
$260Rp 4.7M
-6.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.4M
$155Rp 2.8M
-12.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$762Rp 13.7M
$582Rp 10.4M
30.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389Rp 7.0M
$338Rp 6.1M
15.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,223Rp 39.8M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,057Rp 18.9M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$269Rp 4.8M
$250Rp 4.5M
7.43%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Cimahi: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Surabaya and $260 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 $9.00 in Cimahi for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $227 vs $202 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 11% 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 Cimahi?
Surabaya pays 7% more on average, 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 vs Cimahi?
Rent for a central apartment: $244 in Surabaya versus $260 in Cimahi. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Surabaya vs Cimahi?
A monthly transit pass in Cimahi runs roughly 11% 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 Cimahi?
Childcare runs $192 in Surabaya versus $93.4 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 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 $629 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 11% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.