🙂A single person spends $708 per month in Surabaya vs $2,323 in Houma, LA, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,133 per month in Surabaya vs $3,372 in Houma, LA, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,557 per month in Surabaya vs $4,422 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 73% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52Rp 27.4K
$14.91$14.91
-89.81%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.12Rp 218.6K
$50.6$50.6
-76.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.13Rp 56.4K
$10.19$10.19
-69.28%
Cappuccino
$1.82Rp 32.7K
$5.55$5.55
-67.21%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60Rp 10.8K
$1.98$1.98
-69.70%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,648
$2.05$2.05
-87.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 43.5K
$3.21$3.21
-24.92%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02Rp 72.4K
$4.74$4.74
-15.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38Rp 25.0K
$1.12$1.12
23.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46Rp 26.3K
$3.04$3.04
-51.97%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.8K
$2.39$2.39
-61.09%
Eggs
$1.44Rp 26.0K
$1.71$1.71
-15.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.04Rp 163.1K
$10.41$10.41
-13.16%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.29Rp 59.4K
$11.30$11.30
-70.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.45Rp 152.5K
$15.21$15.21
-44.44%
Apples(1kg)
$2.42Rp 43.6K
$5.43$5.43
-55.43%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54Rp 27.8K
$1.30$1.30
18.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19Rp 39.6K
$5.38$5.38
-59.29%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.7K
$3.92$3.92
-63.78%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.8K
$2.07$2.07
-36.23%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80Rp 32.4K
$2.72$2.72
-33.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18Rp 21.4K
$1.94$1.94
-39.18%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,603
$1.77$1.77
-76.27%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54Rp 45.8K
$8.49$8.49
-70.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.78Rp 446.9K
$13.25$13.25
87.02%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77Rp 31.8K
$1.85$1.85
-4.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14Rp 56.7K
$2.75$2.75
14.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48Rp 8,572
$2.02$2.02
-76.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.40Rp 169.6K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,997
$3.99$3.99
-88.97%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 5,216
$1.28$1.28
-77.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.77Rp 50.0K
$61.1$61.1
-95.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 15.2K
$0.78$0.78
7.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6KRp 372.2M
$36.2K$36.2K
-43.00%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KRp 645.7M
$24.6K$24.6K
45.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.9Rp 1.5M
$139$139
-38.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09Rp 73.7K
$44.38$44.38
-90.78%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.75Rp 356.2K
$46.72$46.72
-57.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.59Rp 389.4K
$27.31$27.31
-20.94%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.57Rp 82.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.85Rp 51.4K
$11.94$11.94
-76.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$188Rp 3.4M
$1,289$1,289
-85.45%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,556Rp 172.3M
$10.1K$10.1K
-5.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.6Rp 1.1M
$36.29$36.29
69.72%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.56Rp 695.3K
$43.16$43.16
-10.66%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.8Rp 1.4M
$70.8$70.8
9.85%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.6Rp 1.5M
$78.9$78.9
5.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$242Rp 4.4M
$1,039$1,039
-76.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.4M
$1,377$1,377
-90.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$762Rp 13.7M
$2,583$2,583
-70.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393Rp 7.1M
$2,235$2,235
-82.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,209Rp 39.8M
$1,472$1,472
50.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,067Rp 19.2M
$1,441$1,441
-25.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Houma, LA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$276Rp 5.0M
$3,827$3,827
-92.80%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Houma, LA: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $242 in Surabaya versus $1,039 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 1289% 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: $226 vs $349 – 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 228%, 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 $1,062 per month in Surabaya and $3,485 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 vs Houma, LA?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $708 in Surabaya and $2,323 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 $188 per month in Surabaya and $1,289 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 Surabaya or Houma, LA?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Surabaya, where all-in costs run around $708, than in Houma, LA at $2,323. 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.