Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Pekanbaru Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Pekanbaru

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $708 in Surabaya versus $671 in Pekanbaru.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,133 in Surabaya versus $972 in Pekanbaru.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,557 in Surabaya versus $1,273 in Pekanbaru.

Living in Surabaya is roughly 6% more expensive than Pekanbaru, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya 47% lower, Pekanbaru 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.52 Rp 27.1K

$1.58 Rp 28.1K

-3.80%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.12 Rp 216.4K

$9.16 Rp 163.6K

32.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.13 Rp 55.9K

$2.43 Rp 43.3K

28.81%

Cappuccino

$1.82 Rp 32.4K

$1.35 Rp 24.2K

34.81%

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

$0.60 Rp 10.7K

$0.50 Rp 8,881

20.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,602

$0.24 Rp 4,259

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 Rp 43.0K

$2.21 Rp 39.5K

9.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 Rp 71.7K

$3.31 Rp 59.1K

21.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 Rp 24.7K

$1.36 Rp 24.2K

1.47%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 Rp 26.1K

$1.20 Rp 21.4K

21.67%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

$0.98 Rp 17.5K

-5.10%

Eggs

$1.44 Rp 25.8K

$1.71 Rp 30.5K

-15.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.04 Rp 161.5K

$17.17 Rp 306.6K

-47.35%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.29 Rp 58.8K

$2.62 Rp 46.8K

25.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.45 Rp 151.0K

$10.17 Rp 181.5K

-16.91%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 Rp 43.2K

$2.88 Rp 51.4K

-15.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 Rp 27.5K

$1.68 Rp 30.1K

-8.33%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 39.2K

$2.00 Rp 35.8K

9.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 Rp 25.4K

$0.96 Rp 17.2K

47.92%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 23.6K

$1.01 Rp 18.1K

30.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

$1.67 Rp 29.8K

7.78%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 Rp 21.1K

$1.50 Rp 26.8K

-21.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,529

$0.45 Rp 8,024

-6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 Rp 45.4K

$2.25 Rp 40.2K

12.89%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.78 Rp 442.6K

$21.07 Rp 376.3K

17.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 Rp 31.5K

$2.80 Rp 50.0K

-36.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 Rp 56.2K

$4.08 Rp 72.8K

-23.04%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 Rp 8,489

$0.29 Rp 5,261

65.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.40 Rp 168.0K

$9.04 Rp 161.5K

3.98%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,919

$0.88 Rp 15.7K

-50.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 Rp 5,165

$0.44 Rp 7,814

-34.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 Rp 49.5K

$2.14 Rp 38.2K

29.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 15.1K

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

9.09%

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

$20.6K Rp 368.5M

$22.7K Rp 405.1M

-9.03%

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

$35.8K Rp 639.4M

$25.7K Rp 459.7M

39.08%

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

$84.9 Rp 1.5M

$69.3 Rp 1.2M

22.44%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.0K

$6.73 Rp 120.2K

-39.23%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.75 Rp 352.7K

$28.30 Rp 505.4K

-30.21%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.59 Rp 385.6K

$23.12 Rp 412.8K

-6.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.57 Rp 81.6K

$12.25 Rp 218.7K

-62.69%

Cinema Ticket

$2.85 Rp 50.9K

$3.29 Rp 58.7K

-13.37%

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

$188 Rp 3.3M

$175 Rp 3.1M

7.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,556 Rp 170.7M

$3,092 Rp 55.2M

209.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 Rp 1.1M

$34.33 Rp 613.1K

79.41%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.56 Rp 688.5K

$36.18 Rp 646.2K

6.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 Rp 1.4M

$65.1 Rp 1.2M

19.43%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$76.5 Rp 1.4M

9.24%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 Rp 4.3M

$258 Rp 4.6M

-6.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 Rp 2.4M

$120 Rp 2.2M

12.46%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$762 Rp 13.6M

$908 Rp 16.2M

-16.07%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 Rp 7.0M

$154 Rp 2.7M

155.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,209 Rp 39.5M

$1,026 Rp 18.3M

115.29%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,067 Rp 19.0M

$722 Rp 12.9M

47.73%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$276 Rp 4.9M

$190 Rp 3.4M

44.86%

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 Pekanbaru: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Surabaya and $258 in Pekanbaru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surabaya pays 45% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $12.00 in Surabaya vs $9.00 in Pekanbaru. Groceries flip the comparison at $226 vs $251, with Surabaya 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 Pekanbaru: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pekanbaru is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Surabaya pays 45% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $242 in Surabaya versus $258 in Pekanbaru. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Pekanbaru – a meal for two runs $9.00 versus $12.00 in Surabaya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $708 per month in Surabaya versus $671 in Pekanbaru – a 6% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Pekanbaru 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 Pekanbaru gentler on the wallet – expenses run 6% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.