😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $693 in Surabaya versus $637 in Cimahi.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,106 in Surabaya versus $974 in Cimahi.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Surabaya versus $1,312 in Cimahi.
😐Living in Surabaya is roughly 9% more expensive than Cimahi, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya48% lower, Cimahi52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.58Rp 27.4K
$1.26Rp 21.9K
25.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.16Rp 210.8K
$8.97Rp 155.5K
35.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.98Rp 51.7K
$3.34Rp 57.8K
-10.78%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 30.1K
$1.52Rp 26.3K
14.47%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65Rp 11.4K
$0.53Rp 9,116
22.64%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,460
$0.27Rp 4,708
-3.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 41.8K
$2.79Rp 48.3K
-13.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05Rp 70.3K
$3.43Rp 59.5K
18.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 25.0K
$1.21Rp 21.0K
19.01%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46Rp 25.2K
$1.12Rp 19.5K
30.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01Rp 17.4K
$0.93Rp 16.2K
8.60%
Eggs
$1.46Rp 25.3K
$1.54Rp 26.8K
-5.19%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.39Rp 162.7K
$6.63Rp 114.9K
41.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.31Rp 57.4K
$3.12Rp 54.1K
6.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.24Rp 142.9K
$7.55Rp 130.9K
9.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30Rp 39.9K
$2.37Rp 41.1K
-2.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 26.2K
$1.29Rp 22.4K
17.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13Rp 36.9K
$1.65Rp 28.6K
29.09%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49Rp 25.9K
$1.52Rp 26.3K
-1.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.0K
$1.46Rp 25.3K
-8.90%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81Rp 31.3K
$2.55Rp 44.2K
-29.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20Rp 20.9K
$0.95Rp 16.5K
26.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,874
$0.42Rp 7,336
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55Rp 44.3K
$2.59Rp 44.9K
-1.54%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.75Rp 446.3K
$22.54Rp 390.7K
14.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85Rp 32.0K
$2.04Rp 35.3K
-9.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14Rp 54.4K
$3.22Rp 55.8K
-2.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48Rp 8,241
$0.32Rp 5,626
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.24Rp 160.1K
$9.63Rp 167.0K
-4.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,715
$0.54Rp 9,291
-16.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,453
$0.35Rp 6,065
-11.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.72Rp 47.2K
$2.59Rp 44.9K
5.02%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 14.7K
$0.78Rp 13.5K
8.97%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KRp 364.5M
$24.4KRp 423.3M
-13.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KRp 619.1M
$25.5KRp 441.5M
40.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.8Rp 1.5M
$44.37Rp 769.0K
88.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.29Rp 74.3K
$4.63Rp 80.2K
-7.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.62Rp 340.1K
$23.04Rp 399.4K
-14.84%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.80Rp 377.9K
$23.43Rp 406.1K
-6.96%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.42Rp 76.5K
$5.97Rp 103.5K
-25.96%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98Rp 51.7K
$3.09Rp 53.6K
-3.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186Rp 3.2M
$93.7Rp 1.6M
98.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,464Rp 164.0M
$7,730Rp 134.0M
22.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8Rp 1.1M
$41.59Rp 720.9K
50.90%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.18Rp 679.1K
$30.49Rp 528.4K
28.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.0Rp 1.4M
$59.7Rp 1.0M
30.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.3Rp 1.4M
$65.3Rp 1.1M
26.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.2M
$262Rp 4.5M
-6.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.3M
$157Rp 2.7M
-14.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$790Rp 13.7M
$591Rp 10.2M
33.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394Rp 6.8M
$340Rp 5.9M
15.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,262Rp 39.2M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,122Rp 19.4M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Cimahi
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$302Rp 5.2M
$266Rp 4.6M
13.84%
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Cimahi: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Surabaya and $262 in Cimahi. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Surabaya pays 14% 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 $230 vs $205 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 9% 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 14% 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 $262 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 4% 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 $186 in Surabaya versus $93.7 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 $637 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 9% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.