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: $708 in Surabaya versus $651 in Medan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,133 in Surabaya versus $982 in Medan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,557 in Surabaya versus $1,313 in Medan.

Living in Surabaya is roughly 9% more expensive than Medan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya 47% lower, Medan 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.52 Rp 27.1K

$1.83 Rp 32.6K

-16.94%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.12 Rp 216.4K

$10.63 Rp 189.9K

14.02%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.13 Rp 55.9K

$3.22 Rp 57.4K

-2.80%

Cappuccino

$1.82 Rp 32.4K

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

1.11%

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

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

$0.40 Rp 7,122

50.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,602

$0.25 Rp 4,419

4.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 Rp 43.0K

$1.58 Rp 28.1K

52.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 Rp 71.7K

$5.13 Rp 91.7K

-21.64%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

$1.18 Rp 21.0K

16.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

24.79%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

6.90%

Eggs

$1.44 Rp 25.8K

$1.58 Rp 28.2K

-8.86%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.04 Rp 161.5K

$9.78 Rp 174.6K

-7.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

$3.88 Rp 69.3K

-15.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.45 Rp 151.0K

$6.86 Rp 122.5K

23.18%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 Rp 43.2K

$2.29 Rp 41.0K

5.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 Rp 27.5K

$1.00 Rp 17.8K

54.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 39.2K

$1.47 Rp 26.3K

48.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

$0.94 Rp 16.8K

51.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 23.6K

$0.74 Rp 13.2K

78.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

$1.29 Rp 23.1K

39.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 Rp 21.1K

$0.46 Rp 8,163

156.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,529

$0.46 Rp 8,201

-8.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 Rp 45.4K

$2.48 Rp 44.2K

2.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.78 Rp 442.6K

$15.75 Rp 281.3K

57.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 Rp 31.5K

$1.35 Rp 24.1K

31.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 Rp 56.2K

$3.17 Rp 56.6K

-0.95%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 Rp 8,489

$0.30 Rp 5,318

60.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.40 Rp 168.0K

$9.86 Rp 176.1K

-4.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,919

$0.52 Rp 9,345

-15.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 Rp 5,165

$0.22 Rp 3,931

31.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 Rp 49.5K

$6.27 Rp 111.9K

-55.82%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 15.1K

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

2.44%

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

$20.6K Rp 368.5M

$28.1K Rp 501.4M

-26.49%

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

$35.8K Rp 639.4M

$33.8K Rp 604.3M

5.80%

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

$84.9 Rp 1.5M

$83.4 Rp 1.5M

1.75%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.0K

$3.64 Rp 65.1K

12.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.75 Rp 352.7K

$33.53 Rp 598.8K

-41.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.59 Rp 385.6K

$23.40 Rp 417.8K

-7.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.57 Rp 81.6K

$7.27 Rp 129.8K

-37.14%

Cinema Ticket

$2.85 Rp 50.9K

$3.58 Rp 63.9K

-20.39%

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

$188 Rp 3.3M

$126 Rp 2.3M

48.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,556 Rp 170.7M

$10.6K Rp 188.8M

-9.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 Rp 1.1M

$66.3 Rp 1.2M

-7.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.56 Rp 688.5K

$42.49 Rp 758.9K

-9.25%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 Rp 1.4M

$116 Rp 2.1M

-32.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$65.6 Rp 1.2M

27.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 Rp 4.3M

$191 Rp 3.4M

26.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 Rp 2.4M

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

37.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$762 Rp 13.6M

$544 Rp 9.7M

40.03%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 Rp 7.0M

$231 Rp 4.1M

70.59%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,209 Rp 39.5M

$1,176 Rp 21.0M

87.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,067 Rp 19.0M

$567 Rp 10.1M

88.16%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$276 Rp 4.9M

$215 Rp 3.8M

28.19%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Medan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Surabaya and $191 in Medan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surabaya pays 28% 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 $226 vs $187 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, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Surabaya pays 28% more on average, 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: $242 in Surabaya versus $191 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 5% less than in Surabaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $188 in Surabaya versus $126 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 9% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.