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

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Surabaya 48% lower, Cirebon 44% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52 Rp 27.7K
$3.09 Rp 56.1K
-50.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.46 Rp 226.0K
$18.07 Rp 327.8K
-31.05%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.13 Rp 56.8K
$2.98 Rp 54.1K
5.03%
Cappuccino
$1.74 Rp 31.5K
$2.16 Rp 39.2K
-19.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 Rp 11.9K
$0.27 Rp 4,878
144.44%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 Rp 5,079
$0.26 Rp 4,681
7.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.50 Rp 45.3K
$2.74 Rp 49.8K
-8.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 Rp 71.1K
$4.26 Rp 77.3K
-7.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 Rp 25.8K
$1.10 Rp 19.9K
29.09%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 Rp 27.2K
$1.10 Rp 19.9K
36.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 Rp 16.9K
$1.03 Rp 18.7K
-9.71%
Eggs
$1.50 Rp 27.2K
$1.85 Rp 33.6K
-18.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.31 Rp 168.8K
$6.59 Rp 119.5K
41.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 Rp 57.6K
$3.11 Rp 56.4K
1.93%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.19 Rp 148.6K
$7.73 Rp 140.2K
5.95%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 Rp 43.5K
$2.95 Rp 53.4K
-18.64%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
$1.60 Rp 29.0K
-6.25%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 Rp 39.3K
$2.17 Rp 39.4K
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 Rp 25.7K
$1.55 Rp 28.2K
-8.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 Rp 25.0K
$0.95 Rp 17.2K
45.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.78 Rp 32.3K
$2.62 Rp 47.4K
-32.06%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 Rp 21.0K
$1.01 Rp 18.3K
14.85%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 8,198
$0.42 Rp 7,607
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 Rp 44.2K
$2.95 Rp 53.5K
-17.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.54 Rp 445.1K
$21.14 Rp 383.3K
16.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 Rp 33.2K
$2.20 Rp 39.9K
-16.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 Rp 59.3K
$3.18 Rp 57.7K
2.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 Rp 8,599
$0.32 Rp 5,811
46.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.14 Rp 165.8K
$9.87 Rp 179.0K
-7.40%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,534
$0.54 Rp 9,785
-12.96%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 Rp 5,637
$0.34 Rp 6,244
-8.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.75 Rp 49.9K
$3.04 Rp 55.1K
-9.54%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 Rp 15.8K
$0.77 Rp 13.9K
12.99%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K Rp 378.0M
$31.1K Rp 563.6M
-32.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K Rp 632.4M
$32.9K Rp 595.9M
6.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.9 Rp 1.5M
$90.9 Rp 1.6M
-7.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.10 Rp 74.4K
$6.54 Rp 118.6K
-37.31%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.83 Rp 359.7K
$26.87 Rp 487.4K
-26.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.93 Rp 397.8K
$22.95 Rp 416.3K
-4.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.44 Rp 80.5K
$6.13 Rp 111.3K
-27.57%
Cinema Ticket
$2.96 Rp 53.7K
$3.16 Rp 57.3K
-6.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$192 Rp 3.5M
$93.7 Rp 1.7M
104.55%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,350 Rp 169.6M
$9,861 Rp 178.8M
-5.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 Rp 1.1M
$57.4 Rp 1.0M
9.57%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.45 Rp 715.5K
$32.98 Rp 598.2K
19.62%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$82.2 Rp 1.5M
-5.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0 Rp 1.5M
$89.6 Rp 1.6M
-8.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$244 Rp 4.4M
$260 Rp 4.7M
-6.50%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$135 Rp 2.4M
$155 Rp 2.8M
-13.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$762 Rp 13.8M
$594 Rp 10.8M
28.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$389 Rp 7.1M
$336 Rp 6.1M
15.84%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,223 Rp 40.3M
$1,162 Rp 21.1M
91.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,057 Rp 19.2M
$721 Rp 13.1M
46.67%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$269 Rp 4.9M
$167 Rp 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.

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