😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $689 in Surabaya versus $649 in Sidoarjo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,115 in Surabaya versus $990 in Sidoarjo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,542 in Surabaya versus $1,331 in Sidoarjo.
😐Living in Surabaya is roughly 6% more expensive than Sidoarjo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya49% lower, Sidoarjo52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52Rp 26.2K
$1.51Rp 26.0K
0.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.11Rp 208.2K
$12.44Rp 213.8K
-2.65%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.10Rp 53.2K
$3.12Rp 53.7K
-0.64%
Cappuccino
$1.81Rp 31.1K
$0.63Rp 10.8K
187.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65Rp 11.2K
$0.51Rp 8,692
27.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 4,872
$0.26Rp 4,410
7.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 41.4K
$2.44Rp 41.9K
-1.23%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04Rp 69.4K
$4.07Rp 70.0K
-0.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 24.8K
$1.37Rp 23.6K
5.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.49Rp 25.7K
$1.08Rp 18.5K
37.96%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92Rp 15.9K
$0.99Rp 17.0K
-7.07%
Eggs
$1.51Rp 26.0K
$1.43Rp 24.5K
5.59%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.21Rp 158.3K
$9.28Rp 159.4K
-0.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.35Rp 57.6K
$2.53Rp 43.5K
32.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.17Rp 140.5K
$6.18Rp 106.2K
32.20%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32Rp 39.8K
$0.96Rp 16.4K
141.67%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48Rp 25.4K
$0.60Rp 10.3K
146.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09Rp 36.0K
$0.82Rp 14.0K
154.88%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.44Rp 24.7K
$0.63Rp 10.9K
128.57%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 23.7K
$0.79Rp 13.6K
74.68%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79Rp 30.7K
$1.08Rp 18.5K
65.74%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15Rp 19.8K
$0.30Rp 5,099
283.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,323
$0.42Rp 7,245
2.38%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.46Rp 42.2K
$2.09Rp 35.9K
17.70%
Wine(Bottle)
$26.02Rp 447.1K
$26.16Rp 449.6K
-0.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77Rp 30.4K
$1.83Rp 31.5K
-3.28%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32Rp 57.1K
$3.30Rp 56.8K
0.61%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48Rp 8,202
$0.32Rp 5,517
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.47Rp 162.7K
$9.74Rp 167.4K
-2.77%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,580
$0.44Rp 7,583
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,358
$0.31Rp 5,390
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.70Rp 46.4K
$1.26Rp 21.6K
114.29%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86Rp 14.8K
$0.84Rp 14.4K
2.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KRp 364.4M
$20.6KRp 354.1M
2.92%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6KRp 594.4M
$34.7KRp 596.9M
-0.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.8Rp 1.4M
$82.7Rp 1.4M
1.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.17Rp 71.7K
$4.09Rp 70.3K
1.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.55Rp 336.0K
$12.33Rp 211.9K
58.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.75Rp 373.7K
$23.18Rp 398.4K
-6.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.36Rp 75.0K
$6.02Rp 103.5K
-27.57%
Cinema Ticket
$2.97Rp 51.0K
$2.98Rp 51.2K
-0.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$190Rp 3.3M
$191Rp 3.3M
-0.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,220Rp 158.5M
$9,506Rp 163.4M
-3.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.5Rp 1.1M
$62.8Rp 1.1M
-0.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.60Rp 663.4K
$38.51Rp 661.9K
0.23%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.3Rp 1.3M
$78.7Rp 1.4M
-3.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.9Rp 1.4M
$84.1Rp 1.4M
-1.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$249Rp 4.3M
$256Rp 4.4M
-2.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$137Rp 2.4M
$160Rp 2.8M
-14.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$764Rp 13.1M
$576Rp 9.9M
32.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$400Rp 6.9M
$335Rp 5.8M
19.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,309Rp 39.7M
$1,246Rp 21.4M
85.33%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,123Rp 19.3M
$787Rp 13.5M
42.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Sidoarjo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$304Rp 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 20, 2026
Last update for Sidoarjo: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $249 in Surabaya and $256 in Sidoarjo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $12 in Surabaya vs $12 in Sidoarjo. Groceries flip the comparison at $229 vs $187, 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, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 6% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,033 in Surabaya and $974 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: $249 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 $689 per month in Surabaya versus $649 in Sidoarjo – a 6% 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 3% 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 6% less than in Surabaya. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.