😐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: Surabaya48% lower, Mataram57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52Rp 27.3K
$1.06Rp 19.1K
43.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.46Rp 223.3K
$11.01Rp 197.3K
13.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.13Rp 56.1K
$2.35Rp 42.2K
33.19%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 31.1K
$1.87Rp 33.5K
-6.95%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66Rp 11.8K
$0.54Rp 9,705
22.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,017
$0.36Rp 6,486
-22.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50Rp 44.7K
$2.54Rp 45.4K
-1.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92Rp 70.2K
$3.77Rp 67.5K
3.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42Rp 25.5K
$1.54Rp 27.6K
-7.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$1.67Rp 30.0K
-10.18%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.7K
$0.83Rp 14.9K
12.05%
Eggs
$1.50Rp 26.8K
$1.43Rp 25.5K
4.90%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.31Rp 166.7K
$3.19Rp 57.2K
191.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17Rp 56.9K
$3.59Rp 64.2K
-11.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.19Rp 146.8K
$6.10Rp 109.3K
34.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40Rp 43.0K
$1.64Rp 29.4K
46.34%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 26.8K
$1.26Rp 22.7K
19.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17Rp 38.8K
$1.85Rp 33.2K
17.30%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.4K
$0.75Rp 13.4K
89.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 24.7K
$0.84Rp 15.0K
64.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78Rp 31.9K
$1.88Rp 33.7K
-5.32%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16Rp 20.7K
$0.48Rp 8,621
141.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,099
$0.34Rp 6,097
32.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44Rp 43.7K
$1.80Rp 32.2K
35.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.54Rp 439.7K
$15.23Rp 272.9K
61.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83Rp 32.8K
$2.39Rp 42.8K
-23.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27Rp 58.6K
$3.80Rp 68.1K
-13.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47Rp 8,495
$0.64Rp 11.4K
-26.56%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.14Rp 163.8K
$18.26Rp 327.2K
-49.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47Rp 8,431
$0.51Rp 9,057
-7.84%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,569
$0.29Rp 5,136
6.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.75Rp 49.3K
$2.99Rp 53.5K
-8.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87Rp 15.6K
$0.64Rp 11.5K
35.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KRp 373.4M
$23.2KRp 415.3M
-10.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KRp 624.7M
$27.1KRp 486.3M
28.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.9Rp 1.5M
$50.4Rp 902.3K
66.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.10Rp 73.5K
$4.25Rp 76.2K
-3.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.83Rp 355.3K
$19.16Rp 343.3K
3.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.93Rp 393.0K
$26.28Rp 470.9K
-16.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.44Rp 79.5K
$7.75Rp 138.9K
-42.71%
Cinema Ticket
$2.96Rp 53.0K
$2.19Rp 39.2K
35.16%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$192Rp 3.4M
$90.9Rp 1.6M
110.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,350Rp 167.5M
$4,244Rp 76.0M
120.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9Rp 1.1M
$37.49Rp 671.7K
67.67%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.45Rp 706.8K
$24.39Rp 437.0K
61.75%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$61.0Rp 1.1M
27.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0Rp 1.5M
$40.32Rp 722.3K
103.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.4M
$77.1Rp 1.4M
216.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.4M
$127Rp 2.3M
6.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$762Rp 13.7M
$156Rp 2.8M
389.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389Rp 7.0M
$257Rp 4.6M
51.77%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,223Rp 39.8M
$1,135Rp 20.3M
95.78%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,057Rp 18.9M
$700Rp 12.5M
51.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Mataram
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$269Rp 4.8M
$197Rp 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.