😐A single person spends $698 per month in Surabaya vs $669 in Salatiga, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,123 per month in Surabaya vs $1,009 in Salatiga, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,547 per month in Surabaya vs $1,350 in Salatiga, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 4% more than Salatiga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Surabaya and Salatiga are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya48% lower, Salatiga50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52Rp 27.1K
$0.96Rp 17.1K
58.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.15Rp 216.5K
$10.16Rp 181.1K
19.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.10Rp 55.2K
$3.03Rp 54.0K
2.31%
Cappuccino
$1.80Rp 32.2K
$1.56Rp 27.8K
15.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60Rp 10.7K
$0.37Rp 6,682
62.16%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,040
$0.21Rp 3,739
33.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 43.0K
$2.10Rp 37.4K
14.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.95Rp 70.4K
$3.95Rp 70.4K
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38Rp 24.6K
$1.33Rp 23.6K
3.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.44Rp 25.7K
$1.45Rp 25.8K
-0.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94Rp 16.8K
$0.91Rp 16.2K
3.30%
Eggs
$1.46Rp 26.0K
$1.27Rp 22.6K
14.96%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.20Rp 164.0K
$9.36Rp 166.8K
-1.71%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.22Rp 57.4K
$2.75Rp 48.9K
17.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.48Rp 151.2K
$8.45Rp 150.6K
0.36%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37Rp 42.2K
$2.33Rp 41.6K
1.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.49Rp 26.5K
$1.49Rp 26.5K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17Rp 38.6K
$2.10Rp 37.5K
3.33%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50Rp 26.7K
$1.43Rp 25.5K
4.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34Rp 23.9K
$1.33Rp 23.8K
0.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.77Rp 31.6K
$1.79Rp 31.9K
-1.12%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19Rp 21.3K
$0.39Rp 6,888
205.13%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,233
$0.42Rp 7,528
9.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.46Rp 43.9K
$2.33Rp 41.5K
5.58%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.63Rp 456.7K
$24.95Rp 444.6K
2.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78Rp 31.6K
$1.77Rp 31.5K
0.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21Rp 57.1K
$3.29Rp 58.6K
-2.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47Rp 8,378
$0.32Rp 5,785
46.87%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.00Rp 160.5K
$10.05Rp 179.1K
-10.45%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47Rp 8,433
$0.47Rp 8,402
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 5,135
$0.29Rp 5,111
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.70Rp 48.2K
$2.68Rp 47.8K
0.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86Rp 15.3K
$0.70Rp 12.4K
22.86%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5KRp 366.1M
$21.3KRp 378.9M
-3.37%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.5KRp 631.9M
$35.2KRp 626.6M
0.84%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.2Rp 1.5M
$81.7Rp 1.5M
1.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.25Rp 75.7K
$4.12Rp 73.4K
3.16%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.65Rp 350.1K
$19.32Rp 344.2K
1.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.20Rp 395.6K
$23.24Rp 414.2K
-4.48%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.53Rp 80.8K
$5.98Rp 106.6K
-24.25%
Cinema Ticket
$2.89Rp 51.4K
$2.19Rp 39.0K
31.96%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$191Rp 3.4M
$188Rp 3.4M
1.72%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,339Rp 166.4M
$9,557Rp 170.3M
-2.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.5Rp 1.1M
$43.07Rp 767.5K
42.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.25Rp 681.7K
$12.41Rp 221.2K
208.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.1Rp 1.4M
$50.1Rp 892.0K
54.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0Rp 1.5M
$84.0Rp 1.5M
-2.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$243Rp 4.3M
$260Rp 4.6M
-6.58%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138Rp 2.5M
$159Rp 2.8M
-13.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$783Rp 13.9M
$580Rp 10.3M
34.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394Rp 7.0M
$330Rp 5.9M
19.32%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,234Rp 39.8M
$1,402Rp 25.0M
59.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,072Rp 19.1M
$801Rp 14.3M
33.87%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Salatiga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$278Rp 5.0M
-
-
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: June 14, 2026
Last update for Salatiga: June 16, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $243 in Surabaya versus $260 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: $228 vs $219 – 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 4% 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 $1,047 per month in Surabaya and $1,004 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 in 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 and in 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 in Salatiga?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $698 in Surabaya and $669 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.