🙂A single person spends $700 per month in Surabaya vs $746 in Cirebon, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,117 per month in Surabaya vs $1,150 in Cirebon, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,535 per month in Surabaya vs $1,554 in Cirebon, rent included.
🙂Surabaya is about 6% cheaper than Cirebon, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Surabaya and Cirebon are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya48% lower, Cirebon44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52Rp 27.7K
$3.09Rp 56.1K
-50.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.46Rp 226.0K
$18.07Rp 327.8K
-31.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.13Rp 56.8K
$2.98Rp 54.1K
5.03%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 31.5K
$2.16Rp 39.2K
-19.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66Rp 11.9K
$0.27Rp 4,878
144.44%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,079
$0.26Rp 4,681
7.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50Rp 45.3K
$2.74Rp 49.8K
-8.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92Rp 71.1K
$4.26Rp 77.3K
-7.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42Rp 25.8K
$1.10Rp 19.9K
29.09%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50Rp 27.2K
$1.10Rp 19.9K
36.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.9K
$1.03Rp 18.7K
-9.71%
Eggs
$1.50Rp 27.2K
$1.85Rp 33.6K
-18.92%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.31Rp 168.8K
$6.59Rp 119.5K
41.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17Rp 57.6K
$3.11Rp 56.4K
1.93%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.19Rp 148.6K
$7.73Rp 140.2K
5.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40Rp 43.5K
$2.95Rp 53.4K
-18.64%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 27.1K
$1.60Rp 29.0K
-6.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17Rp 39.3K
$2.17Rp 39.4K
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.7K
$1.55Rp 28.2K
-8.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 25.0K
$0.95Rp 17.2K
45.26%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78Rp 32.3K
$2.62Rp 47.4K
-32.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16Rp 21.0K
$1.01Rp 18.3K
14.85%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,198
$0.42Rp 7,607
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44Rp 44.2K
$2.95Rp 53.5K
-17.29%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.54Rp 445.1K
$21.14Rp 383.3K
16.08%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83Rp 33.2K
$2.20Rp 39.9K
-16.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27Rp 59.3K
$3.18Rp 57.7K
2.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47Rp 8,599
$0.32Rp 5,811
46.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.14Rp 165.8K
$9.87Rp 179.0K
-7.40%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47Rp 8,534
$0.54Rp 9,785
-12.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,637
$0.34Rp 6,244
-8.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.75Rp 49.9K
$3.04Rp 55.1K
-9.54%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87Rp 15.8K
$0.77Rp 13.9K
12.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KRp 378.0M
$31.1KRp 563.6M
-32.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KRp 632.4M
$32.9KRp 595.9M
6.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.9Rp 1.5M
$90.9Rp 1.6M
-7.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.10Rp 74.4K
$6.54Rp 118.6K
-37.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.83Rp 359.7K
$26.87Rp 487.4K
-26.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.93Rp 397.8K
$22.95Rp 416.3K
-4.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.44Rp 80.5K
$6.13Rp 111.3K
-27.57%
Cinema Ticket
$2.96Rp 53.7K
$3.16Rp 57.3K
-6.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$192Rp 3.5M
$93.7Rp 1.7M
104.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,350Rp 169.6M
$9,861Rp 178.8M
-5.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9Rp 1.1M
$57.4Rp 1.0M
9.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.45Rp 715.5K
$32.98Rp 598.2K
19.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$82.2Rp 1.5M
-5.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0Rp 1.5M
$89.6Rp 1.6M
-8.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.4M
$260Rp 4.7M
-6.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.4M
$155Rp 2.8M
-13.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$762Rp 13.8M
$594Rp 10.8M
28.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389Rp 7.1M
$336Rp 6.1M
15.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,223Rp 40.3M
$1,162Rp 21.1M
91.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,057Rp 19.2M
$721Rp 13.1M
46.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$269Rp 4.9M
$167Rp 3.0M
60.61%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
9.59
-13.14%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surabaya: June 8, 2026
Last update for Cirebon: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Surabaya versus $260 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 61% 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 $18.00 in Cirebon. Groceries tell a different story – $227 in Surabaya vs $210 in Cirebon – so Cirebon wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 7% 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 vs Cirebon?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,050 per month in Surabaya and $1,119 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 expensive is transport in Surabaya vs Cirebon?
Public transport costs about 8% less in Surabaya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Surabaya and Cirebon?
Kindergarten costs $192 per month in Surabaya and $93.7 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 Cirebon?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $700 in Surabaya and $746 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 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.