😐A single person spends $693 per month in Surabaya vs $614 in Purwokerto, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,106 per month in Surabaya vs $973 in Purwokerto, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,520 per month in Surabaya vs $1,333 in Purwokerto, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 13% more than Purwokerto, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Surabaya and Purwokerto are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya48% lower, Purwokerto54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.58Rp 27.4K
$1.26Rp 21.9K
25.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.16Rp 210.8K
$9.35Rp 162.0K
30.05%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.98Rp 51.7K
$3.42Rp 59.3K
-12.87%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 30.1K
$1.43Rp 24.8K
21.68%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65Rp 11.4K
$0.36Rp 6,179
80.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,460
$0.17Rp 2,978
52.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 41.8K
$1.75Rp 30.3K
37.71%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05Rp 70.3K
$3.46Rp 59.9K
17.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 25.0K
$1.17Rp 20.2K
23.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46Rp 25.2K
$1.07Rp 18.5K
36.45%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01Rp 17.4K
$0.86Rp 14.8K
17.44%
Eggs
$1.46Rp 25.3K
$1.53Rp 26.5K
-4.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.39Rp 162.7K
$9.04Rp 156.8K
3.87%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.31Rp 57.4K
$3.02Rp 52.4K
9.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.24Rp 142.9K
$7.98Rp 138.3K
3.26%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30Rp 39.9K
$2.27Rp 39.4K
1.32%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 26.2K
$1.35Rp 23.4K
11.85%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13Rp 36.9K
$1.66Rp 28.7K
28.31%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49Rp 25.9K
$1.59Rp 27.6K
-6.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.0K
$1.45Rp 25.1K
-8.28%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81Rp 31.3K
$2.71Rp 47.0K
-33.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20Rp 20.9K
$0.95Rp 16.4K
26.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,874
$0.32Rp 5,551
40.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55Rp 44.3K
$2.52Rp 43.8K
1.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.75Rp 446.3K
$22.60Rp 391.8K
13.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85Rp 32.0K
$2.05Rp 35.5K
-9.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14Rp 54.4K
$3.48Rp 60.2K
-9.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48Rp 8,241
$0.24Rp 4,142
100.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.24Rp 160.1K
$9.77Rp 169.4K
-5.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,715
$0.73Rp 12.6K
-38.36%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,453
$0.75Rp 13.1K
-58.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.72Rp 47.2K
$2.50Rp 43.4K
8.80%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 14.7K
$0.59Rp 10.2K
44.07%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KRp 364.5M
$24.2KRp 419.0M
-13.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KRp 619.1M
$26.0KRp 449.9M
37.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.8Rp 1.5M
$43.42Rp 752.6K
93.00%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.29Rp 74.3K
$4.68Rp 81.1K
-8.33%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.62Rp 340.1K
$22.93Rp 397.4K
-14.44%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.80Rp 377.9K
$18.06Rp 313.1K
20.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.42Rp 76.5K
$6.24Rp 108.2K
-29.17%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98Rp 51.7K
$2.68Rp 46.5K
11.19%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186Rp 3.2M
$92.5Rp 1.6M
101.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,464Rp 164.0M
$7,505Rp 130.1M
26.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8Rp 1.1M
$41.97Rp 727.5K
49.54%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.18Rp 679.1K
$30.55Rp 529.5K
28.25%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.0Rp 1.4M
$59.1Rp 1.0M
32.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.3Rp 1.4M
$65.1Rp 1.1M
26.54%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.2M
$259Rp 4.5M
-5.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.3M
$160Rp 2.8M
-15.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$790Rp 13.7M
$586Rp 10.2M
34.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394Rp 6.8M
$329Rp 5.7M
19.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,262Rp 39.2M
$1,453Rp 25.2M
55.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,122Rp 19.4M
$291Rp 5.0M
285.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$302Rp 5.2M
$122Rp 2.1M
148.27%
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 Purwokerto: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Surabaya versus $259 in Purwokerto. 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 148% 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 $9.00 in Purwokerto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $230 vs $212 – making Purwokerto the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Purwokerto: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Purwokerto cheaper than Surabaya?
Yes – Surabaya is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,039 per month in Surabaya and $921 in Purwokerto. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Purwokerto, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do food prices compare in Surabaya and Purwokerto?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Surabaya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is eating out cheaper in Surabaya or Purwokerto?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya and $9.00 in Purwokerto. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Is $1,000 enough for either Surabaya or Purwokerto?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $693 in Surabaya and $614 in Purwokerto, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is Surabaya or Purwokerto more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Purwokerto – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Surabaya or Purwokerto?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Purwokerto. 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.