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: $688 in Surabaya versus $607 in Medan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,205 in Surabaya versus $933 in Medan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,722 in Surabaya versus $1,260 in Medan.

Living in Surabaya is roughly 13% more expensive than in Medan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya 50% lower, Medan 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.66 Rp 29.6K

$1.72 Rp 30.6K

-3.49%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.40 Rp 202.6K

$8.73 Rp 155.1K

30.58%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.24 Rp 57.6K

$2.96 Rp 52.5K

9.46%

Cappuccino

$1.56 Rp 27.7K

$1.55 Rp 27.6K

0.65%

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

$0.56 Rp 9,916

$0.34 Rp 6,114

64.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,607

$0.25 Rp 4,458

4.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.25 Rp 39.9K

$1.73 Rp 30.7K

30.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.37 Rp 77.6K

$3.58 Rp 63.6K

22.07%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 Rp 21.6K

$1.08 Rp 19.1K

12.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 Rp 23.9K

$1.14 Rp 20.2K

17.54%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.86 Rp 15.3K

$0.83 Rp 14.8K

3.61%

Eggs

$1.21 Rp 21.4K

$1.33 Rp 23.6K

-9.02%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.80 Rp 138.5K

$7.91 Rp 140.5K

-1.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.96 Rp 52.6K

$3.53 Rp 62.7K

-16.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.87 Rp 139.9K

$6.44 Rp 114.4K

22.20%

Apples (1kg)

$2.02 Rp 35.9K

$2.43 Rp 43.2K

-16.87%

Banana (1kg)

$1.33 Rp 23.6K

$1.05 Rp 18.7K

26.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 Rp 33.2K

$1.48 Rp 26.4K

26.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 Rp 27.1K

$0.96 Rp 17.0K

58.33%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 Rp 24.4K

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

57.47%

Onion (1kg)

$1.93 Rp 34.3K

$1.74 Rp 30.9K

10.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.97 Rp 17.3K

$0.41 Rp 7,334

136.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.40 Rp 7,104

$0.44 Rp 7,756

-9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.96 Rp 34.8K

$3.02 Rp 53.7K

-35.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.35 Rp 450.4K

$16.41 Rp 291.5K

54.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.71 Rp 30.3K

$1.92 Rp 34.2K

-10.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 Rp 51.3K

$3.04 Rp 54.0K

-4.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.36 Rp 6,319

$0.27 Rp 4,759

33.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.07 Rp 107.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 Rp 8,397

$0.53 Rp 9,394

-11.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,357

$0.20 Rp 3,602

135.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 Rp 48.0K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.80 Rp 14.3K

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

3.90%

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

$24.7K Rp 438.8M

$24.9K Rp 443.1M

-0.97%

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

$33.1K Rp 587.8M

$31.6K Rp 561.0M

4.77%

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

$88.9 Rp 1.6M

$86.5 Rp 1.5M

2.85%

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

$4.83 Rp 85.9K

$3.29 Rp 58.5K

46.81%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.84 Rp 352.4K

$23.34 Rp 414.6K

-15.00%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.57 Rp 329.9K

$17.06 Rp 303.1K

8.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.54 Rp 116.2K

$8.69 Rp 154.3K

-24.74%

Cinema Ticket

$2.65 Rp 47.1K

$3.43 Rp 61.0K

-22.74%

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

$286 Rp 5.1M

$114 Rp 2.0M

149.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,694 Rp 172.2M

$1,720 Rp 30.6M

463.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.2 Rp 1.3M

$56.4 Rp 1.0M

26.19%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.47 Rp 701.2K

$39.16 Rp 695.6K

0.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

$105 Rp 1.9M

-22.59%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$74.9 Rp 1.3M

$115 Rp 2.0M

-34.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$290 Rp 5.1M

$177 Rp 3.1M

63.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 Rp 2.7M

$88.9 Rp 1.6M

68.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,276 Rp 22.7M

$497 Rp 8.8M

156.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$618 Rp 11.0M

$211 Rp 3.8M

192.37%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,231 Rp 39.6M

$1,148 Rp 20.4M

94.34%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,073 Rp 19.1M

$571 Rp 10.1M

87.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$277 Rp 4.9M

$214 Rp 3.8M

29.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

9.25

-18.92%

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

Last update for Surabaya: September 1, 2026

Last update for Medan: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $290 in Surabaya and $177 in Medan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surabaya pays 29% 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 $9.00 in Medan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $182 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. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 29% 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: $290 in Surabaya versus $177 in Medan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 16% higher in Surabaya. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $688 per month in Surabaya versus $607 in Medan – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 13% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.