Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Palembang Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Palembang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $708 in Surabaya versus $657 in Palembang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,133 in Surabaya versus $1,031 in Palembang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,557 in Surabaya versus $1,404 in Palembang.

Living in Surabaya is roughly 8% more expensive than Palembang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya 47% lower, Palembang 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.52 Rp 27.1K

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

26.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.12 Rp 216.4K

$17.59 Rp 314.1K

-31.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.13 Rp 55.9K

$3.14 Rp 56.0K

-0.32%

Cappuccino

$1.82 Rp 32.4K

$1.40 Rp 25.0K

30.00%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

$0.97 Rp 17.4K

-38.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,602

$0.28 Rp 5,004

-7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 Rp 43.0K

$1.83 Rp 32.7K

31.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 Rp 71.7K

$3.59 Rp 64.2K

11.98%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

$1.31 Rp 23.4K

5.34%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

$1.16 Rp 20.7K

25.86%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

$1.41 Rp 25.1K

-34.04%

Eggs

$1.44 Rp 25.8K

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

20.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.04 Rp 161.5K

$7.99 Rp 142.6K

13.14%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

$3.13 Rp 55.9K

5.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.45 Rp 151.0K

$8.70 Rp 155.3K

-2.87%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 Rp 43.2K

$2.39 Rp 42.7K

1.26%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 Rp 27.5K

$1.44 Rp 25.7K

6.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 39.2K

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

15.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

$1.49 Rp 26.6K

-4.70%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 23.6K

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

-4.35%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

$1.93 Rp 34.5K

-6.74%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 Rp 21.1K

$0.97 Rp 17.3K

21.65%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,529

$0.50 Rp 8,973

-16.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 Rp 45.4K

$2.44 Rp 43.6K

4.10%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.78 Rp 442.6K

$21.68 Rp 387.2K

14.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 Rp 31.5K

$2.02 Rp 36.0K

-12.38%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 Rp 56.2K

$3.16 Rp 56.5K

-0.63%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 Rp 8,489

$0.47 Rp 8,466

2.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.40 Rp 168.0K

$9.74 Rp 173.9K

-3.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,919

$0.52 Rp 9,363

-15.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 Rp 5,165

$0.37 Rp 6,685

-21.62%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 Rp 49.5K

$2.96 Rp 52.8K

-6.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 15.1K

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

12.00%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.6K Rp 368.5M

$24.3K Rp 433.2M

-14.93%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$35.8K Rp 639.4M

$28.1K Rp 502.5M

27.23%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$84.9 Rp 1.5M

$69.8 Rp 1.2M

21.59%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.09 Rp 73.0K

$4.23 Rp 75.6K

-3.31%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.75 Rp 352.7K

$23.64 Rp 422.1K

-16.46%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.59 Rp 385.6K

$23.44 Rp 418.6K

-7.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.57 Rp 81.6K

$6.00 Rp 107.1K

-23.83%

Cinema Ticket

$2.85 Rp 50.9K

$3.04 Rp 54.3K

-6.25%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$188 Rp 3.3M

$92.3 Rp 1.6M

103.17%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,556 Rp 170.7M

$7,546 Rp 134.8M

26.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 Rp 1.1M

$42.12 Rp 752.2K

46.23%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.56 Rp 688.5K

$31.14 Rp 556.1K

23.83%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 Rp 1.4M

$67.4 Rp 1.2M

15.42%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$73.6 Rp 1.3M

13.65%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 Rp 4.3M

$257 Rp 4.6M

-5.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 Rp 2.4M

$157 Rp 2.8M

-13.71%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$762 Rp 13.6M

$584 Rp 10.4M

30.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 Rp 7.0M

$331 Rp 5.9M

18.82%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,209 Rp 39.5M

$1,346 Rp 24.0M

64.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,067 Rp 19.0M

$783 Rp 14.0M

36.17%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$276 Rp 4.9M

$309 Rp 5.5M

-10.90%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Palembang: May 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Surabaya and $257 in Palembang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Palembang pays 12% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Surabaya vs $18.00 in Palembang. Groceries flip the comparison at $226 vs $214, with Palembang cheaper for home cooking.

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 Palembang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Palembang is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Palembang earns 12% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $242 in Surabaya versus $257 in Palembang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $708 per month in Surabaya versus $657 in Palembang – a 8% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Palembang runs roughly 4% less than in Surabaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Palembang gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Palembang gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.