Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Padang Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Padang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $676 in Surabaya versus $651 in Padang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,202 in Surabaya versus $1,007 in Padang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,728 in Surabaya versus $1,363 in Padang.

Living in Surabaya is roughly 4% more expensive than in Padang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya 51% lower, Padang 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 Rp 30.6K

$1.74 Rp 30.9K

-0.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.51 Rp 203.8K

$12.43 Rp 220.0K

-7.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.25 Rp 57.5K

$3.04 Rp 53.7K

6.91%

Cappuccino

$1.58 Rp 27.9K

$1.49 Rp 26.4K

6.04%

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

$0.62 Rp 10.9K

$0.38 Rp 6,734

63.16%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,554

$0.26 Rp 4,533

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

$2.71 Rp 48.0K

-18.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 Rp 77.2K

$3.93 Rp 69.6K

10.94%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

$1.17 Rp 20.8K

8.55%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 Rp 23.0K

$0.95 Rp 16.9K

36.84%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 Rp 15.9K

$0.92 Rp 16.3K

-2.17%

Eggs

$1.23 Rp 21.8K

$1.45 Rp 25.6K

-15.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.62 Rp 134.9K

$6.29 Rp 111.4K

21.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.09 Rp 54.8K

$2.60 Rp 46.0K

18.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 Rp 134.6K

$7.98 Rp 141.3K

-4.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 Rp 37.5K

$2.02 Rp 35.7K

4.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 Rp 22.7K

$1.16 Rp 20.5K

10.34%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

$1.63 Rp 28.9K

17.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 27.7K

$1.17 Rp 20.7K

34.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 Rp 23.7K

$1.35 Rp 23.8K

-0.74%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 Rp 35.9K

$1.93 Rp 34.2K

5.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 Rp 17.6K

$0.83 Rp 14.7K

19.28%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,186

$0.44 Rp 7,865

-6.82%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

$2.71 Rp 48.0K

-29.15%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.23 Rp 446.8K

$23.01 Rp 407.4K

9.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 Rp 31.4K

$2.00 Rp 35.5K

-11.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 Rp 51.7K

$2.74 Rp 48.5K

6.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 Rp 5,825

$0.30 Rp 5,325

10.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 Rp 9,236

$0.51 Rp 9,086

1.96%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,630

$0.29 Rp 5,191

48.28%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

$2.53 Rp 44.8K

9.09%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.69 Rp 12.1K

11.59%

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

$24.8K Rp 439.2M

$22.8K Rp 404.2M

8.65%

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

$32.5K Rp 575.4M

$30.6K Rp 542.5M

6.06%

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

$86.6 Rp 1.5M

$74.1 Rp 1.3M

17.00%

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

$4.68 Rp 82.9K

$4.30 Rp 76.2K

8.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.47 Rp 344.7K

$17.79 Rp 315.1K

9.44%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.72 Rp 331.4K

$19.96 Rp 353.4K

-6.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 Rp 123.2K

$7.45 Rp 132.0K

-6.58%

Cinema Ticket

$2.70 Rp 47.8K

$2.46 Rp 43.5K

9.76%

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

$283 Rp 5.0M

$99.6 Rp 1.8M

183.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,866 Rp 174.7M

$7,742 Rp 137.1M

27.43%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.9 Rp 1.3M

$44.85 Rp 794.2K

60.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.23 Rp 712.4K

$29.67 Rp 525.3K

35.59%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

$73.7 Rp 1.3M

12.60%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.9 Rp 1.3M

$80.8 Rp 1.4M

-6.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$282 Rp 5.0M

$236 Rp 4.2M

19.44%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 Rp 2.7M

$140 Rp 2.5M

7.65%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 Rp 22.2M

$513 Rp 9.1M

144.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 Rp 11.0M

$359 Rp 6.4M

72.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,218 Rp 39.3M

$1,358 Rp 24.0M

63.36%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,072 Rp 19.0M

$634 Rp 11.2M

69.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$277 Rp 4.9M

$170 Rp 3.0M

62.79%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

9.46

-20.72%

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

Last update for Surabaya: September 15, 2026

Last update for Padang: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Surabaya and $236 in Padang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surabaya pays 63% 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 $12.00 in Padang. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $194, with Padang cheaper for home cooking.

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 Padang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Padang wins on cost – living expenses run 4% lower than in Surabaya. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Padang the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

Average pay runs 63% 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: $282 in Surabaya versus $236 in Padang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 9% higher in Surabaya. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $676 per month in Surabaya versus $651 in Padang – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Padang 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 Padang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.