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: $676 in Surabaya versus $634 in Pekanbaru.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,202 in Surabaya versus $989 in Pekanbaru.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,728 in Surabaya versus $1,343 in Pekanbaru.

Living in Surabaya is roughly 7% more expensive than in Pekanbaru, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya 51% lower, Pekanbaru 54% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 Rp 30.6K

$1.45 Rp 25.7K

19.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.51 Rp 203.8K

$8.36 Rp 148.0K

37.68%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.25 Rp 57.5K

$2.26 Rp 40.0K

43.81%

Cappuccino

$1.58 Rp 27.9K

$1.31 Rp 23.1K

20.61%

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

$0.62 Rp 10.9K

$0.42 Rp 7,464

47.62%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,554

$0.22 Rp 3,887

18.18%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

15.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 Rp 77.2K

$3.09 Rp 54.8K

41.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

-7.97%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 Rp 23.0K

$1.14 Rp 20.3K

14.04%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 Rp 15.9K

$0.89 Rp 15.7K

1.12%

Eggs

$1.23 Rp 21.8K

$1.68 Rp 29.8K

-26.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.62 Rp 134.9K

$7.37 Rp 130.5K

3.39%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.09 Rp 54.8K

$2.54 Rp 45.1K

21.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 Rp 134.6K

$6.72 Rp 119.1K

13.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 Rp 37.5K

$2.75 Rp 48.7K

-22.91%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 Rp 22.7K

$1.66 Rp 29.5K

-22.89%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

$2.44 Rp 43.2K

-21.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 27.7K

$1.25 Rp 22.1K

25.60%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 Rp 23.7K

$1.33 Rp 23.5K

0.75%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 Rp 35.9K

$2.01 Rp 35.7K

1.00%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 Rp 17.6K

$0.73 Rp 12.9K

35.62%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,186

$0.39 Rp 6,991

5.13%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

$2.11 Rp 37.3K

-9.00%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.23 Rp 446.8K

$20.66 Rp 365.8K

22.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 Rp 31.4K

$1.91 Rp 33.8K

-7.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 Rp 51.7K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 Rp 5,825

$0.27 Rp 4,778

22.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.44 Rp 149.4K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 Rp 9,236

$0.93 Rp 16.5K

-44.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,630

$0.37 Rp 6,527

16.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

$2.97 Rp 52.5K

-7.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.72 Rp 12.7K

6.94%

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

$24.8K Rp 439.2M

$22.8K Rp 403.0M

8.99%

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

$32.5K Rp 575.4M

$27.4K Rp 485.0M

18.62%

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

$86.6 Rp 1.5M

$65.2 Rp 1.2M

32.92%

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

$4.68 Rp 82.9K

$6.29 Rp 111.4K

-25.60%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.47 Rp 344.7K

$23.94 Rp 423.9K

-18.67%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.72 Rp 331.4K

$28.75 Rp 509.1K

-34.89%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 Rp 123.2K

$8.36 Rp 148.1K

-16.75%

Cinema Ticket

$2.70 Rp 47.8K

$3.05 Rp 54.0K

-11.48%

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

$283 Rp 5.0M

$96.6 Rp 1.7M

192.66%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,866 Rp 174.7M

$7,970 Rp 141.1M

23.78%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.9 Rp 1.3M

$27.32 Rp 483.8K

163.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.23 Rp 712.4K

$29.79 Rp 527.4K

35.05%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

$56.5 Rp 999.9K

46.89%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.9 Rp 1.3M

$82.0 Rp 1.5M

-7.46%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$282 Rp 5.0M

$208 Rp 3.7M

35.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 Rp 2.7M

$157 Rp 2.8M

-4.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 Rp 22.2M

$556 Rp 9.8M

125.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 Rp 11.0M

$374 Rp 6.6M

65.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,218 Rp 39.3M

$1,357 Rp 24.0M

63.43%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,072 Rp 19.0M

$659 Rp 11.7M

62.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$277 Rp 4.9M

$179 Rp 3.2M

54.87%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

9.46

-20.72%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Surabaya: September 15, 2026

Last update for Pekanbaru: September 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Surabaya and $208 in Pekanbaru. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Surabaya pays 55% 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 $8.00 in Pekanbaru for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $203 per month, with Pekanbaru cheaper across the board.

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 Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 55% higher in Surabaya, 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: $282 in Surabaya versus $208 in Pekanbaru. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $283 in Surabaya versus $96.6 in Pekanbaru. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Pekanbaru – a meal for two runs $8.00 versus $12.00 in Surabaya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

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 7% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.