Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Mataram Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Mataram

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $700 in Surabaya versus $578 in Mataram.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,117 in Surabaya versus $867 in Mataram.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,535 in Surabaya versus $1,157 in Mataram.

Living in Surabaya is roughly 21% more expensive than Mataram, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya 48% lower, Mataram 57% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52 Rp 27.3K
$1.06 Rp 19.1K
43.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.46 Rp 223.3K
$11.01 Rp 197.3K
13.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.13 Rp 56.1K
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
33.19%
Cappuccino
$1.74 Rp 31.1K
$1.87 Rp 33.5K
-6.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 Rp 11.8K
$0.54 Rp 9,705
22.22%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 Rp 5,017
$0.36 Rp 6,486
-22.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.50 Rp 44.7K
$2.54 Rp 45.4K
-1.57%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 Rp 70.2K
$3.77 Rp 67.5K
3.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 Rp 25.5K
$1.54 Rp 27.6K
-7.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.50 Rp 26.9K
$1.67 Rp 30.0K
-10.18%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.93 Rp 16.7K
$0.83 Rp 14.9K
12.05%
Eggs
$1.50 Rp 26.8K
$1.43 Rp 25.5K
4.90%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.31 Rp 166.7K
$3.19 Rp 57.2K
191.85%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.17 Rp 56.9K
$3.59 Rp 64.2K
-11.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.19 Rp 146.8K
$6.10 Rp 109.3K
34.26%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 Rp 43.0K
$1.64 Rp 29.4K
46.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.50 Rp 26.8K
$1.26 Rp 22.7K
19.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.17 Rp 38.8K
$1.85 Rp 33.2K
17.30%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 Rp 25.4K
$0.75 Rp 13.4K
89.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.38 Rp 24.7K
$0.84 Rp 15.0K
64.29%
Onion (1kg)
$1.78 Rp 31.9K
$1.88 Rp 33.7K
-5.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.16 Rp 20.7K
$0.48 Rp 8,621
141.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 8,099
$0.34 Rp 6,097
32.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44 Rp 43.7K
$1.80 Rp 32.2K
35.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.54 Rp 439.7K
$15.23 Rp 272.9K
61.13%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83 Rp 32.8K
$2.39 Rp 42.8K
-23.43%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27 Rp 58.6K
$3.80 Rp 68.1K
-13.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.47 Rp 8,495
$0.64 Rp 11.4K
-26.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.14 Rp 163.8K
$18.26 Rp 327.2K
-49.95%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.47 Rp 8,431
$0.51 Rp 9,057
-7.84%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 Rp 5,569
$0.29 Rp 5,136
6.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.75 Rp 49.3K
$2.99 Rp 53.5K
-8.03%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 Rp 15.6K
$0.64 Rp 11.5K
35.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K Rp 373.4M
$23.2K Rp 415.3M
-10.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9K Rp 624.7M
$27.1K Rp 486.3M
28.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.9 Rp 1.5M
$50.4 Rp 902.3K
66.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.10 Rp 73.5K
$4.25 Rp 76.2K
-3.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.83 Rp 355.3K
$19.16 Rp 343.3K
3.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.93 Rp 393.0K
$26.28 Rp 470.9K
-16.55%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.44 Rp 79.5K
$7.75 Rp 138.9K
-42.71%
Cinema Ticket
$2.96 Rp 53.0K
$2.19 Rp 39.2K
35.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$192 Rp 3.4M
$90.9 Rp 1.6M
110.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,350 Rp 167.5M
$4,244 Rp 76.0M
120.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 Rp 1.1M
$37.49 Rp 671.7K
67.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.45 Rp 706.8K
$24.39 Rp 437.0K
61.75%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.9 Rp 1.4M
$61.0 Rp 1.1M
27.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0 Rp 1.5M
$40.32 Rp 722.3K
103.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$244 Rp 4.4M
$77.1 Rp 1.4M
216.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$135 Rp 2.4M
$127 Rp 2.3M
6.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$762 Rp 13.7M
$156 Rp 2.8M
389.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$389 Rp 7.0M
$257 Rp 4.6M
51.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,223 Rp 39.8M
$1,135 Rp 20.3M
95.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,057 Rp 18.9M
$700 Rp 12.5M
51.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$269 Rp 4.8M
$197 Rp 3.5M
36.86%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.33
9
-7.44%

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

Last update for Surabaya: June 8, 2026

Last update for Mataram: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Surabaya and $77.1 in Mataram. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surabaya pays 37% 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: $12.00 in Surabaya vs $11.00 in Mataram for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $227 vs $176 per month, with Mataram cheaper across the board.

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 Mataram: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Surabaya and Mataram?
Surabaya and Mataram differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($700 vs $578 including rent). Mataram is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Surabaya or Mataram?
Surabaya pays 37% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Surabaya and Mataram?
Rent for a central apartment: $244 in Surabaya versus $77.1 in Mataram. 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 29% higher in Surabaya. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Mataram – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $12.00 in Surabaya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $1,200 go in Surabaya vs Mataram?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Mataram gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Surabaya and Mataram?
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.
Where should expats move: Surabaya or Mataram?
Expats usually find Mataram gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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