Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Cirebon Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Cirebon

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Surabaya 50% lower, Cirebon 48% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.73 Rp 30.5K
$2.50 Rp 44.1K
-30.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.58 Rp 204.0K
$16.74 Rp 294.9K
-30.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.14 Rp 55.3K
$3.29 Rp 58.0K
-4.56%
Cappuccino
$1.59 Rp 28.0K
$2.00 Rp 35.2K
-20.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 Rp 10.1K
$0.45 Rp 7,945
26.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 Rp 4,557
$0.27 Rp 4,759
-3.70%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.31 Rp 40.7K
$2.65 Rp 46.6K
-12.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 75.8K
$4.06 Rp 71.5K
5.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 Rp 21.4K
$1.01 Rp 17.7K
20.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 Rp 23.0K
$1.14 Rp 20.2K
14.04%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.84 Rp 14.7K
$0.87 Rp 15.3K
-3.45%
Eggs
$1.21 Rp 21.3K
$1.74 Rp 30.7K
-30.46%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.90 Rp 139.2K
$9.76 Rp 171.8K
-19.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.97 Rp 52.3K
$3.13 Rp 55.2K
-5.11%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 Rp 133.8K
$7.97 Rp 140.3K
-4.64%
Apples (1kg)
$2.13 Rp 37.5K
$2.93 Rp 51.6K
-27.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 Rp 23.4K
$1.33 Rp 23.5K
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 32.6K
$2.64 Rp 46.5K
-29.92%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.6K
$1.37 Rp 24.1K
13.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 Rp 23.6K
$1.37 Rp 24.1K
-2.19%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.2K
$2.21 Rp 38.9K
-9.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 Rp 17.0K
$0.96 Rp 17.0K
1.04%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 Rp 7,651
$0.51 Rp 9,068
-15.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04 Rp 35.9K
$2.78 Rp 49.0K
-26.62%
Wine (Bottle)
$25.91 Rp 456.3K
$21.33 Rp 375.8K
21.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
$2.11 Rp 37.1K
-17.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 Rp 53.4K
$3.11 Rp 54.7K
-2.57%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 Rp 5,734
$0.29 Rp 5,128
13.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,413
$0.48 Rp 8,536
-
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,178
$0.33 Rp 5,766
39.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 Rp 48.0K
$3.31 Rp 58.2K
-17.52%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
$0.82 Rp 14.5K
-1.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K Rp 446.5M
$28.4K Rp 500.5M
-10.79%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K Rp 575.4M
$34.0K Rp 599.5M
-4.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.2 Rp 1.6M
$110 Rp 1.9M
-18.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.62 Rp 81.4K
$5.90 Rp 104.0K
-21.69%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.75 Rp 347.9K
$19.51 Rp 343.6K
1.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.50 Rp 325.9K
$19.82 Rp 349.2K
-6.66%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.79 Rp 119.6K
$8.25 Rp 145.4K
-17.70%
Cinema Ticket
$2.71 Rp 47.7K
$3.49 Rp 61.5K
-22.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$278 Rp 4.9M
$154 Rp 2.7M
80.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,802 Rp 172.6M
$8,445 Rp 148.7M
16.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.7 Rp 1.3M
$58.9 Rp 1.0M
23.45%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.01 Rp 704.8K
$29.62 Rp 521.8K
35.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.2 Rp 1.4M
$72.1 Rp 1.3M
13.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.3M
$105 Rp 1.9M
-27.39%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$290 Rp 5.1M
$222 Rp 3.9M
30.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$150 Rp 2.6M
$156 Rp 2.7M
-4.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 Rp 22.5M
$570 Rp 10.0M
124.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$607 Rp 10.7M
$363 Rp 6.4M
67.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,202 Rp 38.8M
$1,197 Rp 21.1M
83.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,066 Rp 18.8M
$672 Rp 11.8M
58.56%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$279 Rp 4.9M
$167 Rp 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.

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