😐A single person spends $676 per month in Surabaya vs $517 in Purwokerto, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,202 per month in Surabaya vs $847 in Purwokerto, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,728 per month in Surabaya vs $1,176 in Purwokerto, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 31% more than Purwokerto, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Surabaya and Purwokerto are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya51% lower, Purwokerto62% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.73Rp 30.7K
$1.30Rp 23.1K
33.08%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.51Rp 204.3K
$8.34Rp 148.0K
38.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.25Rp 57.7K
$3.21Rp 56.9K
1.25%
Cappuccino
$1.58Rp 28.0K
$1.40Rp 24.8K
12.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62Rp 10.9K
$0.42Rp 7,372
47.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,565
$0.17Rp 3,082
52.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22Rp 39.3K
$2.24Rp 39.8K
-0.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36Rp 77.4K
$3.10Rp 55.0K
40.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27Rp 22.5K
$1.15Rp 20.4K
10.43%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30Rp 23.1K
$0.89Rp 15.7K
46.07%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90Rp 15.9K
$0.83Rp 14.8K
8.43%
Eggs
$1.23Rp 21.8K
$1.48Rp 26.3K
-16.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.62Rp 135.2K
$7.26Rp 128.8K
4.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.09Rp 54.9K
$2.88Rp 51.1K
7.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60Rp 134.9K
$7.60Rp 134.9K
-
Apples(1kg)
$2.12Rp 37.6K
$2.23Rp 39.5K
-4.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.28Rp 22.7K
$1.12Rp 19.9K
14.29%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.1K
$1.51Rp 26.8K
27.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 27.8K
$0.91Rp 16.2K
72.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34Rp 23.8K
$1.11Rp 19.7K
20.72%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03Rp 36.0K
$1.94Rp 34.4K
4.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99Rp 17.6K
$0.67Rp 11.9K
47.76%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,202
$0.36Rp 6,314
13.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92Rp 34.1K
$2.39Rp 42.5K
-19.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.23Rp 447.8K
$22.29Rp 395.6K
13.19%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77Rp 31.5K
$1.87Rp 33.2K
-5.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92Rp 51.8K
$3.12Rp 55.4K
-6.41%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33Rp 5,838
$0.22Rp 3,911
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$11.88Rp 210.8K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.52Rp 9,257
$0.49Rp 8,609
6.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,648
$0.33Rp 5,806
30.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.76Rp 49.0K
$2.35Rp 41.7K
17.45%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77Rp 13.6K
$0.72Rp 12.8K
6.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8KRp 440.2M
$21.5KRp 381.0M
15.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 576.7M
$29.0KRp 514.0M
12.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$86.6Rp 1.5M
$34.43Rp 611.0K
151.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.68Rp 83.1K
$2.78Rp 49.3K
68.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.47Rp 345.5K
$19.10Rp 338.9K
1.94%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.72Rp 332.2K
$19.74Rp 350.4K
-5.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96Rp 123.5K
$11.29Rp 200.4K
-38.35%
Cinema Ticket
$2.70Rp 47.9K
$2.51Rp 44.5K
7.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$283Rp 5.0M
$94.4Rp 1.7M
199.39%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,866Rp 175.1M
$7,263Rp 128.9M
35.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.9Rp 1.3M
$39.61Rp 702.9K
81.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.23Rp 714.0K
$31.60Rp 560.9K
27.31%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0Rp 1.5M
$73.0Rp 1.3M
13.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.9Rp 1.3M
$73.2Rp 1.3M
3.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282Rp 5.0M
$140Rp 2.5M
101.42%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$150Rp 2.7M
$72.3Rp 1.3M
107.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,256Rp 22.3M
$587Rp 10.4M
113.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$619Rp 11.0M
$259Rp 4.6M
139.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,218Rp 39.4M
$1,409Rp 25.0M
57.40%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,072Rp 19.0M
$288Rp 5.1M
271.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$277Rp 4.9M
$120Rp 2.1M
130.84%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.5
8.45
-11.24%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surabaya: September 15, 2026
Last update for Purwokerto: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $282 in Surabaya versus $140 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 131% 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 $8.00 in Purwokerto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $211 vs $191 – 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 31%, 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 $1,015 per month in Surabaya and $776 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.
Is eating out cheaper in Surabaya or in Purwokerto?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya and $8.00 in Purwokerto. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Surabaya and in Purwokerto?
Groceries cost about 10% 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 $1,000 enough for either Surabaya or Purwokerto?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $676 in Surabaya and $517 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.