Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Denpasar, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Denpasar, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $702 in Surabaya versus $942 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,117 in Surabaya versus $1,637 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,532 in Surabaya versus $2,331 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Surabaya costs roughly 25% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Sport & Entertainment.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya 47% lower, Denpasar, Bali 29% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.58 Rp 28.4K

$2.38 Rp 42.8K

-33.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.11 Rp 217.6K

$21.21 Rp 381.2K

-42.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.05 Rp 54.9K

$3.39 Rp 61.0K

-10.03%

Cappuccino

$1.80 Rp 32.4K

$1.87 Rp 33.6K

-3.74%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.64 Rp 11.5K

$0.86 Rp 15.5K

-25.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 5,048

$0.49 Rp 8,825

-42.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 Rp 43.2K

$2.02 Rp 36.3K

18.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 Rp 73.5K

$2.54 Rp 45.7K

61.02%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

$1.42 Rp 25.5K

-2.82%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

$2.07 Rp 37.2K

-27.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 Rp 17.0K

$0.99 Rp 17.9K

-5.05%

Eggs

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

$1.96 Rp 35.2K

-23.47%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.24 Rp 166.1K

$11.90 Rp 213.8K

-22.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 Rp 57.3K

$3.50 Rp 62.9K

-8.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.13 Rp 146.0K

$9.90 Rp 177.9K

-17.88%

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 Rp 43.3K

$3.12 Rp 56.1K

-22.76%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

$1.29 Rp 23.3K

20.93%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.5K

$2.28 Rp 41.0K

-3.51%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 27.0K

$1.83 Rp 32.9K

-18.03%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 Rp 23.8K

$1.55 Rp 27.9K

-14.19%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 Rp 31.1K

$1.85 Rp 33.2K

-6.49%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 Rp 21.4K

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

45.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 8,091

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

-27.42%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 Rp 44.1K

$2.65 Rp 47.6K

-7.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.13 Rp 451.6K

$18.39 Rp 330.6K

36.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 Rp 33.5K

$2.35 Rp 42.3K

-20.85%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 Rp 59.5K

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

47.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 Rp 7,860

$0.26 Rp 4,703

69.23%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.48 Rp 170.4K

$7.41 Rp 133.2K

27.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,592

$0.44 Rp 7,871

9.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,615

$0.38 Rp 6,863

-18.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 Rp 49.1K

$5.43 Rp 97.6K

-49.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

19.44%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.5K Rp 368.6M

$23.1K Rp 414.3M

-11.02%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.0K Rp 629.7M

$28.6K Rp 513.4M

22.67%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

13.83%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.31 Rp 77.5K

$3.72 Rp 66.9K

15.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.61 Rp 352.5K

$21.15 Rp 380.1K

-7.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.82 Rp 392.2K

$68.2 Rp 1.2M

-67.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.59 Rp 82.6K

$4.71 Rp 84.6K

-2.55%

Cinema Ticket

$2.87 Rp 51.7K

$2.81 Rp 50.6K

2.14%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$186 Rp 3.3M

$233 Rp 4.2M

-20.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,556 Rp 171.7M

$5,136 Rp 92.3M

86.05%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 Rp 1.1M

$46.35 Rp 832.9K

35.71%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.85 Rp 698.2K

$32.50 Rp 584.0K

19.54%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 Rp 1.4M

$75.6 Rp 1.4M

2.96%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.1 Rp 1.5M

$65.5 Rp 1.2M

26.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$244 Rp 4.4M

$528 Rp 9.5M

-53.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 Rp 2.4M

$356 Rp 6.4M

-61.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 Rp 14.2M

$1,791 Rp 32.2M

-55.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$399 Rp 7.2M

$1,090 Rp 19.6M

-63.41%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,202 Rp 39.6M

$1,415 Rp 25.4M

55.64%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,045 Rp 18.8M

$1,164 Rp 20.9M

-10.20%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 Rp 4.8M

$278 Rp 5.0M

-3.06%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.33

13.28

-37.27%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Surabaya: July 11, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Surabaya and $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 3% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $12.00 in Surabaya vs $21.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 vs $243 per month, with Surabaya cheaper across the board.

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 Denpasar, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Surabaya and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($702 vs $942 including rent). Surabaya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 3% lower in Denpasar, Bali. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $244 in Surabaya versus $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $702 per month in Surabaya versus $942 in Denpasar, Bali – a 34% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Surabaya runs roughly 28% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Surabaya gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Surabaya and Denpasar, Bali are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Surabaya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.