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: $702 in Surabaya versus $662 in Padang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,129 in Surabaya versus $1,023 in Padang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,557 in Surabaya versus $1,384 in Padang.

Living in Surabaya is roughly 6% more expensive than in Padang, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya 47% lower, Padang 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.56 Rp 28.2K

$1.52 Rp 27.4K

2.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.42 Rp 224.2K

$12.14 Rp 219.2K

2.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.03 Rp 54.6K

$3.37 Rp 60.8K

-10.09%

Cappuccino

$1.76 Rp 31.7K

$1.67 Rp 30.1K

5.39%

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

$0.66 Rp 11.9K

$0.52 Rp 9,369

26.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 5,096

$0.28 Rp 5,080

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 Rp 44.1K

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

1.24%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 Rp 73.8K

$3.44 Rp 62.0K

18.90%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 Rp 25.9K

$1.21 Rp 21.9K

19.01%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 Rp 27.4K

$1.18 Rp 21.4K

28.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 Rp 17.7K

$0.89 Rp 16.1K

10.11%

Eggs

$1.51 Rp 27.2K

$1.58 Rp 28.5K

-4.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 Rp 167.5K

$7.98 Rp 144.1K

16.29%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 Rp 58.5K

$3.08 Rp 55.5K

5.19%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.13 Rp 146.7K

$7.76 Rp 140.0K

4.77%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 Rp 43.0K

$2.34 Rp 42.2K

1.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 27.1K

$1.50 Rp 27.0K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 Rp 39.4K

$1.79 Rp 32.4K

21.79%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 Rp 25.6K

$1.56 Rp 28.2K

-8.97%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 23.8K

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 Rp 31.2K

$1.97 Rp 35.5K

-12.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$0.97 Rp 17.5K

18.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 Rp 8,229

$0.44 Rp 7,949

4.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 Rp 45.6K

$2.51 Rp 45.4K

0.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.18 Rp 454.5K

$17.61 Rp 317.9K

42.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 Rp 32.2K

$2.12 Rp 38.3K

-16.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 Rp 59.5K

$3.12 Rp 56.4K

5.77%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 Rp 8,032

$0.32 Rp 5,862

37.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.26 Rp 167.2K

$10.05 Rp 181.5K

-7.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,115

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

-21.05%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,634

$0.35 Rp 6,271

-11.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 Rp 49.5K

$3.00 Rp 54.1K

-8.67%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

$0.73 Rp 13.1K

19.18%

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

$20.8K Rp 374.8M

$24.6K Rp 443.9M

-15.58%

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

$34.9K Rp 629.2M

$28.0K Rp 505.9M

24.38%

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

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

$70.5 Rp 1.3M

17.70%

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

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

$4.33 Rp 78.2K

-3.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 Rp 350.9K

$23.02 Rp 415.6K

-15.55%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.63 Rp 390.4K

$23.34 Rp 421.4K

-7.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.38 Rp 79.1K

$6.33 Rp 114.2K

-30.81%

Cinema Ticket

$2.98 Rp 53.9K

$3.01 Rp 54.4K

-1.00%

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

$186 Rp 3.4M

$91.7 Rp 1.7M

102.81%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,266 Rp 167.3M

$7,675 Rp 138.6M

20.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 Rp 1.1M

$41.38 Rp 747.1K

51.96%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.49 Rp 694.9K

$30.46 Rp 549.9K

26.36%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.9 Rp 1.4M

$67.8 Rp 1.2M

13.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 Rp 1.5M

$73.2 Rp 1.3M

14.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$249 Rp 4.5M

$259 Rp 4.7M

-3.79%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 Rp 2.5M

$161 Rp 2.9M

-14.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$775 Rp 14.0M

$589 Rp 10.6M

31.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$392 Rp 7.1M

$336 Rp 6.1M

16.65%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,136 Rp 38.6M

$1,296 Rp 23.4M

64.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,064 Rp 19.2M

$593 Rp 10.7M

79.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 Rp 4.9M

$168 Rp 3.0M

60.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.33

9.15

-8.96%

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

Last update for Surabaya: July 27, 2026

Last update for Padang: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $249 in Surabaya and $259 in Padang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surabaya pays 60% 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 $228 vs $201, 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 6% 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 60% 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: $249 in Surabaya versus $259 in Padang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Padang runs roughly 9% 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 $91.7 in Padang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

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 6% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.