😐A single person spends $698 per month in Surabaya vs $651 in Palangkaraya, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,123 per month in Surabaya vs $1,001 in Palangkaraya, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,547 per month in Surabaya vs $1,352 in Palangkaraya, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 7% 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
$1.52Rp 26.9K
$1.51Rp 26.7K
0.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.15Rp 215.2K
$12.14Rp 215.0K
0.08%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.10Rp 54.9K
$4.08Rp 72.4K
-24.02%
Cappuccino
$1.80Rp 32.0K
$1.67Rp 29.6K
7.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60Rp 10.6K
$0.59Rp 10.4K
1.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,010
$0.32Rp 5,674
-12.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 42.7K
$2.74Rp 48.5K
-12.04%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95Rp 70.0K
$3.47Rp 61.5K
13.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38Rp 24.5K
$1.27Rp 22.6K
8.66%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44Rp 25.6K
$1.35Rp 23.9K
6.67%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94Rp 16.7K
$0.87Rp 15.3K
8.05%
Eggs
$1.46Rp 25.9K
$1.52Rp 26.9K
-3.95%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20Rp 163.0K
$7.93Rp 140.5K
16.02%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.22Rp 57.0K
$2.46Rp 43.5K
30.89%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.48Rp 150.3K
$7.77Rp 137.7K
9.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37Rp 42.0K
$2.48Rp 43.9K
-4.44%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49Rp 26.4K
$1.85Rp 32.8K
-19.46%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17Rp 38.4K
$1.88Rp 33.3K
15.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50Rp 26.6K
$1.09Rp 19.3K
37.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34Rp 23.7K
$1.33Rp 23.6K
0.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77Rp 31.4K
$3.03Rp 53.7K
-41.58%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19Rp 21.2K
$0.59Rp 10.5K
101.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,184
$0.45Rp 7,931
2.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.46Rp 43.6K
$1.88Rp 33.3K
30.85%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.63Rp 454.0K
$24.32Rp 430.9K
5.39%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78Rp 31.5K
$2.04Rp 36.2K
-12.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21Rp 56.8K
$3.16Rp 56.0K
1.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47Rp 8,328
$0.32Rp 5,687
46.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.00Rp 159.5K
$9.85Rp 174.6K
-8.63%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47Rp 8,383
$0.53Rp 9,317
-11.32%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 5,104
$0.37Rp 6,640
-21.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.70Rp 47.9K
$2.87Rp 50.9K
-5.92%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86Rp 15.2K
$0.73Rp 13.0K
17.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5KRp 363.9M
$25.0KRp 443.6M
-17.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KRp 628.1M
$27.8KRp 491.6M
27.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.2Rp 1.5M
$70.0Rp 1.2M
18.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25Rp 75.3K
$4.18Rp 74.0K
1.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.65Rp 348.0K
$18.79Rp 332.8K
4.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.20Rp 393.2K
$6.01Rp 106.5K
269.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.53Rp 80.3K
$6.19Rp 109.6K
-26.82%
Cinema Ticket
$2.89Rp 51.1K
$3.03Rp 53.6K
-4.62%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$191Rp 3.4M
$92.2Rp 1.6M
107.50%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,339Rp 165.4M
$7,503Rp 132.9M
24.46%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.5Rp 1.1M
$41.13Rp 728.6K
49.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.25Rp 677.6K
$30.57Rp 541.5K
25.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.1Rp 1.4M
$67.0Rp 1.2M
15.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0Rp 1.5M
$74.9Rp 1.3M
9.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$243Rp 4.3M
$261Rp 4.6M
-6.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138Rp 2.4M
$160Rp 2.8M
-13.59%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$783Rp 13.9M
$578Rp 10.2M
35.35%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394Rp 7.0M
$330Rp 5.8M
19.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,234Rp 39.6M
$1,330Rp 23.6M
67.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,072Rp 19.0M
$625Rp 11.1M
71.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Palangkaraya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$278Rp 4.9M
$165Rp 2.9M
68.44%
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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Palangkaraya: June 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $243 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 68% 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 $215 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 7% 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 $1,047 per month in Surabaya and $976 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 $191 per month in Surabaya and $92.2 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 6% 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 $698 in Surabaya and $651 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.