😐A single person spends $693 per month in Surabaya vs $657 in Salatiga, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,106 per month in Surabaya vs $1,000 in Salatiga, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,520 per month in Surabaya vs $1,343 in Salatiga, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 5% more than Salatiga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Surabaya and Salatiga are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya48% lower, Salatiga51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.58Rp 27.4K
$0.96Rp 16.6K
64.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.16Rp 210.8K
$10.27Rp 177.9K
18.40%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.98Rp 51.7K
$3.14Rp 54.5K
-5.10%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 30.1K
$1.59Rp 27.5K
9.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65Rp 11.4K
$0.35Rp 6,023
85.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,460
$0.23Rp 3,995
13.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 41.8K
$2.21Rp 38.3K
9.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05Rp 70.3K
$3.95Rp 68.5K
2.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 25.0K
$1.38Rp 24.0K
4.35%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46Rp 25.2K
$1.52Rp 26.3K
-3.95%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01Rp 17.4K
$0.91Rp 15.7K
10.99%
Eggs
$1.46Rp 25.3K
$1.26Rp 21.8K
15.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.39Rp 162.7K
$9.00Rp 156.0K
4.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.31Rp 57.4K
$2.71Rp 47.0K
22.14%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.24Rp 142.9K
$8.35Rp 144.8K
-1.32%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30Rp 39.9K
$2.37Rp 41.1K
-2.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 26.2K
$1.51Rp 26.2K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13Rp 36.9K
$2.12Rp 36.7K
0.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49Rp 25.9K
$1.49Rp 25.9K
-
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.0K
$1.39Rp 24.0K
-4.32%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81Rp 31.3K
$1.78Rp 30.8K
1.69%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20Rp 20.9K
$0.38Rp 6,604
215.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,874
$0.42Rp 7,282
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55Rp 44.3K
$2.33Rp 40.4K
9.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.75Rp 446.3K
$25.76Rp 446.5K
-0.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85Rp 32.0K
$1.77Rp 30.6K
4.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14Rp 54.4K
$3.16Rp 54.8K
-0.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48Rp 8,241
$0.32Rp 5,606
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.24Rp 160.1K
$10.01Rp 173.6K
-7.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,715
$0.48Rp 8,294
-6.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,453
$0.31Rp 5,453
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.72Rp 47.2K
$2.73Rp 47.2K
-0.37%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 14.7K
$0.69Rp 12.0K
23.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KRp 364.5M
$20.5KRp 354.7M
2.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KRp 619.1M
$35.5KRp 614.5M
0.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.8Rp 1.5M
$84.2Rp 1.5M
-0.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.29Rp 74.3K
$4.31Rp 74.6K
-0.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.62Rp 340.1K
$19.87Rp 344.4K
-1.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.80Rp 377.9K
$22.82Rp 395.6K
-4.47%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.42Rp 76.5K
$5.99Rp 103.9K
-26.21%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98Rp 51.7K
$2.12Rp 36.8K
40.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186Rp 3.2M
$191Rp 3.3M
-2.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,464Rp 164.0M
$9,480Rp 164.3M
-0.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8Rp 1.1M
$42.61Rp 738.5K
47.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.18Rp 679.1K
$12.36Rp 214.2K
216.99%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.0Rp 1.4M
$50.0Rp 866.6K
56.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.3Rp 1.4M
$82.4Rp 1.4M
-0.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.2M
$254Rp 4.4M
-3.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.3M
$157Rp 2.7M
-14.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$790Rp 13.7M
$588Rp 10.2M
34.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394Rp 6.8M
$333Rp 5.8M
18.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,262Rp 39.2M
$1,211Rp 21.0M
86.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,122Rp 19.4M
$745Rp 12.9M
50.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$302Rp 5.2M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
8.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surabaya: April 25, 2026
Last update for Salatiga: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Surabaya versus $254 in Salatiga. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya versus $10.00 in Salatiga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $230 vs $221 – making Salatiga 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 Salatiga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Surabaya or Salatiga?
Surabaya costs about 5% more than Salatiga, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. 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 vs Salatiga?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,039 per month in Surabaya and $986 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. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Surabaya or Salatiga?
Groceries cost about 4% more in Surabaya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Surabaya vs Salatiga?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya and $10.00 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 Salatiga?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $693 in Surabaya and $657 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.
How safe is Surabaya compared to Salatiga?
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.
Should I move to Surabaya or Salatiga?
If budget matters most, go with Salatiga. 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.