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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $667 per month in Surabaya vs $445 in Karawang, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,178 per month in Surabaya vs $803 in Karawang, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,689 per month in Surabaya vs $1,161 in Karawang, rent included.

Surabaya costs about 50% more than Karawang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Surabaya and Karawang are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya 51% lower, Karawang 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.63 Rp 29.1K

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

14.79%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.48 Rp 205.5K

$11.15 Rp 199.5K

2.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.06 Rp 54.8K

$3.41 Rp 61.0K

-10.26%

Cappuccino

$1.59 Rp 28.5K

$1.44 Rp 25.8K

10.42%

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

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

$0.40 Rp 7,234

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,634

$0.19 Rp 3,321

36.84%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.17 Rp 38.9K

$3.11 Rp 55.7K

-30.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.06 Rp 72.7K

$3.02 Rp 54.0K

34.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.24 Rp 22.2K

$1.13 Rp 20.1K

9.73%

White Bread (500g)

$1.27 Rp 22.7K

$1.03 Rp 18.4K

23.30%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

$0.87 Rp 15.5K

-5.75%

Eggs

$1.24 Rp 22.2K

$1.48 Rp 26.5K

-16.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.68 Rp 137.4K

$2.79 Rp 50.0K

175.27%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.93 Rp 52.5K

$2.84 Rp 50.8K

3.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.46 Rp 133.5K

$7.81 Rp 139.8K

-4.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.06 Rp 36.8K

$1.76 Rp 31.4K

17.05%

Banana (1kg)

$1.31 Rp 23.4K

$1.08 Rp 19.3K

21.30%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.83 Rp 32.7K

$1.27 Rp 22.7K

44.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 27.9K

$0.48 Rp 8,633

225.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 Rp 24.4K

$0.89 Rp 16.0K

53.93%

Onion (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.9K

$1.51 Rp 27.1K

29.14%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.96 Rp 17.2K

$0.68 Rp 12.2K

41.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 Rp 7,150

$0.42 Rp 7,569

-4.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.88 Rp 33.7K

$2.75 Rp 49.2K

-31.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.81 Rp 443.9K

$22.55 Rp 403.6K

10.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 Rp 30.0K

$1.87 Rp 33.5K

-10.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 51.9K

$3.29 Rp 58.9K

-11.85%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 Rp 5,708

$0.59 Rp 10.6K

-45.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,584

$0.85 Rp 15.2K

-43.53%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,651

$0.52 Rp 9,294

-17.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.57 Rp 46.0K

$1.13 Rp 20.3K

127.43%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 Rp 13.3K

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

-7.50%

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

$25.0K Rp 446.8M

$21.0K Rp 374.9M

19.16%

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

$32.9K Rp 588.2M

$28.5K Rp 510.6M

15.20%

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

$87.8 Rp 1.6M

$33.85 Rp 605.7K

159.44%

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

$4.55 Rp 81.5K

$4.24 Rp 75.8K

7.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.09 Rp 341.5K

$12.59 Rp 225.2K

51.63%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.40 Rp 329.2K

$20.24 Rp 362.2K

-9.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.79 Rp 121.5K

$8.43 Rp 150.8K

-19.45%

Cinema Ticket

$2.68 Rp 47.9K

$2.82 Rp 50.4K

-4.96%

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

$281 Rp 5.0M

$43.23 Rp 773.5K

549.20%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,663 Rp 172.9M

$8,186 Rp 146.5M

18.03%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.0 Rp 1.3M

$16.40 Rp 293.5K

332.68%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.76 Rp 693.5K

$27.34 Rp 489.2K

41.77%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.6 Rp 1.4M

$48.10 Rp 860.6K

65.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.7 Rp 1.3M

$48.99 Rp 876.6K

52.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$275 Rp 4.9M

$137 Rp 2.5M

100.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$147 Rp 2.6M

$69.2 Rp 1.2M

112.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,247 Rp 22.3M

$552 Rp 9.9M

125.86%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$595 Rp 10.7M

$367 Rp 6.6M

62.31%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,139 Rp 38.3M

$1,171 Rp 20.9M

82.70%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,060 Rp 19.0M

$606 Rp 10.9M

74.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 Rp 4.8M

$401 Rp 7.2M

-32.92%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

11.38

-34.09%

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

Last update for Surabaya: September 29, 2026

Last update for Karawang: September 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $275 in Surabaya versus $137 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 49% 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 $11.00 in Surabaya versus $11.00 in Karawang. Groceries tell a different story – $207 in Surabaya vs $174 in Karawang – so Karawang wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 50% 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 $1,001 per month in Surabaya and $668 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.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $667 in Surabaya and $445 in Karawang. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $281 per month in Surabaya and $43.23 in Karawang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $667 in Surabaya and $445 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.