Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Lisbon

For one person, living is cheaper in Surabaya: $674 a month against $2,202 in Lisbon, rent and utilities included – about $18,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Surabaya
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$674
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,202
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Surabaya and in Lisbon

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 Lisbon actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $674 in Surabaya versus $2,202 in Lisbon.

  • Surabaya $674
  • Lisbon $2,202

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,173 in Surabaya versus $3,274 in Lisbon.

  • Surabaya $1,173
  • Lisbon $3,274

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,672 in Surabaya versus $4,346 in Lisbon.

  • Surabaya $1,672
  • Lisbon $4,346

Living in Surabaya costs roughly 69% less than in Lisbon, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Surabaya is 50% below, Lisbon is 62% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Lisbon
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.63 Rp 29.3K
$17.04 €15.15
-90.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.26 Rp 202.7K
$62.3 €55.4
-81.92%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.14 Rp 56.5K
$11.02 €9.80
-71.51%
Cappuccino
$1.56 Rp 28.0K
$3.12 €2.78
-50.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,867
$2.27 €2.02
-75.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 Rp 4,619
$1.74 €1.55
-85.06%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.16 Rp 38.9K
$3.42 €3.04
-36.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.14 Rp 74.5K
$3.74 €3.33
10.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Lisbon
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 Rp 22.5K
$1.17 €1.04
6.84%
White Bread (500g)
$1.27 Rp 22.9K
$1.86 €1.66
-31.72%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
$1.54 €1.37
-46.10%
Eggs
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
$4.06 €3.61
-70.94%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.75 Rp 139.4K
$12.91 €11.49
-39.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.08 Rp 55.5K
$7.90 €7.03
-61.01%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.75 Rp 139.4K
$17.64 €15.69
-56.07%
Apples (1kg)
$2.02 Rp 36.3K
$2.26 €2.01
-10.62%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 Rp 23.2K
$1.75 €1.55
-26.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.89 Rp 34.0K
$1.89 €1.68
-
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 Rp 26.9K
$2.56 €2.27
-41.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.36 Rp 24.4K
$1.85 €1.64
-26.49%
Onion (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 34.2K
$1.97 €1.75
-3.55%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 Rp 16.0K
$1.45 €1.29
-38.62%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39 Rp 7,029
$0.77 €0.69
-49.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.98 Rp 35.7K
$6.71 €5.97
-70.49%
Wine (Bottle)
$25.14 Rp 452.5K
$5.67 €5.04
343.39%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74 Rp 31.3K
$1.37 €1.22
27.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.83 Rp 50.9K
$2.11 €1.88
34.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Lisbon
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.35 Rp 6,237
$2.32 €2.07
-84.91%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$44.43 €39.52
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.46 Rp 8,282
$3.95 €3.51
-88.35%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,542
$1.05 €0.93
-60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.58 Rp 46.4K
$17.15 €15.26
-84.96%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.88 Rp 15.8K
$2.19 €1.95
-59.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6K Rp 443.1M
$33.8K €30.0K
-27.13%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.3K Rp 581.0M
$38.3K €34.0K
-15.65%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Lisbon
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$87.3 Rp 1.6M
$164 €146
-46.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.57 Rp 82.2K
$18.48 €16.43
-75.27%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.05 Rp 342.9K
$32.96 €29.32
-42.20%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Lisbon
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$17.92 Rp 322.6K
$45.87 €40.80
-60.93%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.66 Rp 119.9K
$18.68 €16.61
-64.35%
Cinema Ticket
$2.64 Rp 47.5K
$9.75 €8.67
-72.92%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Lisbon
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$277 Rp 5.0M
$684 €608
-59.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,324 Rp 167.8M
$17.6K €15.7K
-47.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Lisbon
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.9 Rp 1.3M
$104 €92.3
-31.66%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.58 Rp 694.4K
$46.20 €41.09
-16.49%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.8 Rp 1.5M
$99.7 €88.7
-19.01%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.1 Rp 1.4M
$125 €111
-39.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Lisbon
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$282 Rp 5.1M
$1,589 €1,414
-82.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$144 Rp 2.6M
$1,169 €1,040
-87.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,238 Rp 22.3M
$2,851 €2,536
-56.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$601 Rp 10.8M
$1,993 €1,773
-69.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,161 Rp 38.9M
$7,793 €6,932
-72.27%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,072 Rp 19.3M
$4,418 €3,930
-75.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Lisbon
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$271 Rp 4.9M
$1,600 €1,423
-83.09%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.5
3.85
94.81%

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

Last update for Surabaya: October 20, 2026

Last update for Lisbon: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
$209
Lisbon
$273 30.8% $64
Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
$144
Lisbon
$1.2K 710% $1K
Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
$119
Lisbon
$168 41.1% $49
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
$111
Lisbon
$215 94% $104
Eating Out
Surabaya
$63
Lisbon
$247 290% $184
Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
$23
Lisbon
$65 182% $42
Getting Around
Surabaya
$3.9 *
Lisbon
$63 1497% $59

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

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Surabaya and $1,589 in Lisbon. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Lisbon pays 491% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $11.00 in Surabaya vs $62.0 in Lisbon for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $209 vs $273 per month, with Surabaya cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Surabaya
🇵🇹 Lisbon
🕒 Local time
17:45 5:45 PM
11:45 11:45 AM
6 h behind Surabaya
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,765,487
545,923 Capital
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

EUR, USD 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).

Euro exchange rates as of October 20, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

On the map
Between locations
  • Surabaya Lisbon 13,250 km ≈ 17 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Surabaya
  • Lisbon

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 Lisbon: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Surabaya and in Lisbon?
Surabaya and Lisbon differ by about 227% in total monthly costs ($674 vs $2,202 including rent). Surabaya is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 491% lower in Lisbon. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Surabaya and in Lisbon?
Rent for a central apartment: $282 in Surabaya versus $1,589 in Lisbon. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 31% higher in Lisbon. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Surabaya or Lisbon?
All in, you'll spend $674 per month in Surabaya versus $2,202 in Lisbon – a 227% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $674 in Surabaya versus $2,202 in Lisbon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Surabaya but tight or insufficient in Lisbon. The gap between the two cities makes Surabaya the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Surabaya and Lisbon?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Surabaya or Lisbon safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Surabaya and Lisbon are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Surabaya or Lisbon?
Expats usually find Surabaya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 227% less than in Lisbon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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