😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $692 in Surabaya versus $628 in Sidoarjo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,196 in Surabaya versus $981 in Sidoarjo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,700 in Surabaya versus $1,335 in Sidoarjo.
🌍Living in Surabaya is roughly 10% more expensive than in Sidoarjo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya50% lower, Sidoarjo54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.73Rp 30.5K
$1.65Rp 29.1K
4.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.58Rp 204.0K
$11.09Rp 195.4K
4.42%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.14Rp 55.3K
$3.25Rp 57.3K
-3.38%
Cappuccino
$1.59Rp 28.0K
$0.59Rp 10.3K
169.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57Rp 10.1K
$0.43Rp 7,555
32.56%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,557
$0.28Rp 4,958
-7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.31Rp 40.7K
$2.22Rp 39.1K
4.05%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30Rp 75.8K
$4.13Rp 72.8K
4.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 21.4K
$1.23Rp 21.7K
-0.81%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30Rp 23.0K
$0.99Rp 17.5K
31.31%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.84Rp 14.7K
$0.89Rp 15.7K
-5.62%
Eggs
$1.21Rp 21.3K
$1.19Rp 21.0K
1.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.90Rp 139.2K
$7.80Rp 137.5K
1.28%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.97Rp 52.3K
$1.88Rp 33.1K
57.98%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60Rp 133.8K
$5.71Rp 100.6K
33.10%
Apples(1kg)
$2.13Rp 37.5K
$0.94Rp 16.6K
126.60%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.4K
$0.59Rp 10.4K
125.42%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85Rp 32.6K
$0.77Rp 13.5K
140.26%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.6K
$0.58Rp 10.2K
168.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34Rp 23.6K
$0.77Rp 13.5K
74.03%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00Rp 35.2K
$1.01Rp 17.7K
98.02%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97Rp 17.0K
$0.27Rp 4,705
259.26%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,651
$0.40Rp 7,094
7.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04Rp 35.9K
$1.96Rp 34.6K
4.08%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.91Rp 456.3K
$25.37Rp 446.8K
2.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 30.8K
$1.70Rp 29.9K
2.94%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03Rp 53.4K
$2.90Rp 51.0K
4.48%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33Rp 5,734
$0.29Rp 5,115
13.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,413
$0.41Rp 7,173
17.07%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46Rp 8,178
$0.38Rp 6,737
21.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.73Rp 48.0K
$1.12Rp 19.7K
143.75%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.2K
$0.82Rp 14.4K
-1.22%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KRp 446.5M
$24.8KRp 436.1M
2.38%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7KRp 575.4M
$32.8KRp 578.0M
-0.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.2Rp 1.6M
$86.9Rp 1.5M
2.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.62Rp 81.4K
$4.87Rp 85.7K
-5.13%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.75Rp 347.9K
$11.19Rp 197.1K
76.50%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.50Rp 325.9K
$20.05Rp 353.1K
-7.73%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.79Rp 119.6K
$8.41Rp 148.1K
-19.26%
Cinema Ticket
$2.71Rp 47.7K
$2.72Rp 47.8K
-0.37%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$278Rp 4.9M
$95.6Rp 1.7M
190.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,802Rp 172.6M
$9,813Rp 172.8M
-0.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.7Rp 1.3M
$70.6Rp 1.2M
2.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.01Rp 704.8K
$40.14Rp 707.0K
-0.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.2Rp 1.4M
$81.4Rp 1.4M
0.96%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4Rp 1.3M
$76.1Rp 1.3M
0.43%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$290Rp 5.1M
$221Rp 3.9M
31.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$150Rp 2.6M
$157Rp 2.8M
-4.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,277Rp 22.5M
$556Rp 9.8M
129.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$607Rp 10.7M
$373Rp 6.6M
62.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,202Rp 38.8M
$1,166Rp 20.5M
88.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,066Rp 18.8M
$678Rp 11.9M
57.16%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$279Rp 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 5, 2026
Last update for Sidoarjo: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $290 in Surabaya and $221 in Sidoarjo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12.00 in Surabaya vs $11.00 in Sidoarjo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $170 per month, with Sidoarjo cheaper across the board.
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, Getting Around. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,038 in Surabaya and $942 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: $290 in Surabaya versus $221 in Sidoarjo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $278 in Surabaya versus $95.6 in Sidoarjo. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Surabaya or in Sidoarjo?
Dining out is cheaper in Sidoarjo – a meal for two runs $11.00 versus $12.00 in Surabaya. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
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 in 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 10% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.