😐A single person spends $676 per month in Surabaya vs $634 in Salatiga, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,202 per month in Surabaya vs $971 in Salatiga, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,728 per month in Surabaya vs $1,309 in Salatiga, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 7% more than Salatiga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Surabaya and Salatiga are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya51% lower, Salatiga54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.73Rp 30.6K
$0.89Rp 15.8K
94.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.51Rp 203.8K
$9.31Rp 164.8K
23.63%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.25Rp 57.5K
$2.88Rp 51.0K
12.85%
Cappuccino
$1.58Rp 27.9K
$1.41Rp 24.9K
12.06%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62Rp 10.9K
$0.35Rp 6,112
77.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,554
$0.21Rp 3,707
23.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.22Rp 39.3K
$2.02Rp 35.8K
9.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.36Rp 77.2K
$4.27Rp 75.7K
2.11%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27Rp 22.5K
$1.28Rp 22.7K
-0.78%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30Rp 23.0K
$1.34Rp 23.8K
-2.99%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90Rp 15.9K
$0.85Rp 15.1K
5.88%
Eggs
$1.23Rp 21.8K
$1.25Rp 22.2K
-1.60%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.62Rp 134.9K
$7.82Rp 138.4K
-2.56%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.09Rp 54.8K
$3.12Rp 55.2K
-0.96%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60Rp 134.6K
$7.70Rp 136.3K
-1.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.12Rp 37.5K
$2.12Rp 37.5K
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.28Rp 22.7K
$1.28Rp 22.7K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.92Rp 34.0K
$1.87Rp 33.0K
2.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57Rp 27.7K
$1.59Rp 28.2K
-1.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34Rp 23.7K
$1.33Rp 23.6K
0.75%
Onion(1kg)
$2.03Rp 35.9K
$1.94Rp 34.4K
4.64%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.99Rp 17.6K
$0.33Rp 5,800
200.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,186
$0.39Rp 6,874
5.13%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.92Rp 34.0K
$2.00Rp 35.3K
-4.00%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.23Rp 446.8K
$25.15Rp 445.4K
0.32%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77Rp 31.4K
$1.72Rp 30.4K
2.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92Rp 51.7K
$2.94Rp 52.1K
-0.68%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33Rp 5,825
$0.26Rp 4,664
26.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.52Rp 9,236
$0.43Rp 7,619
20.93%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,630
$0.46Rp 8,181
-6.52%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.76Rp 48.9K
$2.77Rp 49.0K
-0.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77Rp 13.6K
$0.68Rp 12.1K
13.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.8KRp 439.2M
$25.5KRp 451.9M
-2.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.5KRp 575.4M
$32.4KRp 573.5M
0.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$86.6Rp 1.5M
$88.3Rp 1.6M
-1.92%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.68Rp 82.9K
$4.62Rp 81.8K
1.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.47Rp 344.7K
$19.47Rp 344.8K
-
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.72Rp 331.4K
$20.47Rp 362.4K
-8.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.96Rp 123.2K
$9.11Rp 161.3K
-23.60%
Cinema Ticket
$2.70Rp 47.8K
$1.94Rp 34.3K
39.18%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$283Rp 5.0M
$96.4Rp 1.7M
193.33%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,866Rp 174.7M
$9,794Rp 173.4M
0.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$71.9Rp 1.3M
$22.29Rp 394.6K
222.70%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.23Rp 712.4K
$11.15Rp 197.5K
260.81%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$83.0Rp 1.5M
$46.05Rp 815.4K
80.13%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.9Rp 1.3M
$75.8Rp 1.3M
0.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$282Rp 5.0M
$231Rp 4.1M
22.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$150Rp 2.7M
$152Rp 2.7M
-1.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,256Rp 22.2M
$610Rp 10.8M
105.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$619Rp 11.0M
$327Rp 5.8M
89.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,218Rp 39.3M
$1,303Rp 23.1M
70.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,072Rp 19.0M
$615Rp 10.9M
74.30%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$277Rp 4.9M
-
-
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: September 15, 2026
Last update for Salatiga: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $282 in Surabaya versus $231 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 $9.00 in Salatiga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $211 vs $209 – 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 7% 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 and in Salatiga?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,015 per month in Surabaya and $950 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.
How do dining costs compare in Surabaya and in Salatiga?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya and $9.00 in Salatiga. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Surabaya or in Salatiga?
Groceries cost about 1% more in Surabaya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $800/month in Surabaya or in Salatiga?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $676 in Surabaya and $634 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 to 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.