😐A single person spends $702 per month in Surabaya vs $659 in Palangkaraya, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,129 per month in Surabaya vs $1,010 in Palangkaraya, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,557 per month in Surabaya vs $1,360 in Palangkaraya, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 6% more than Palangkaraya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Surabaya and Palangkaraya are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya47% lower, Palangkaraya50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.56Rp 28.2K
$1.49Rp 27.0K
4.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.42Rp 224.2K
$12.13Rp 218.9K
2.39%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.03Rp 54.6K
$3.94Rp 71.1K
-23.10%
Cappuccino
$1.76Rp 31.7K
$1.64Rp 29.6K
7.32%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66Rp 11.9K
$0.55Rp 9,884
20.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,096
$0.30Rp 5,366
-6.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44Rp 44.1K
$2.73Rp 49.4K
-10.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09Rp 73.8K
$3.48Rp 62.8K
17.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 25.9K
$1.21Rp 21.8K
19.01%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52Rp 27.4K
$1.34Rp 24.2K
13.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.98Rp 17.7K
$0.88Rp 15.8K
11.36%
Eggs
$1.51Rp 27.2K
$1.52Rp 27.5K
-0.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.28Rp 167.5K
$8.36Rp 150.9K
11.00%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.24Rp 58.5K
$2.41Rp 43.6K
34.44%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.13Rp 146.7K
$7.88Rp 142.2K
3.17%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38Rp 43.0K
$2.52Rp 45.4K
-5.56%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 27.1K
$1.90Rp 34.3K
-21.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.18Rp 39.4K
$1.86Rp 33.5K
17.20%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.6K
$1.10Rp 19.9K
29.09%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.8K
$1.33Rp 24.1K
-0.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73Rp 31.2K
$3.13Rp 56.4K
-44.73%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15Rp 20.7K
$0.59Rp 10.7K
94.92%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,229
$0.45Rp 8,063
2.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52Rp 45.6K
$1.81Rp 32.6K
39.23%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.18Rp 454.5K
$20.46Rp 369.4K
23.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78Rp 32.2K
$2.12Rp 38.3K
-16.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30Rp 59.5K
$3.10Rp 56.0K
6.45%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44Rp 8,032
$0.30Rp 5,354
46.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.26Rp 167.2K
$10.12Rp 182.8K
-8.50%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,115
$0.56Rp 10.1K
-19.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,634
$0.35Rp 6,254
-11.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.74Rp 49.5K
$2.91Rp 52.5K
-5.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87Rp 15.6K
$0.72Rp 13.1K
20.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KRp 374.8M
$24.9KRp 449.3M
-16.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KRp 629.2M
$27.4KRp 495.3M
27.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0Rp 1.5M
$68.8Rp 1.2M
20.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.19Rp 75.6K
$4.38Rp 79.1K
-4.34%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.44Rp 350.9K
$19.19Rp 346.4K
1.30%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.63Rp 390.4K
$6.32Rp 114.1K
242.25%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.38Rp 79.1K
$6.26Rp 113.0K
-30.03%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98Rp 53.9K
$3.03Rp 54.8K
-1.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186Rp 3.4M
$95.1Rp 1.7M
95.61%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,266Rp 167.3M
$7,558Rp 136.4M
22.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9Rp 1.1M
$40.89Rp 738.3K
53.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.49Rp 694.9K
$30.20Rp 545.2K
27.45%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.9Rp 1.4M
$67.3Rp 1.2M
14.33%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8Rp 1.5M
$73.9Rp 1.3M
13.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$249Rp 4.5M
$257Rp 4.6M
-3.11%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138Rp 2.5M
$157Rp 2.8M
-12.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$775Rp 14.0M
$588Rp 10.6M
31.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$392Rp 7.1M
$329Rp 5.9M
19.01%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,136Rp 38.6M
$1,000Rp 18.0M
113.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,064Rp 19.2M
$681Rp 12.3M
56.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$269Rp 4.9M
$162Rp 2.9M
65.90%
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 Palangkaraya: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $249 in Surabaya versus $257 in Palangkaraya. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 66% higher in Surabaya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya versus $12.00 in Palangkaraya. Groceries tell a different story – $228 in Surabaya vs $209 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 6% more than Palangkaraya, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,053 per month in Surabaya and $989 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 do childcare costs compare in Surabaya and in Palangkaraya?
Kindergarten costs $186 per month in Surabaya and $95.1 in Palangkaraya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Surabaya or in Palangkaraya?
Groceries cost about 9% more in Surabaya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Surabaya or in Palangkaraya?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $702 in Surabaya and $659 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.