🙂A single person spends $702 per month in Surabaya vs $2,348 in Houma, LA, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,117 per month in Surabaya vs $3,412 in Houma, LA, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,532 per month in Surabaya vs $4,476 in Houma, LA, rent included.
🙂Surabaya is about 70% cheaper than Houma, LA, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Surabaya sits 47% below the global median, while Houma, LA is 76% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.58Rp 28.4K
$14.84$14.84
-89.35%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.11Rp 217.6K
$50.6$50.6
-76.06%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.05Rp 54.9K
$10.08$10.08
-69.74%
Cappuccino
$1.80Rp 32.4K
$5.57$5.57
-67.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64Rp 11.5K
$2.01$2.01
-68.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,048
$1.94$1.94
-85.57%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40Rp 43.2K
$3.08$3.08
-22.08%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09Rp 73.5K
$4.82$4.82
-15.15%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38Rp 24.7K
$1.12$1.12
23.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$2.95$2.95
-49.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94Rp 17.0K
$2.37$2.37
-60.34%
Eggs
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$1.71$1.71
-12.28%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.24Rp 166.1K
$10.24$10.24
-9.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.19Rp 57.3K
$11.08$11.08
-71.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.13Rp 146.0K
$15.03$15.03
-45.91%
Apples(1kg)
$2.41Rp 43.3K
$5.43$5.43
-55.62%
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 28.1K
$1.27$1.27
22.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.5K
$5.07$5.07
-56.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50Rp 27.0K
$3.94$3.94
-61.93%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.8K
$2.18$2.18
-38.99%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73Rp 31.1K
$2.67$2.67
-35.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19Rp 21.4K
$2.06$2.06
-42.23%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,091
$1.86$1.86
-75.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.45Rp 44.1K
$8.96$8.96
-72.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.13Rp 451.6K
$13.18$13.18
90.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86Rp 33.5K
$1.91$1.91
-2.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31Rp 59.5K
$2.86$2.86
15.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44Rp 7,860
$2.02$2.02
-78.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.48Rp 170.4K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,592
$4.06$4.06
-88.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,615
$1.25$1.25
-75.20%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.73Rp 49.1K
$61.0$61.0
-95.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86Rp 15.4K
$0.78$0.78
10.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5KRp 368.6M
$37.0K$37.0K
-44.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KRp 629.7M
$24.8K$24.8K
41.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0Rp 1.5M
$136$136
-38.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.31Rp 77.5K
$43.65$43.65
-90.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.61Rp 352.5K
$46.73$46.73
-58.04%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.82Rp 392.2K
$27.07$27.07
-19.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.59Rp 82.6K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.87Rp 51.7K
$12.16$12.16
-76.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186Rp 3.3M
$1,279$1,279
-85.47%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,556Rp 171.7M
$10.0K$10.0K
-4.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9Rp 1.1M
$36.29$36.29
73.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.85Rp 698.2K
$42.80$42.80
-9.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.8Rp 1.4M
$71.5$71.5
8.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.1Rp 1.5M
$78.1$78.1
6.51%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.4M
$1,055$1,055
-76.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$136Rp 2.4M
$1,376$1,376
-90.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$792Rp 14.2M
$2,640$2,640
-69.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$399Rp 7.2M
$2,224$2,224
-82.07%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,202Rp 39.6M
$1,450$1,450
51.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,045Rp 18.8M
$1,477$1,477
-29.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$269Rp 4.8M
$3,745$3,745
-92.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
6.61
26.02%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surabaya: July 11, 2026
Last update for Houma, LA: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Surabaya versus $1,055 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 1292% 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 $12.00 in Surabaya versus $51.0 in Houma, LA. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $228 vs $347 – making Surabaya the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 234%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,054 per month in Surabaya and $3,521 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 $702 in Surabaya and $2,348 in Houma, LA. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $186 per month in Surabaya and $1,279 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 $702, than in Houma, LA at $2,348. 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.