🙂A single person spends $692 per month in Surabaya vs $722 in Cirebon, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,196 per month in Surabaya vs $1,145 in Cirebon, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,700 per month in Surabaya vs $1,568 in Cirebon, rent included.
🙂Surabaya is about 4% cheaper than Cirebon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Surabaya and Cirebon are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya50% lower, Cirebon48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.73Rp 30.5K
$2.50Rp 44.1K
-30.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.58Rp 204.0K
$16.74Rp 294.9K
-30.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.14Rp 55.3K
$3.29Rp 58.0K
-4.56%
Cappuccino
$1.59Rp 28.0K
$2.00Rp 35.2K
-20.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57Rp 10.1K
$0.45Rp 7,945
26.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,557
$0.27Rp 4,759
-3.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.31Rp 40.7K
$2.65Rp 46.6K
-12.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30Rp 75.8K
$4.06Rp 71.5K
5.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 21.4K
$1.01Rp 17.7K
20.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30Rp 23.0K
$1.14Rp 20.2K
14.04%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.84Rp 14.7K
$0.87Rp 15.3K
-3.45%
Eggs
$1.21Rp 21.3K
$1.74Rp 30.7K
-30.46%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.90Rp 139.2K
$9.76Rp 171.8K
-19.06%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.97Rp 52.3K
$3.13Rp 55.2K
-5.11%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60Rp 133.8K
$7.97Rp 140.3K
-4.64%
Apples(1kg)
$2.13Rp 37.5K
$2.93Rp 51.6K
-27.30%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.4K
$1.33Rp 23.5K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85Rp 32.6K
$2.64Rp 46.5K
-29.92%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.6K
$1.37Rp 24.1K
13.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34Rp 23.6K
$1.37Rp 24.1K
-2.19%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00Rp 35.2K
$2.21Rp 38.9K
-9.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97Rp 17.0K
$0.96Rp 17.0K
1.04%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,651
$0.51Rp 9,068
-15.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04Rp 35.9K
$2.78Rp 49.0K
-26.62%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.91Rp 456.3K
$21.33Rp 375.8K
21.47%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 30.8K
$2.11Rp 37.1K
-17.06%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03Rp 53.4K
$3.11Rp 54.7K
-2.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33Rp 5,734
$0.29Rp 5,128
13.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,413
$0.48Rp 8,536
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46Rp 8,178
$0.33Rp 5,766
39.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.73Rp 48.0K
$3.31Rp 58.2K
-17.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.2K
$0.82Rp 14.5K
-1.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KRp 446.5M
$28.4KRp 500.5M
-10.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7KRp 575.4M
$34.0KRp 599.5M
-4.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.2Rp 1.6M
$110Rp 1.9M
-18.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.62Rp 81.4K
$5.90Rp 104.0K
-21.69%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.75Rp 347.9K
$19.51Rp 343.6K
1.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.50Rp 325.9K
$19.82Rp 349.2K
-6.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.79Rp 119.6K
$8.25Rp 145.4K
-17.70%
Cinema Ticket
$2.71Rp 47.7K
$3.49Rp 61.5K
-22.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$278Rp 4.9M
$154Rp 2.7M
80.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,802Rp 172.6M
$8,445Rp 148.7M
16.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.7Rp 1.3M
$58.9Rp 1.0M
23.45%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.01Rp 704.8K
$29.62Rp 521.8K
35.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.2Rp 1.4M
$72.1Rp 1.3M
13.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4Rp 1.3M
$105Rp 1.9M
-27.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$290Rp 5.1M
$222Rp 3.9M
30.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$150Rp 2.6M
$156Rp 2.7M
-4.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,277Rp 22.5M
$570Rp 10.0M
124.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$607Rp 10.7M
$363Rp 6.4M
67.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,202Rp 38.8M
$1,197Rp 21.1M
83.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,066Rp 18.8M
$672Rp 11.8M
58.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$279Rp 4.9M
$167Rp 2.9M
66.86%
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 5, 2026
Last update for Cirebon: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $290 in Surabaya versus $222 in Cirebon. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 67% higher in Surabaya, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya versus $17.00 in Cirebon. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $212 vs $219 – making Surabaya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Cirebon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Surabaya or Cirebon?
Cirebon costs about 4% more than Surabaya, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Surabaya and in Cirebon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,038 per month in Surabaya and $1,083 in Cirebon. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Surabaya or Cirebon?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Surabaya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Surabaya compared to Cirebon?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $692 in Surabaya and $722 in Cirebon. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Surabaya and in Cirebon?
Kindergarten costs $278 per month in Surabaya and $154 in Cirebon. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Surabaya or in Cirebon?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $692 in Surabaya and $722 in Cirebon, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Surabaya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Surabaya or to Cirebon?
If budget matters most, go with Surabaya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cirebon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.