Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Medan Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Medan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $702 in Surabaya versus $640 in Medan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,117 in Surabaya versus $988 in Medan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,532 in Surabaya versus $1,336 in Medan.

Living in Surabaya is roughly 10% more expensive than in Medan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya 47% lower, Medan 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.58 Rp 28.4K

$1.88 Rp 33.7K

-15.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.11 Rp 217.2K

$10.72 Rp 192.3K

12.97%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.05 Rp 54.8K

$3.28 Rp 58.9K

-7.01%

Cappuccino

$1.80 Rp 32.3K

$1.80 Rp 32.2K

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

$0.64 Rp 11.5K

$0.39 Rp 7,050

64.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 5,039

$0.27 Rp 4,869

3.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.40 Rp 43.1K

$1.55 Rp 27.9K

54.84%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 Rp 73.3K

$5.24 Rp 94.1K

-21.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

$1.18 Rp 21.1K

16.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

$1.18 Rp 21.1K

27.12%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.94 Rp 16.9K

$0.83 Rp 14.9K

13.25%

Eggs

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

$1.53 Rp 27.4K

-1.96%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.24 Rp 165.8K

$9.39 Rp 168.5K

-1.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.19 Rp 57.2K

$3.71 Rp 66.5K

-14.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.13 Rp 145.8K

$6.83 Rp 122.5K

19.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.41 Rp 43.2K

$2.32 Rp 41.7K

3.88%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

$1.00 Rp 17.9K

56.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.4K

$1.53 Rp 27.5K

43.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

$0.88 Rp 15.8K

70.45%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 Rp 23.8K

$0.75 Rp 13.5K

77.33%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 Rp 31.1K

$1.27 Rp 22.7K

36.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.19 Rp 21.3K

$0.45 Rp 8,160

164.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 8,076

$0.49 Rp 8,802

-8.16%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.45 Rp 44.0K

$2.48 Rp 44.5K

-1.21%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.13 Rp 450.8K

$15.90 Rp 285.2K

58.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 Rp 33.4K

$1.36 Rp 24.4K

36.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.31 Rp 59.4K

$3.17 Rp 56.9K

4.42%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 Rp 7,846

$0.32 Rp 5,826

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.48 Rp 170.1K

$9.59 Rp 172.0K

-1.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,577

$0.58 Rp 10.4K

-17.24%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,605

$0.22 Rp 3,955

40.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.73 Rp 49.0K

$6.17 Rp 110.8K

-55.75%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

4.88%

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

$20.5K Rp 368.0M

$28.0K Rp 502.7M

-26.80%

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

$35.0K Rp 628.6M

$33.9K Rp 608.1M

3.37%

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

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

$83.7 Rp 1.5M

-0.82%

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

$4.31 Rp 77.4K

$3.67 Rp 65.9K

17.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.61 Rp 351.9K

$34.25 Rp 614.4K

-42.74%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.82 Rp 391.5K

$23.20 Rp 416.2K

-5.95%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.59 Rp 82.4K

$7.12 Rp 127.7K

-35.53%

Cinema Ticket

$2.87 Rp 51.6K

$3.49 Rp 62.7K

-17.77%

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

$186 Rp 3.3M

$123 Rp 2.2M

51.56%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,556 Rp 171.4M

$10.6K Rp 190.0M

-9.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 Rp 1.1M

$66.4 Rp 1.2M

-5.33%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.85 Rp 696.9K

$42.18 Rp 756.6K

-7.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 Rp 1.4M

$115 Rp 2.1M

-32.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.1 Rp 1.5M

$65.5 Rp 1.2M

26.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$244 Rp 4.4M

$196 Rp 3.5M

24.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$136 Rp 2.4M

$100 Rp 1.8M

35.82%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$792 Rp 14.2M

$530 Rp 9.5M

49.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$399 Rp 7.2M

$232 Rp 4.2M

71.54%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,202 Rp 39.5M

$1,110 Rp 19.9M

98.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,045 Rp 18.8M

$550 Rp 9.9M

90.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 Rp 4.8M

$213 Rp 3.8M

26.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.33

9.25

-9.95%

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

Last update for Surabaya: July 11, 2026

Last update for Medan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Surabaya and $196 in Medan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surabaya pays 26% 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 Medan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 vs $186 per month, with Medan 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 Medan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 26% higher in Surabaya, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $244 in Surabaya versus $196 in Medan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Medan runs roughly 1% less than in Surabaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $186 in Surabaya versus $123 in Medan. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Medan gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Medan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.