😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $700 in Surabaya versus $635 in Gresik.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,117 in Surabaya versus $980 in Gresik.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,535 in Surabaya versus $1,326 in Gresik.
😐Living in Surabaya is roughly 10% more expensive than Gresik, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya48% lower, Gresik53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Gresik
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52Rp 27.4K
$1.26Rp 22.6K
20.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.46Rp 223.9K
$11.09Rp 199.3K
12.35%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.13Rp 56.3K
$2.98Rp 53.5K
5.03%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 31.2K
$1.45Rp 26.1K
20.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66Rp 11.8K
$0.39Rp 6,946
69.23%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,031
$0.16Rp 2,789
75.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50Rp 44.9K
$1.58Rp 28.4K
58.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92Rp 70.4K
$2.37Rp 42.6K
65.40%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Gresik
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42Rp 25.6K
$1.11Rp 19.9K
27.93%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$1.13Rp 20.4K
32.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.7K
$0.75Rp 13.4K
24.00%
Eggs
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$1.32Rp 23.7K
13.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.31Rp 167.2K
$8.85Rp 159.1K
5.20%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17Rp 57.0K
$3.10Rp 55.6K
2.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.19Rp 147.2K
$6.83Rp 122.7K
19.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40Rp 43.1K
$2.31Rp 41.5K
3.90%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$1.55Rp 27.8K
-3.23%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17Rp 39.0K
$2.12Rp 38.0K
2.36%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.5K
$1.47Rp 26.5K
-3.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 24.8K
$1.32Rp 23.7K
4.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78Rp 32.0K
$1.73Rp 31.0K
2.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16Rp 20.8K
$1.08Rp 19.5K
7.41%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,121
$0.38Rp 6,901
18.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44Rp 43.8K
$2.14Rp 38.4K
14.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.54Rp 440.9K
$11.32Rp 203.4K
116.78%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83Rp 32.9K
$1.20Rp 21.6K
52.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27Rp 58.7K
$2.38Rp 42.8K
37.39%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Gresik
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47Rp 8,518
$0.32Rp 5,785
46.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.14Rp 164.3K
$10.05Rp 180.6K
-9.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47Rp 8,454
$0.45Rp 7,996
4.44%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,585
$0.31Rp 5,575
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.75Rp 49.4K
$2.78Rp 49.9K
-1.08%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87Rp 15.6K
$0.63Rp 11.2K
38.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KRp 374.5M
$21.0KRp 376.7M
-0.59%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KRp 626.4M
$35.2KRp 631.9M
-0.87%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Gresik
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.9Rp 1.5M
$82.0Rp 1.5M
2.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.10Rp 73.7K
$4.17Rp 74.9K
-1.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.83Rp 356.3K
$19.78Rp 355.4K
0.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Gresik
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.93Rp 394.1K
$22.19Rp 398.6K
-1.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.44Rp 79.7K
$6.31Rp 113.4K
-29.64%
Cinema Ticket
$2.96Rp 53.2K
$2.39Rp 43.0K
23.85%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Gresik
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$192Rp 3.4M
$19.94Rp 358.2K
860.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,350Rp 168.0M
$9,463Rp 170.0M
-1.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Gresik
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9Rp 1.1M
$43.39Rp 779.6K
44.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.45Rp 708.8K
$24.58Rp 441.6K
60.50%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$74.3Rp 1.3M
4.74%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0Rp 1.5M
$68.8Rp 1.2M
19.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Gresik
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.4M
$260Rp 4.7M
-6.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.4M
$156Rp 2.8M
-13.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$762Rp 13.7M
$585Rp 10.5M
30.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389Rp 7.0M
$330Rp 5.9M
18.14%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,223Rp 39.9M
$1,021Rp 18.3M
117.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,057Rp 19.0M
$624Rp 11.2M
69.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Gresik
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$269Rp 4.8M
$177Rp 3.2M
52.31%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
8.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surabaya: June 8, 2026
Last update for Gresik: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Surabaya and $260 in Gresik. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Surabaya pays 52% 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 $11.00 in Gresik for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $227 vs $180 per month, with Gresik 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 Gresik: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gresik cheaper than Surabaya?
Gresik is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Surabaya or Gresik?
Surabaya pays 52% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Surabaya and Gresik?
Rent for a central apartment: $244 in Surabaya versus $260 in Gresik. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Surabaya and Gresik?
Supermarket bills run roughly 26% higher in Surabaya. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Surabaya or Gresik?
Dining out is cheaper in Gresik – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $12.00 in Surabaya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,000 enough for either Surabaya or Gresik?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Gresik gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Surabaya or Gresik?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Gresik gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.