😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $693 in Surabaya versus $666 in Pontianak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,106 in Surabaya versus $1,038 in Pontianak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,520 in Surabaya versus $1,409 in Pontianak.
😐Living in Surabaya is roughly 4% more expensive than Pontianak, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya48% lower, Pontianak50% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Pontianak
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.58Rp 27.4K
$1.49Rp 25.9K
6.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.16Rp 210.8K
$12.48Rp 216.3K
-2.56%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.98Rp 51.7K
$3.16Rp 54.8K
-5.70%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 30.1K
$1.73Rp 29.9K
0.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65Rp 11.4K
$0.55Rp 9,476
18.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,460
$0.26Rp 4,460
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 41.8K
$3.11Rp 53.9K
-22.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05Rp 70.3K
$2.40Rp 41.6K
68.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Pontianak
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 25.0K
$1.23Rp 21.2K
17.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46Rp 25.2K
$1.14Rp 19.7K
28.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01Rp 17.4K
$0.92Rp 16.0K
9.78%
Eggs
$1.46Rp 25.3K
$1.58Rp 27.4K
-7.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.39Rp 162.7K
$8.05Rp 139.5K
16.65%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.31Rp 57.4K
$3.24Rp 56.1K
2.16%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.24Rp 142.9K
$7.94Rp 137.6K
3.78%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30Rp 39.9K
$2.36Rp 41.0K
-2.54%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 26.2K
$1.51Rp 26.2K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13Rp 36.9K
$1.86Rp 32.2K
14.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49Rp 25.9K
$1.50Rp 26.1K
-0.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.0K
$1.36Rp 23.6K
-2.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81Rp 31.3K
$1.88Rp 32.6K
-3.72%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20Rp 20.9K
$0.90Rp 15.6K
33.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,874
$0.42Rp 7,272
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55Rp 44.3K
$1.83Rp 31.7K
39.34%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.75Rp 446.3K
$22.33Rp 387.1K
15.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85Rp 32.0K
$2.11Rp 36.6K
-12.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14Rp 54.4K
$3.09Rp 53.5K
1.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Pontianak
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48Rp 8,241
$0.30Rp 5,168
60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.24Rp 160.1K
$9.68Rp 167.7K
-4.55%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,715
$0.53Rp 9,206
-15.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,453
$0.34Rp 5,944
-8.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.72Rp 47.2K
$2.95Rp 51.1K
-7.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 14.7K
$0.84Rp 14.6K
1.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KRp 364.5M
$24.5KRp 424.0M
-14.04%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KRp 619.1M
$27.1KRp 470.1M
31.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Pontianak
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.8Rp 1.5M
$69.5Rp 1.2M
20.63%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.29Rp 74.3K
$4.26Rp 73.8K
0.70%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.62Rp 340.1K
$22.38Rp 387.8K
-12.33%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Pontianak
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.80Rp 377.9K
$22.87Rp 396.4K
-4.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.42Rp 76.5K
$6.18Rp 107.1K
-28.48%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98Rp 51.7K
$3.01Rp 52.3K
-1.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Pontianak
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186Rp 3.2M
$92.0Rp 1.6M
102.26%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,464Rp 164.0M
$7,626Rp 132.2M
24.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Pontianak
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8Rp 1.1M
$40.97Rp 710.2K
53.19%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.18Rp 679.1K
$30.91Rp 535.7K
26.76%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.0Rp 1.4M
$66.1Rp 1.1M
18.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.3Rp 1.4M
$75.0Rp 1.3M
9.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Pontianak
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.2M
$255Rp 4.4M
-4.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.3M
$155Rp 2.7M
-12.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$790Rp 13.7M
$596Rp 10.3M
32.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394Rp 6.8M
$331Rp 5.7M
18.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,262Rp 39.2M
$1,116Rp 19.3M
102.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,122Rp 19.4M
$828Rp 14.3M
35.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Pontianak
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$302Rp 5.2M
$355Rp 6.1M
-14.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
9.15
-8.96%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Surabaya: April 25, 2026
Última actualización para Pontianak: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Surabaya and $255 in Pontianak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Pontianak pays 17% 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 $12.00 in Pontianak. Groceries flip the comparison at $230 vs $212, with Pontianak cheaper for home cooking.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Surabaya vs Pontianak: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
Is Pontianak cheaper than Surabaya?
Pontianak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Getting Around. The 4% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Surabaya or Pontianak?
On paper, Pontianak earns 17% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Surabaya and Pontianak?
Rent for a central apartment: $244 in Surabaya versus $255 in Pontianak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Surabaya vs Pontianak?
All in, you'll spend $693 per month in Surabaya versus $666 in Pontianak – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Pontianak runs roughly 5% less than in Surabaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Surabaya or Pontianak?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Pontianak gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Surabaya or Pontianak?
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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Pontianak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Surabaya vs otros destinos: coste de vida comparado