😐A single person spends $700 per month in Surabaya vs $630 in Purwokerto, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,117 per month in Surabaya vs $964 in Purwokerto, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,535 per month in Surabaya vs $1,298 in Purwokerto, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 11% more than Purwokerto, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Surabaya and Purwokerto are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya48% lower, Purwokerto53% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52Rp 27.3K
$1.32Rp 23.6K
15.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.46Rp 223.3K
$9.35Rp 167.4K
33.26%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.13Rp 56.1K
$3.33Rp 59.7K
-6.01%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 31.1K
$1.38Rp 24.8K
26.09%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66Rp 11.8K
$0.38Rp 6,870
73.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,017
$0.18Rp 3,314
55.56%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50Rp 44.7K
$1.71Rp 30.6K
46.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92Rp 70.2K
$3.47Rp 62.1K
12.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42Rp 25.5K
$1.18Rp 21.2K
20.34%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$1.10Rp 19.7K
36.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.7K
$0.80Rp 14.4K
16.25%
Eggs
$1.50Rp 26.8K
$1.54Rp 27.6K
-2.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.31Rp 166.7K
$9.29Rp 166.4K
0.22%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17Rp 56.9K
$3.12Rp 55.8K
1.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.19Rp 146.8K
$7.69Rp 137.7K
6.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40Rp 43.0K
$2.39Rp 42.8K
0.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 26.8K
$1.34Rp 24.0K
11.94%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17Rp 38.8K
$1.70Rp 30.5K
27.65%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.4K
$1.52Rp 27.3K
-6.58%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 24.7K
$1.41Rp 25.3K
-2.13%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78Rp 31.9K
$2.62Rp 47.0K
-32.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16Rp 20.7K
$0.97Rp 17.3K
19.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,099
$0.33Rp 5,830
36.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44Rp 43.7K
$2.44Rp 43.8K
-
Wine(Bottle)
$24.54Rp 439.7K
$21.58Rp 386.5K
13.72%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83Rp 32.8K
$2.09Rp 37.5K
-12.44%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27Rp 58.6K
$3.47Rp 62.1K
-5.76%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47Rp 8,495
$0.26Rp 4,701
80.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.14Rp 163.8K
$9.56Rp 171.3K
-4.39%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47Rp 8,431
$0.71Rp 12.7K
-33.80%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,569
$0.71Rp 12.8K
-56.34%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.75Rp 49.3K
$2.58Rp 46.1K
6.59%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87Rp 15.6K
$0.62Rp 11.2K
40.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KRp 373.4M
$24.5KRp 438.2M
-14.78%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KRp 624.7M
$26.2KRp 469.5M
33.06%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.9Rp 1.5M
$44.79Rp 802.4K
87.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.10Rp 73.5K
$4.60Rp 82.4K
-10.87%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.83Rp 355.3K
$23.04Rp 412.8K
-13.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.93Rp 393.0K
$18.73Rp 335.6K
17.08%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.44Rp 79.5K
$6.31Rp 113.1K
-29.64%
Cinema Ticket
$2.96Rp 53.0K
$2.68Rp 48.0K
10.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$192Rp 3.4M
$91.6Rp 1.6M
109.13%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,350Rp 167.5M
$7,718Rp 138.3M
21.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9Rp 1.1M
$41.53Rp 744.0K
51.36%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.45Rp 706.8K
$30.47Rp 545.8K
29.47%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$59.5Rp 1.1M
30.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0Rp 1.5M
$64.2Rp 1.2M
27.67%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.4M
$255Rp 4.6M
-4.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.4M
$155Rp 2.8M
-12.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$762Rp 13.7M
$575Rp 10.3M
32.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389Rp 7.0M
$340Rp 6.1M
14.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,223Rp 39.8M
$1,402Rp 25.1M
58.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,057Rp 18.9M
$280Rp 5.0M
277.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Purwokerto
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$269Rp 4.8M
$117Rp 2.1M
130.71%
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Purwokerto: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Surabaya versus $255 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 $9.00 in Purwokerto. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $227 vs $211 – 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 11%, 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 $1,050 per month in Surabaya and $946 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 7% 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 $700 in Surabaya and $630 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.