Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Houma, LA

For one person, living is cheaper in Surabaya: $674 a month against $2,055 in Houma, LA, rent and utilities included – about $16,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Surabaya
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$674
/mo nomad
Houma, LA
🇺🇸 United States
$2,055
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Surabaya and in Houma, LA

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Surabaya and in Houma, LA actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $674 per month in Surabaya vs $2,055 in Houma, LA, rent included.

  • Surabaya $674
  • Houma, LA $2,055

A couple spends around $1,173 per month in Surabaya vs $3,001 in Houma, LA, rent included.

  • Surabaya $1,173
  • Houma, LA $3,001

A family of three spends $1,672 per month in Surabaya vs $3,947 in Houma, LA, rent included.

  • Surabaya $1,672
  • Houma, LA $3,947

Surabaya is about 67% cheaper than Houma, LA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Surabaya sits 50% below the global median, while Houma, LA is 52% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.63 Rp 29.3K
$19.60 $19.60
-91.68%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.26 Rp 202.7K
$50.2 $50.2
-77.59%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.14 Rp 56.5K
$11.82 $11.82
-73.43%
Cappuccino
$1.56 Rp 28.0K
$5.28 $5.28
-70.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,867
$2.22 $2.22
-75.23%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 Rp 4,619
$1.66 $1.66
-84.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 Rp 38.9K
$3.07 $3.07
-29.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14 Rp 74.5K
$4.99 $4.99
-17.03%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 Rp 22.5K
$1.13 $1.13
10.62%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 Rp 22.9K
$3.79 $3.79
-66.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$4.96 $4.96
-83.27%
Eggs
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$1.72 $1.72
-31.40%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.75 Rp 139.4K
$10.47 $10.47
-25.98%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.08 Rp 55.5K
$10.28 $10.28
-70.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.75 Rp 139.4K
$14.82 $14.82
-47.71%
Apples (1kg)
$2.02 Rp 36.3K
$5.16 $5.16
-60.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 Rp 23.2K
$1.30 $1.30
-0.77%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 Rp 34.0K
$5.44 $5.44
-65.26%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 Rp 26.9K
$4.07 $4.07
-63.39%
Potato (1kg)
$1.36 Rp 24.4K
$2.10 $2.10
-35.24%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 34.2K
$3.15 $3.15
-39.68%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 Rp 16.0K
$1.96 $1.96
-54.59%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 Rp 7,029
$2.63 $2.63
-85.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
$8.54 $8.54
-76.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$25.14 Rp 452.5K
$12.97 $12.97
93.83%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 Rp 31.3K
$2.45 $2.45
-28.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 Rp 50.9K
$3.82 $3.82
-25.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 Rp 6,237
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,282
$3.40 $3.40
-86.47%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,542
$1.52 $1.52
-72.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.58 Rp 46.4K
$34.69 $34.69
-92.56%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 Rp 15.8K
$0.91 $0.91
-3.30%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 443.1M
$33.1K $33.1K
-25.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K Rp 581.0M
$26.7K $26.7K
20.68%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.3 Rp 1.6M
$153 $153
-42.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.57 Rp 82.2K
$72.6 $72.6
-93.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.05 Rp 342.9K
$47.20 $47.20
-59.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.92 Rp 322.6K
$27.68 $27.68
-35.26%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66 Rp 119.9K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.64 Rp 47.5K
$12.57 $12.57
-79.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$277 Rp 5.0M
$1,548 $1,548
-82.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,324 Rp 167.8M
$10.1K $10.1K
-7.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.9 Rp 1.3M
$56.3 $56.3
25.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.58 Rp 694.4K
$43.72 $43.72
-11.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.8 Rp 1.5M
$88.0 $88.0
-8.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1 Rp 1.4M
$120 $120
-37.57%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$282 Rp 5.1M
$1,075 $1,075
-73.72%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$144 Rp 2.6M
$907 $907
-84.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,238 Rp 22.3M
$1,584 $1,584
-21.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$601 Rp 10.8M
$1,457 $1,457
-58.76%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,161 Rp 38.9M
$1,462 $1,462
47.79%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,072 Rp 19.3M
$1,473 $1,473
-27.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$271 Rp 4.9M
$3,692 $3,692
-92.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.5
4
87.50%

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

Last update for Surabaya: October 20, 2026

Last update for Houma, LA: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
$209
Houma, LA
$377 80.5% $168
Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
$144
Houma, LA
$907 529% $763
Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
$119
Houma, LA
$139 16.2% $19
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
$111
Houma, LA
$272 146% $161
Eating Out
Surabaya
$63
Houma, LA
$297 368% $233
Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
$23
Houma, LA
$53 128% $30
Getting Around
Surabaya
$3.9 *
Houma, LA
$11 * 179% $7.1

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $282 in Surabaya versus $1,075 in Houma, LA. 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 1265% higher in Houma, LA, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Surabaya versus $50.0 in Houma, LA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $209 vs $377 – making Surabaya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Surabaya
🇺🇸 Houma, LA
🕒 Local time
21:23 9:23 PM
09:23 9:23 AM
12 h behind Surabaya
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,765,487
32,657
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Surabaya Houma, LA 16,520 km ≈ 21 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Surabaya
  • Houma, LA

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Houma, LA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Houma, LA cheaper than Surabaya?
Yes – Houma, LA is pricier by about 205%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in eating out.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,011 per month in Surabaya and $3,083 in Houma, LA. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Surabaya and in Houma, LA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $674 in Surabaya and $2,055 in Houma, LA. That's a gap of about 205%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $277 per month in Surabaya and $1,548 in Houma, LA. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Surabaya or in Houma, LA?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surabaya, where all-in costs run around $674, than in Houma, LA at $2,055. In Surabaya it covers expenses comfortably, while in Houma, LA it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Surabaya or Houma, LA more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Surabaya or Houma, LA?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Surabaya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Houma, LA makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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