Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Palangkaraya Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Palangkaraya

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Surabaya 48% lower, Palangkaraya 51% lower.

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

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