😐A single person spends $676 per month in Surabaya vs $618 in Palangkaraya, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,202 per month in Surabaya vs $982 in Palangkaraya, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,728 per month in Surabaya vs $1,347 in Palangkaraya, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 10% more than Palangkaraya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Surabaya and Palangkaraya are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya51% lower, Palangkaraya55% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.73Rp 30.6K
$1.39Rp 24.7K
24.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.51Rp 203.8K
$13.63Rp 241.3K
-15.55%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.25Rp 57.5K
$3.63Rp 64.3K
-10.47%
Cappuccino
$1.58Rp 27.9K
$1.51Rp 26.8K
4.64%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62Rp 10.9K
$0.45Rp 8,021
37.78%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,554
$0.20Rp 3,533
30.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22Rp 39.3K
$2.38Rp 42.2K
-6.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36Rp 77.2K
$3.97Rp 70.2K
9.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27Rp 22.5K
$1.17Rp 20.8K
8.55%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30Rp 23.0K
$1.09Rp 19.3K
19.27%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90Rp 15.9K
$0.89Rp 15.8K
1.12%
Eggs
$1.23Rp 21.8K
$1.45Rp 25.6K
-15.17%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.62Rp 134.9K
$7.39Rp 130.9K
3.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.09Rp 54.8K
$2.19Rp 38.8K
41.10%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60Rp 134.6K
$6.76Rp 119.8K
12.43%
Apples(1kg)
$2.12Rp 37.5K
$2.25Rp 39.9K
-5.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28Rp 22.7K
$1.71Rp 30.3K
-25.15%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.0K
$1.77Rp 31.3K
8.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 27.7K
$0.94Rp 16.7K
67.02%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34Rp 23.7K
$1.22Rp 21.7K
9.84%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03Rp 35.9K
$2.02Rp 35.7K
0.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99Rp 17.6K
$0.72Rp 12.8K
37.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,186
$0.43Rp 7,587
-4.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92Rp 34.0K
$2.74Rp 48.5K
-29.93%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.23Rp 446.8K
$18.07Rp 320.0K
39.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77Rp 31.4K
$1.88Rp 33.2K
-5.85%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92Rp 51.7K
$3.41Rp 60.4K
-14.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33Rp 5,825
$0.28Rp 4,918
17.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.52Rp 9,236
$0.48Rp 8,503
8.33%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,630
$0.32Rp 5,734
34.37%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.76Rp 48.9K
$2.52Rp 44.5K
9.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77Rp 13.6K
$0.66Rp 11.8K
16.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8KRp 439.2M
$23.6KRp 417.1M
5.30%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 575.4M
$27.7KRp 489.7M
17.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$86.6Rp 1.5M
$66.0Rp 1.2M
31.31%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.68Rp 82.9K
$4.50Rp 79.7K
4.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.47Rp 344.7K
$19.18Rp 339.7K
1.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.72Rp 331.4K
$5.56Rp 98.5K
236.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96Rp 123.2K
$7.56Rp 133.9K
-7.94%
Cinema Ticket
$2.70Rp 47.8K
$2.52Rp 44.6K
7.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$283Rp 5.0M
$105Rp 1.9M
169.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,866Rp 174.7M
$8,638Rp 152.9M
14.22%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.9Rp 1.3M
$44.06Rp 780.2K
63.25%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.23Rp 712.4K
$31.24Rp 553.2K
28.78%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0Rp 1.5M
$80.6Rp 1.4M
2.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.9Rp 1.3M
$78.0Rp 1.4M
-2.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282Rp 5.0M
$245Rp 4.3M
14.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$150Rp 2.7M
$134Rp 2.4M
12.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,256Rp 22.2M
$588Rp 10.4M
113.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$619Rp 11.0M
$407Rp 7.2M
51.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,218Rp 39.3M
$1,299Rp 23.0M
70.73%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,072Rp 19.0M
$681Rp 12.1M
57.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$277Rp 4.9M
-
-
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 Palangkaraya: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $282 in Surabaya versus $245 in Palangkaraya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya versus $14.00 in Palangkaraya. Groceries tell a different story – $211 in Surabaya vs $187 in Palangkaraya – so Palangkaraya wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Palangkaraya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Surabaya or Palangkaraya?
Surabaya costs about 10% more than Palangkaraya, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Surabaya and in Palangkaraya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,015 per month in Surabaya and $926 in Palangkaraya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Surabaya or Palangkaraya?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Palangkaraya, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Surabaya compared to Palangkaraya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $676 in Surabaya and $618 in Palangkaraya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
How do childcare costs compare in Surabaya and in Palangkaraya?
Kindergarten costs $283 per month in Surabaya and $105 in Palangkaraya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Surabaya or in Palangkaraya?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $676 in Surabaya and $618 in Palangkaraya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Palangkaraya – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Surabaya or to Palangkaraya?
If budget matters most, go with Palangkaraya. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Surabaya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.