🙂A single person spends $687 per month in Surabaya vs $743 in Cirebon, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,113 per month in Surabaya vs $1,150 in Cirebon, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,540 per month in Surabaya vs $1,557 in Cirebon, rent included.
🙂Surabaya is about 7% cheaper than Cirebon, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Surabaya and Cirebon are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya49% lower, Cirebon44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.58Rp 28.3K
$2.98Rp 53.4K
-46.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.41Rp 222.6K
$18.55Rp 332.8K
-33.10%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.09Rp 55.4K
$3.15Rp 56.4K
-1.90%
Cappuccino
$1.78Rp 32.0K
$2.15Rp 38.5K
-17.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.61Rp 10.9K
$0.27Rp 4,792
125.93%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,043
$0.26Rp 4,619
7.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.52Rp 45.2K
$2.78Rp 49.9K
-9.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91Rp 70.2K
$4.22Rp 75.7K
-7.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38Rp 24.7K
$1.13Rp 20.3K
22.12%
White Bread(500g)
$1.45Rp 26.0K
$1.10Rp 19.7K
31.82%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94Rp 16.8K
$1.00Rp 17.9K
-6.00%
Eggs
$1.52Rp 27.3K
$1.79Rp 32.1K
-15.08%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.26Rp 166.1K
$6.53Rp 117.0K
41.81%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.34Rp 59.9K
$3.24Rp 58.2K
3.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.17Rp 146.5K
$7.66Rp 137.4K
6.66%
Apples(1kg)
$2.29Rp 41.1K
$2.85Rp 51.1K
-19.65%
Banana(1kg)
$1.55Rp 27.8K
$1.62Rp 29.0K
-4.32%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19Rp 39.3K
$2.19Rp 39.3K
-
Tomato(1kg)
$1.45Rp 26.0K
$1.56Rp 27.9K
-7.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 24.7K
$0.93Rp 16.7K
48.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78Rp 32.0K
$2.63Rp 47.2K
-32.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15Rp 20.7K
$1.05Rp 18.9K
9.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,244
$0.46Rp 8,285
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54Rp 45.6K
$3.09Rp 55.4K
-17.80%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.47Rp 456.8K
$21.60Rp 387.4K
17.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.80Rp 32.3K
$2.23Rp 39.9K
-19.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27Rp 58.7K
$3.23Rp 57.9K
1.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47Rp 8,500
$0.32Rp 5,787
46.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.17Rp 164.5K
$9.71Rp 174.2K
-5.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,993
$0.54Rp 9,606
-16.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,573
$0.35Rp 6,239
-11.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.70Rp 48.4K
$3.08Rp 55.3K
-12.34%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82Rp 14.6K
$0.80Rp 14.4K
2.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9KRp 375.5M
$30.8KRp 553.1M
-32.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KRp 625.3M
$33.2KRp 595.9M
4.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.2Rp 1.5M
$92.8Rp 1.7M
-10.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.12Rp 74.0K
$6.75Rp 121.1K
-38.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.34Rp 346.8K
$26.98Rp 483.9K
-28.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.77Rp 390.4K
$23.12Rp 414.6K
-5.84%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.46Rp 79.9K
$6.04Rp 108.3K
-26.16%
Cinema Ticket
$2.89Rp 51.9K
$3.09Rp 55.4K
-6.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186Rp 3.3M
$93.2Rp 1.7M
99.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,359Rp 167.9M
$9,686Rp 173.7M
-3.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.0Rp 1.1M
$55.9Rp 1.0M
9.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.67Rp 693.5K
$33.46Rp 600.0K
15.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.0Rp 1.4M
$82.7Rp 1.5M
-6.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.2Rp 1.5M
$89.7Rp 1.6M
-8.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$248Rp 4.4M
$258Rp 4.6M
-3.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$134Rp 2.4M
$161Rp 2.9M
-16.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$784Rp 14.1M
$584Rp 10.5M
34.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$402Rp 7.2M
$332Rp 6.0M
21.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,205Rp 39.6M
$1,300Rp 23.3M
69.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,058Rp 19.0M
$763Rp 13.7M
38.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Cirebon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$268Rp 4.8M
$165Rp 3.0M
62.52%
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: July 21, 2026
Last update for Cirebon: July 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $248 in Surabaya versus $258 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 63% 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 $19.00 in Cirebon. Groceries tell a different story – $228 in Surabaya vs $211 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 8% more than Surabaya, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. 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 $1,031 per month in Surabaya and $1,115 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 compared to Cirebon?
Public transport costs about 6% less in Surabaya. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Surabaya and in Cirebon?
Kindergarten costs $186 per month in Surabaya and $93.2 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 $687 in Surabaya and $743 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.