😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $700 in Surabaya versus $654 in Sidoarjo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,117 in Surabaya versus $995 in Sidoarjo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,535 in Surabaya versus $1,336 in Sidoarjo.
😐Living in Surabaya is roughly 7% more expensive than Sidoarjo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya48% lower, Sidoarjo51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52Rp 27.7K
$1.56Rp 28.2K
-2.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.46Rp 226.0K
$12.08Rp 219.0K
3.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.13Rp 56.8K
$3.05Rp 55.3K
2.62%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 31.5K
$0.63Rp 11.4K
176.19%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66Rp 11.9K
$0.51Rp 9,182
29.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,079
$0.28Rp 5,108
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50Rp 45.3K
$2.47Rp 44.9K
1.21%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92Rp 71.1K
$3.91Rp 70.8K
0.26%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42Rp 25.8K
$1.43Rp 26.0K
-0.70%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50Rp 27.2K
$1.13Rp 20.5K
32.74%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.9K
$0.93Rp 16.8K
-
Eggs
$1.50Rp 27.2K
$1.49Rp 27.1K
0.67%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.31Rp 168.8K
$9.47Rp 171.7K
-1.69%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17Rp 57.6K
$2.63Rp 47.7K
20.53%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.19Rp 148.6K
$5.99Rp 108.7K
36.73%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40Rp 43.5K
$0.96Rp 17.4K
150.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 27.1K
$0.58Rp 10.6K
158.62%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17Rp 39.3K
$0.77Rp 14.0K
181.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.7K
$0.64Rp 11.5K
121.87%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 25.0K
$0.82Rp 14.9K
68.29%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78Rp 32.3K
$1.14Rp 20.7K
56.14%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16Rp 21.0K
$0.32Rp 5,822
262.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,198
$0.43Rp 7,725
4.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44Rp 44.2K
$2.17Rp 39.3K
12.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.54Rp 445.1K
$24.30Rp 440.7K
0.99%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83Rp 33.2K
$1.80Rp 32.6K
1.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27Rp 59.3K
$3.15Rp 57.0K
3.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47Rp 8,599
$0.30Rp 5,370
56.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.14Rp 165.8K
$10.01Rp 181.6K
-8.69%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47Rp 8,534
$0.44Rp 8,000
6.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,637
$0.31Rp 5,652
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.75Rp 49.9K
$1.21Rp 22.0K
127.27%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87Rp 15.8K
$0.83Rp 15.0K
4.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KRp 378.0M
$21.0KRp 381.1M
-0.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KRp 632.4M
$34.6KRp 627.7M
0.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.9Rp 1.5M
$83.6Rp 1.5M
0.42%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.10Rp 74.4K
$4.17Rp 75.7K
-1.68%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.83Rp 359.7K
$12.45Rp 225.8K
59.28%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.93Rp 397.8K
$23.42Rp 424.8K
-6.36%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.44Rp 80.5K
$6.00Rp 108.9K
-26.00%
Cinema Ticket
$2.96Rp 53.7K
$2.88Rp 52.3K
2.78%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$192Rp 3.5M
$192Rp 3.5M
-0.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,350Rp 169.6M
$9,550Rp 173.2M
-2.10%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9Rp 1.1M
$61.9Rp 1.1M
1.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.45Rp 715.5K
$38.38Rp 696.0K
2.79%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$77.3Rp 1.4M
0.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0Rp 1.5M
$83.2Rp 1.5M
-1.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.4M
$256Rp 4.6M
-4.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.4M
$160Rp 2.9M
-15.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$762Rp 13.8M
$591Rp 10.7M
28.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389Rp 7.1M
$330Rp 6.0M
17.86%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,223Rp 40.3M
$1,187Rp 21.5M
87.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,057Rp 19.2M
$728Rp 13.2M
45.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$269Rp 4.9M
-
-
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 8, 2026
Last update for Sidoarjo: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $244 in Surabaya and $256 in Sidoarjo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Surabaya vs $12.00 in Sidoarjo. Groceries flip the comparison at $227 vs $184, with Sidoarjo cheaper for home cooking.
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 Sidoarjo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sidoarjo cheaper than Surabaya?
Sidoarjo is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 7% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,050 in Surabaya and $981 in Sidoarjo to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Surabaya and Sidoarjo?
Rent for a central apartment: $244 in Surabaya versus $256 in Sidoarjo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Surabaya vs Sidoarjo?
All in, you'll spend $700 per month in Surabaya versus $654 in Sidoarjo – a 7% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Sidoarjo runs roughly 10% less than in Surabaya. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $1,000 enough for either Surabaya or Sidoarjo?
Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Sidoarjo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Is it better to live in Surabaya or Sidoarjo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Sidoarjo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 7% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.