😐A single person spends $693 per month in Surabaya vs $656 in Palangkaraya, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,106 per month in Surabaya vs $1,008 in Palangkaraya, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,520 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 – Surabaya48% lower, Palangkaraya51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.58Rp 27.4K
$1.52Rp 26.3K
3.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.16Rp 210.8K
$12.34Rp 213.9K
-1.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.98Rp 51.7K
$4.03Rp 69.8K
-26.05%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 30.1K
$1.71Rp 29.6K
1.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65Rp 11.4K
$0.56Rp 9,689
16.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,460
$0.30Rp 5,192
-13.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 41.8K
$2.83Rp 49.1K
-14.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05Rp 70.3K
$3.56Rp 61.8K
13.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 25.0K
$1.26Rp 21.9K
14.29%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46Rp 25.2K
$1.35Rp 23.4K
8.15%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01Rp 17.4K
$0.88Rp 15.2K
14.77%
Eggs
$1.46Rp 25.3K
$1.56Rp 27.1K
-6.41%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.39Rp 162.7K
$8.19Rp 141.9K
14.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.31Rp 57.4K
$2.46Rp 42.6K
34.55%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.24Rp 142.9K
$7.82Rp 135.6K
5.37%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30Rp 39.9K
$2.40Rp 41.6K
-4.17%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 26.2K
$1.92Rp 33.2K
-21.35%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13Rp 36.9K
$1.82Rp 31.5K
17.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49Rp 25.9K
$1.09Rp 18.9K
36.70%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.0K
$1.34Rp 23.2K
-0.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81Rp 31.3K
$3.11Rp 54.0K
-41.80%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20Rp 20.9K
$0.59Rp 10.2K
103.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,874
$0.48Rp 8,257
-6.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55Rp 44.3K
$1.87Rp 32.4K
36.36%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.75Rp 446.3K
$23.64Rp 409.7K
8.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85Rp 32.0K
$2.04Rp 35.3K
-9.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14Rp 54.4K
$3.06Rp 53.1K
2.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48Rp 8,241
$0.33Rp 5,639
45.45%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.24Rp 160.1K
$9.68Rp 167.8K
-4.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,715
$0.53Rp 9,206
-15.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,453
$0.35Rp 6,006
-11.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.72Rp 47.2K
$2.84Rp 49.2K
-4.23%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 14.7K
$0.72Rp 12.4K
18.06%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KRp 364.5M
$24.8KRp 429.8M
-15.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KRp 619.1M
$27.2KRp 472.1M
31.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.8Rp 1.5M
$70.6Rp 1.2M
18.76%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.29Rp 74.3K
$4.35Rp 75.4K
-1.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.62Rp 340.1K
$18.64Rp 323.1K
5.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.80Rp 377.9K
$6.04Rp 104.7K
260.93%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.42Rp 76.5K
$6.18Rp 107.1K
-28.48%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98Rp 51.7K
$3.09Rp 53.6K
-3.56%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186Rp 3.2M
$94.2Rp 1.6M
97.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,464Rp 164.0M
$7,596Rp 131.6M
24.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8Rp 1.1M
$41.41Rp 717.7K
51.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.18Rp 679.1K
$30.25Rp 524.3K
29.52%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.0Rp 1.4M
$67.8Rp 1.2M
15.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.3Rp 1.4M
$72.7Rp 1.3M
13.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.2M
$261Rp 4.5M
-6.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.3M
$160Rp 2.8M
-15.87%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$790Rp 13.7M
$593Rp 10.3M
33.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394Rp 6.8M
$336Rp 5.8M
17.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,262Rp 39.2M
$1,140Rp 19.8M
98.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,122Rp 19.4M
$770Rp 13.4M
45.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$302Rp 5.2M
$166Rp 2.9M
81.74%
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: April 25, 2026
Last update for Palangkaraya: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Surabaya versus $261 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 82% 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 – $230 in Surabaya vs $214 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 vs Palangkaraya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,039 per month in Surabaya and $985 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 Palangkaraya?
Kindergarten costs $186 per month in Surabaya and $94.2 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 Palangkaraya?
Groceries cost about 7% 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 Palangkaraya?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $693 in Surabaya and $656 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 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.