Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Salatiga Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Salatiga

Monthly Cost of Living

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 – Surabaya 48% lower, Salatiga 51% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.58 Rp 27.4K
$0.96 Rp 16.6K
64.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.16 Rp 210.8K
$10.27 Rp 177.9K
18.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$2.98 Rp 51.7K
$3.14 Rp 54.5K
-5.10%
Cappuccino
$1.74 Rp 30.1K
$1.59 Rp 27.5K
9.43%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65 Rp 11.4K
$0.35 Rp 6,023
85.71%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 Rp 4,460
$0.23 Rp 3,995
13.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.41 Rp 41.8K
$2.21 Rp 38.3K
9.05%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05 Rp 70.3K
$3.95 Rp 68.5K
2.53%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 Rp 25.0K
$1.38 Rp 24.0K
4.35%
White Bread (500g)
$1.46 Rp 25.2K
$1.52 Rp 26.3K
-3.95%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.01 Rp 17.4K
$0.91 Rp 15.7K
10.99%
Eggs
$1.46 Rp 25.3K
$1.26 Rp 21.8K
15.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.39 Rp 162.7K
$9.00 Rp 156.0K
4.33%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.31 Rp 57.4K
$2.71 Rp 47.0K
22.14%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.24 Rp 142.9K
$8.35 Rp 144.8K
-1.32%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 Rp 39.9K
$2.37 Rp 41.1K
-2.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.51 Rp 26.2K
$1.51 Rp 26.2K
-
Oranges (1kg)
$2.13 Rp 36.9K
$2.12 Rp 36.7K
0.47%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 Rp 25.9K
$1.49 Rp 25.9K
-
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 Rp 23.0K
$1.39 Rp 24.0K
-4.32%
Onion (1kg)
$1.81 Rp 31.3K
$1.78 Rp 30.8K
1.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 Rp 20.9K
$0.38 Rp 6,604
215.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 Rp 7,874
$0.42 Rp 7,282
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55 Rp 44.3K
$2.33 Rp 40.4K
9.44%
Wine (Bottle)
$25.75 Rp 446.3K
$25.76 Rp 446.5K
-0.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85 Rp 32.0K
$1.77 Rp 30.6K
4.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14 Rp 54.4K
$3.16 Rp 54.8K
-0.63%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.48 Rp 8,241
$0.32 Rp 5,606
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$9.24 Rp 160.1K
$10.01 Rp 173.6K
-7.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.45 Rp 7,715
$0.48 Rp 8,294
-6.25%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.31 Rp 5,453
$0.31 Rp 5,453
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.72 Rp 47.2K
$2.73 Rp 47.2K
-0.37%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.85 Rp 14.7K
$0.69 Rp 12.0K
23.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0K Rp 364.5M
$20.5K Rp 354.7M
2.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7K Rp 619.1M
$35.5K Rp 614.5M
0.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.8 Rp 1.5M
$84.2 Rp 1.5M
-0.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.29 Rp 74.3K
$4.31 Rp 74.6K
-0.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.62 Rp 340.1K
$19.87 Rp 344.4K
-1.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$21.80 Rp 377.9K
$22.82 Rp 395.6K
-4.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.42 Rp 76.5K
$5.99 Rp 103.9K
-26.21%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98 Rp 51.7K
$2.12 Rp 36.8K
40.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$186 Rp 3.2M
$191 Rp 3.3M
-2.69%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,464 Rp 164.0M
$9,480 Rp 164.3M
-0.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8 Rp 1.1M
$42.61 Rp 738.5K
47.29%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.18 Rp 679.1K
$12.36 Rp 214.2K
216.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$78.0 Rp 1.4M
$50.0 Rp 866.6K
56.00%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.3 Rp 1.4M
$82.4 Rp 1.4M
-0.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$244 Rp 4.2M
$254 Rp 4.4M
-3.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$135 Rp 2.3M
$157 Rp 2.7M
-14.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$790 Rp 13.7M
$588 Rp 10.2M
34.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$394 Rp 6.8M
$333 Rp 5.8M
18.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,262 Rp 39.2M
$1,211 Rp 21.0M
86.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,122 Rp 19.4M
$745 Rp 12.9M
50.66%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$302 Rp 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.

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