Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Karawang Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Karawang

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $700 per month in Surabaya vs $508 in Karawang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,117 per month in Surabaya vs $755 in Karawang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,535 per month in Surabaya vs $1,001 in Karawang, rent included.

Surabaya costs about 38% more than Karawang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Surabaya and Karawang are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya 48% lower, Karawang 62% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.52 Rp 27.3K

$1.27 Rp 22.8K

19.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.46 Rp 223.3K

$8.97 Rp 160.7K

38.91%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.13 Rp 56.1K

$3.36 Rp 60.3K

-6.85%

Cappuccino

$1.74 Rp 31.1K

$1.45 Rp 26.0K

20.00%

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

$0.66 Rp 11.8K

$0.47 Rp 8,442

40.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 5,017

$0.24 Rp 4,314

16.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.50 Rp 44.7K

$3.47 Rp 62.2K

-27.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.92 Rp 70.2K

$3.46 Rp 62.0K

13.29%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 Rp 25.5K

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

17.36%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

$1.06 Rp 19.0K

41.51%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

$0.89 Rp 15.9K

4.49%

Eggs

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

$1.52 Rp 27.3K

-1.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.31 Rp 166.7K

$2.99 Rp 53.5K

211.37%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.17 Rp 56.9K

$2.98 Rp 53.4K

6.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.19 Rp 146.8K

$7.65 Rp 137.0K

7.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 Rp 43.0K

$1.96 Rp 35.2K

22.45%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

$1.20 Rp 21.4K

25.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 Rp 38.8K

$1.39 Rp 25.0K

56.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

$0.53 Rp 9,546

167.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

$1.03 Rp 18.5K

33.98%

Onion (1kg)

$1.78 Rp 31.9K

$1.66 Rp 29.7K

7.23%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

$0.96 Rp 17.2K

20.83%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 8,099

$0.42 Rp 7,530

7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.44 Rp 43.7K

$2.61 Rp 46.8K

-6.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.54 Rp 439.7K

$21.71 Rp 388.9K

13.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 Rp 32.8K

$2.10 Rp 37.5K

-12.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.27 Rp 58.6K

$3.46 Rp 61.9K

-5.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.47 Rp 8,495

$0.71 Rp 12.6K

-33.80%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.14 Rp 163.8K

$10.08 Rp 180.6K

-9.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 Rp 8,431

$0.71 Rp 12.8K

-33.80%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,569

$0.77 Rp 13.8K

-59.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.75 Rp 49.3K

$1.19 Rp 21.4K

131.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

$0.85 Rp 15.3K

2.35%

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

$20.8K Rp 373.4M

$24.7K Rp 442.6M

-15.64%

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

$34.9K Rp 624.7M

$25.8K Rp 462.5M

35.06%

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

$83.9 Rp 1.5M

$43.12 Rp 772.6K

94.60%

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

$4.10 Rp 73.5K

$4.55 Rp 81.5K

-9.89%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.83 Rp 355.3K

$13.66 Rp 244.7K

45.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.93 Rp 393.0K

$22.04 Rp 394.9K

-0.50%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.44 Rp 79.5K

$15.13 Rp 271.1K

-70.65%

Cinema Ticket

$2.96 Rp 53.0K

$3.00 Rp 53.8K

-1.33%

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

$192 Rp 3.4M

$48.25 Rp 864.4K

297.02%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,350 Rp 167.5M

$7,474 Rp 133.9M

25.10%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 Rp 1.1M

$18.29 Rp 327.6K

243.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.45 Rp 706.8K

$30.36 Rp 543.9K

29.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$52.8 Rp 945.6K

47.52%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

$54.4 Rp 974.5K

50.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$244 Rp 4.4M

$154 Rp 2.8M

58.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 Rp 2.4M

$77.6 Rp 1.4M

73.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$762 Rp 13.7M

$245 Rp 4.4M

211.37%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$389 Rp 7.0M

$123 Rp 2.2M

217.03%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,223 Rp 39.8M

$1,141 Rp 20.4M

94.73%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,057 Rp 18.9M

$643 Rp 11.5M

64.29%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 Rp 4.8M

$408 Rp 7.3M

-34.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.33

9.15

-8.96%

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

Last update for Surabaya: June 8, 2026

Last update for Karawang: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Surabaya versus $154 in Karawang. 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 52% higher in Karawang, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya versus $9.00 in Karawang. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $227 vs $181 – making Karawang 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 Karawang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Surabaya costs about 38% more than Karawang, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,050 per month in Surabaya and $763 in Karawang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Karawang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya and $9.00 in Karawang. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $700 in Surabaya and $508 in Karawang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $700 in Surabaya and $508 in Karawang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Karawang – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Karawang. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Surabaya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.