😐A single person spends $702 per month in Surabaya vs $610 in Purwokerto, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,129 per month in Surabaya vs $944 in Purwokerto, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,557 per month in Surabaya vs $1,278 in Purwokerto, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 15% more than Purwokerto, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Surabaya and Purwokerto are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya47% lower, Purwokerto54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.56Rp 28.2K
$1.30Rp 23.5K
20.00%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.42Rp 224.2K
$8.99Rp 162.4K
38.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.03Rp 54.6K
$3.36Rp 60.7K
-9.82%
Cappuccino
$1.76Rp 31.7K
$1.38Rp 25.0K
27.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66Rp 11.9K
$0.35Rp 6,357
88.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,096
$0.17Rp 3,108
64.71%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44Rp 44.1K
$1.75Rp 31.5K
39.43%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09Rp 73.8K
$3.63Rp 65.5K
12.67%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 25.9K
$1.17Rp 21.1K
23.08%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52Rp 27.4K
$1.11Rp 20.1K
36.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.98Rp 17.7K
$0.80Rp 14.4K
22.50%
Eggs
$1.51Rp 27.2K
$1.52Rp 27.4K
-0.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.28Rp 167.5K
$9.15Rp 165.3K
1.42%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.24Rp 58.5K
$3.01Rp 54.4K
7.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.13Rp 146.7K
$8.05Rp 145.4K
0.99%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38Rp 43.0K
$2.38Rp 43.0K
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 27.1K
$1.33Rp 24.0K
12.78%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.18Rp 39.4K
$1.64Rp 29.5K
32.93%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.6K
$1.55Rp 28.0K
-8.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.8K
$1.48Rp 26.7K
-10.81%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73Rp 31.2K
$2.70Rp 48.7K
-35.93%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15Rp 20.7K
$0.91Rp 16.4K
26.37%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,229
$0.32Rp 5,858
43.75%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52Rp 45.6K
$2.52Rp 45.5K
-
Wine(Bottle)
$25.18Rp 454.5K
$21.90Rp 395.3K
14.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78Rp 32.2K
$2.10Rp 37.9K
-15.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30Rp 59.5K
$3.46Rp 62.4K
-4.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44Rp 8,032
$0.26Rp 4,719
69.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.26Rp 167.2K
$9.88Rp 178.3K
-6.28%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,115
$0.75Rp 13.5K
-40.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,634
$0.76Rp 13.8K
-59.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.74Rp 49.5K
$2.58Rp 46.5K
6.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87Rp 15.6K
$0.63Rp 11.4K
38.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KRp 374.8M
$24.2KRp 437.8M
-14.39%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KRp 629.2M
$25.5KRp 459.9M
36.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0Rp 1.5M
$44.42Rp 801.9K
86.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.19Rp 75.6K
$4.45Rp 80.4K
-5.84%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.44Rp 350.9K
$22.78Rp 411.2K
-14.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.63Rp 390.4K
$18.32Rp 330.7K
18.07%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.38Rp 79.1K
$6.24Rp 112.6K
-29.81%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98Rp 53.9K
$2.71Rp 48.9K
9.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186Rp 3.4M
$93.4Rp 1.7M
99.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,266Rp 167.3M
$7,651Rp 138.1M
21.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9Rp 1.1M
$41.64Rp 751.8K
51.01%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.49Rp 694.9K
$30.25Rp 546.1K
27.24%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.9Rp 1.4M
$58.2Rp 1.1M
32.05%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8Rp 1.5M
$65.3Rp 1.2M
28.21%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$249Rp 4.5M
$258Rp 4.7M
-3.52%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138Rp 2.5M
$160Rp 2.9M
-13.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$775Rp 14.0M
$577Rp 10.4M
34.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$392Rp 7.1M
$335Rp 6.1M
16.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,136Rp 38.6M
$1,367Rp 24.7M
56.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,064Rp 19.2M
$279Rp 5.0M
282.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$269Rp 4.9M
$118Rp 2.1M
127.25%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Purwokerto: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $249 in Surabaya versus $258 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 127% 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: $228 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 15%, 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 $1,053 per month in Surabaya and $915 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 in 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 in 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 $702 in Surabaya and $610 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.