Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Salatiga

For one person, living is cheaper in Salatiga: $450 a month against $682 in Surabaya, rent and utilities included – about $2,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Surabaya, Indonesia
Salatiga, Indonesia
Surabaya
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$682
/mo nomad
Salatiga
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$450
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Surabaya and in Salatiga

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Surabaya and in Salatiga actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $682 per month in Surabaya vs $450 in Salatiga, rent included.

  • Surabaya $682
  • Salatiga $450

A couple spends around $1,188 per month in Surabaya vs $667 in Salatiga, rent included.

  • Surabaya $1,188
  • Salatiga $667

A family of three spends $1,694 per month in Surabaya vs $884 in Salatiga, rent included.

  • Surabaya $1,694
  • Salatiga $884

Surabaya costs about 51% more than Salatiga, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Both Surabaya and Salatiga are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya 50% lower, Salatiga 67% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.62 Rp 29.4K
$0.87 Rp 15.8K
86.21%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.34 Rp 205.8K
$8.84 Rp 160.5K
28.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.74 Rp 49.7K
$2.79 Rp 50.6K
-1.79%
Cappuccino
$1.51 Rp 27.4K
$1.34 Rp 24.4K
12.69%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 Rp 12.0K
$0.34 Rp 6,089
94.12%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28 Rp 5,143
$0.21 Rp 3,830
33.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.19 Rp 39.8K
$1.92 Rp 34.8K
14.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.07 Rp 73.9K
$4.04 Rp 73.4K
0.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.20 Rp 21.8K
$1.20 Rp 21.8K
-
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 Rp 23.6K
$1.26 Rp 22.9K
3.17%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.87 Rp 15.7K
$0.80 Rp 14.5K
8.75%
Eggs
$1.19 Rp 21.6K
$1.18 Rp 21.3K
0.85%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.45 Rp 135.3K
$7.72 Rp 140.1K
-3.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.91 Rp 52.8K
$3.06 Rp 55.5K
-4.90%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.47 Rp 135.5K
$7.47 Rp 135.5K
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 36.3K
$2.08 Rp 37.7K
-3.85%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 Rp 23.3K
$1.24 Rp 22.5K
3.23%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.82 Rp 33.0K
$1.88 Rp 34.1K
-3.19%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 28.1K
$1.54 Rp 28.0K
0.65%
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 Rp 23.4K
$1.29 Rp 23.3K
-
Onion (1kg)
$1.96 Rp 35.6K
$1.99 Rp 36.0K
-1.51%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 Rp 17.2K
$0.34 Rp 6,187
179.41%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 Rp 7,732
$0.37 Rp 6,747
16.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.89 Rp 34.3K
$1.88 Rp 34.1K
0.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$24.59 Rp 446.2K
$24.47 Rp 444.1K
0.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.68 Rp 30.4K
$1.66 Rp 30.2K
1.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82 Rp 51.1K
$2.99 Rp 54.2K
-5.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.29 Rp 5,328
$0.19 Rp 3,406
52.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$16.73 Rp 303.6K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.50 Rp 9,045
$0.46 Rp 8,316
8.70%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.42 Rp 7,616
$0.46 Rp 8,353
-8.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.58 Rp 46.7K
$2.64 Rp 47.9K
-2.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.87 Rp 15.8K
$0.72 Rp 13.1K
20.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.0K Rp 453.5M
$24.7K Rp 448.8M
1.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 582.4M
$31.7K Rp 574.7M
1.35%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$86.4 Rp 1.6M
$85.1 Rp 1.5M
1.54%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.56 Rp 82.7K
$4.72 Rp 85.6K
-3.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.27 Rp 349.8K
$19.14 Rp 347.4K
0.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$15.43 Rp 280.1K
$11.18 Rp 202.8K
38.01%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.74 Rp 122.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$2.61 Rp 47.4K
$1.90 Rp 34.4K
37.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$280 Rp 5.1M
$272 Rp 4.9M
2.84%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,211 Rp 76.4M
$4,100 Rp 74.4M
2.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$69.0 Rp 1.3M
$22.30 Rp 404.6K
209.42%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.98 Rp 689.3K
$10.92 Rp 198.1K
247.80%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.3 Rp 1.5M
$43.38 Rp 787.2K
87.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.3 Rp 1.3M
$74.3 Rp 1.3M
-2.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$273 Rp 5.0M
$163 Rp 3.0M
67.70%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$146 Rp 2.6M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,230 Rp 22.3M
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$611 Rp 11.1M
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,179 Rp 39.5M
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,072 Rp 19.5M
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$253 Rp 4.6M
$149 Rp 2.7M
70.41%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.5
7.5
-

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Surabaya: November 3, 2026

Last update for Salatiga: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
$205
Salatiga
$203 0.9% $1.8
Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
$146
Salatiga
- * 100%
Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
$117
Salatiga
$68 42.1% $49
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
$110
Salatiga
$109 1.2% $1.3
Eating Out
Surabaya
$62
Salatiga
$51 17.5% $11
Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
$21
Salatiga
$15 27.5% $5.7
Getting Around
Surabaya
$21
Salatiga
$3.5 * 82.9% $17

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $273 in Surabaya versus $163 in Salatiga. 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 70% higher in Surabaya. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $11 in Surabaya versus $9 in Salatiga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $203 – making Salatiga the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇮🇩 Surabaya
🇮🇩 Salatiga
🕒 Local time
11:03 11:03 AM
11:03 11:03 AM
Same time as Surabaya
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,765,487
190,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to IDR – Indonesian Rupiah Converter

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of November 4, 2026: 1 USD = 18,148 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.51 USD). 1 EUR = 20,295 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.93 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Surabaya Salatiga 250 km
From you
  • Surabaya
  • Salatiga

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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 Salatiga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Surabaya or Salatiga?
Surabaya costs about 51% more than Salatiga, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from clothing. That’s enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Surabaya and in Salatiga?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,022 per month in Surabaya and $675 in Salatiga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Surabaya or Salatiga?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Salatiga, especially for central apartments: a one-bedroom in the center costs $163 there versus $273 in Surabaya.
How much does it cost to live in Surabaya compared to Salatiga?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $682 in Surabaya and $450 in Salatiga. That makes Salatiga about 34% cheaper.
How do dining costs compare in Surabaya and in Salatiga?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $11 in Surabaya and $9 in Salatiga. That’s a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Surabaya or in Salatiga?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $682 in Surabaya and $450 in Salatiga, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for families?
Families tend to lean toward Salatiga – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Should I move to Surabaya or to Salatiga?
If budget matters most, go with Salatiga. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Surabaya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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