Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and South Tangerang Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and South Tangerang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $676 in Surabaya versus $684 in South Tangerang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,202 in Surabaya versus $1,040 in South Tangerang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,728 in Surabaya versus $1,396 in South Tangerang.

Living in Surabaya costs roughly 1% less than in South Tangerang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya 51% lower, South Tangerang 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.73 Rp 30.6K

$1.66 Rp 29.4K

4.22%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.51 Rp 203.8K

$14.36 Rp 254.2K

-19.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.25 Rp 57.5K

$3.33 Rp 59.0K

-2.40%

Cappuccino

$1.58 Rp 27.9K

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.62 Rp 10.9K

$0.46 Rp 8,163

34.78%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,554

$0.23 Rp 4,056

13.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.22 Rp 39.3K

$2.71 Rp 48.0K

-18.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.36 Rp 77.2K

$3.10 Rp 54.8K

40.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

$1.25 Rp 22.2K

1.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 Rp 23.0K

$1.00 Rp 17.8K

30.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.90 Rp 15.9K

$0.86 Rp 15.2K

4.65%

Eggs

$1.23 Rp 21.8K

$1.70 Rp 30.1K

-27.65%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.62 Rp 134.9K

$7.35 Rp 130.2K

3.67%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.09 Rp 54.8K

$3.14 Rp 55.6K

-1.59%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.60 Rp 134.6K

$7.79 Rp 137.9K

-2.44%

Apples (1kg)

$2.12 Rp 37.5K

$2.97 Rp 52.6K

-28.62%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 Rp 22.7K

$1.24 Rp 22.0K

3.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

$2.05 Rp 36.3K

-6.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 Rp 27.7K

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

23.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.34 Rp 23.7K

$1.36 Rp 24.0K

-1.47%

Onion (1kg)

$2.03 Rp 35.9K

$2.18 Rp 38.7K

-6.88%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.99 Rp 17.6K

$0.81 Rp 14.3K

22.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,186

$0.48 Rp 8,530

-14.58%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

$2.75 Rp 48.7K

-30.18%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.23 Rp 446.8K

$21.20 Rp 375.4K

19.01%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 Rp 31.4K

$1.99 Rp 35.2K

-11.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 Rp 51.7K

$3.15 Rp 55.8K

-7.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.33 Rp 5,825

$0.22 Rp 3,880

50.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$17.26 Rp 305.6K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 Rp 9,236

$0.49 Rp 8,710

6.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,630

$0.32 Rp 5,732

34.37%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.76 Rp 48.9K

$2.29 Rp 40.6K

20.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.78 Rp 13.7K

-1.28%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.8K Rp 439.2M

$22.7K Rp 402.1M

9.22%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.5K Rp 575.4M

$33.5K Rp 594.0M

-3.14%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$86.6 Rp 1.5M

$53.6 Rp 948.9K

61.67%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.68 Rp 82.9K

$6.11 Rp 108.3K

-23.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.47 Rp 344.7K

$19.62 Rp 347.5K

-0.76%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$18.72 Rp 331.4K

$26.60 Rp 471.0K

-29.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.96 Rp 123.2K

$9.67 Rp 171.3K

-28.02%

Cinema Ticket

$2.70 Rp 47.8K

$2.90 Rp 51.3K

-6.90%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$283 Rp 5.0M

$120 Rp 2.1M

135.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,866 Rp 174.7M

$8,452 Rp 149.7M

16.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$71.9 Rp 1.3M

$40.27 Rp 713.0K

78.62%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$40.23 Rp 712.4K

$29.41 Rp 520.8K

36.79%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

$74.5 Rp 1.3M

11.36%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.9 Rp 1.3M

$72.6 Rp 1.3M

4.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$282 Rp 5.0M

$214 Rp 3.8M

31.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$150 Rp 2.7M

$170 Rp 3.0M

-11.74%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,256 Rp 22.2M

$379 Rp 6.7M

231.72%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$619 Rp 11.0M

$309 Rp 5.5M

100.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,218 Rp 39.3M

$1,199 Rp 21.2M

84.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,072 Rp 19.0M

$969 Rp 17.2M

10.62%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$277 Rp 4.9M

$446 Rp 7.9M

-37.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

9.46

-20.72%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Surabaya: September 15, 2026

Last update for South Tangerang: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $282 in Surabaya and $214 in South Tangerang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

South Tangerang pays 61% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $12.00 in Surabaya vs $14.00 in South Tangerang. Groceries flip the comparison at $211 vs $207, with South Tangerang 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 South Tangerang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Surabaya is cheaper overall, especially in Monthly Utilities & Internet, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 61% lower in South Tangerang. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $282 in Surabaya versus $214 in South Tangerang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Childcare runs $283 in Surabaya versus $120 in South Tangerang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Dining out is cheaper in Surabaya – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $14.00 in South Tangerang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Surabaya gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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.

Expats usually find Surabaya gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in South Tangerang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.