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: $702 in Surabaya versus $775 in South Tangerang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,129 in Surabaya versus $1,146 in South Tangerang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,557 in Surabaya versus $1,518 in South Tangerang.

Living in Surabaya costs roughly 9% less than in South Tangerang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surabaya 47% lower, South Tangerang 42% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.56 Rp 28.2K

$2.39 Rp 43.2K

-34.73%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.42 Rp 224.2K

$18.76 Rp 338.7K

-33.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.03 Rp 54.6K

$3.28 Rp 59.2K

-7.62%

Cappuccino

$1.76 Rp 31.7K

$1.96 Rp 35.3K

-10.20%

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

$0.66 Rp 11.9K

$0.52 Rp 9,401

26.92%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.28 Rp 5,096

$0.28 Rp 5,088

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 Rp 44.1K

$2.70 Rp 48.7K

-9.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.09 Rp 73.8K

$4.42 Rp 79.7K

-7.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 Rp 25.9K

$1.30 Rp 23.4K

10.77%

White Bread (500g)

$1.52 Rp 27.4K

$1.06 Rp 19.1K

43.40%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 Rp 17.7K

$0.94 Rp 17.0K

4.26%

Eggs

$1.51 Rp 27.2K

$1.63 Rp 29.5K

-7.36%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.28 Rp 167.5K

$6.49 Rp 117.2K

42.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.24 Rp 58.5K

$3.24 Rp 58.4K

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.13 Rp 146.7K

$7.89 Rp 142.5K

3.04%

Apples (1kg)

$2.38 Rp 43.0K

$2.80 Rp 50.6K

-15.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.50 Rp 27.1K

$1.55 Rp 28.0K

-3.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.18 Rp 39.4K

$2.01 Rp 36.3K

8.46%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 Rp 25.6K

$1.55 Rp 28.1K

-8.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 23.8K

$1.62 Rp 29.2K

-18.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.73 Rp 31.2K

$2.62 Rp 47.3K

-33.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

$0.90 Rp 16.3K

27.78%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 Rp 8,229

$0.45 Rp 8,214

2.22%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.52 Rp 45.6K

$2.49 Rp 45.0K

1.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$25.18 Rp 454.5K

$21.22 Rp 383.0K

18.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.78 Rp 32.2K

$2.19 Rp 39.5K

-18.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 Rp 59.5K

$3.08 Rp 55.5K

7.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.44 Rp 8,032

$0.21 Rp 3,790

109.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.26 Rp 167.2K

$18.70 Rp 337.5K

-50.48%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.45 Rp 8,115

$0.58 Rp 10.4K

-22.41%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,634

$0.35 Rp 6,302

-11.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.74 Rp 49.5K

$2.49 Rp 44.9K

10.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

$0.75 Rp 13.6K

16.00%

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

$20.8K Rp 374.8M

$25.1K Rp 453.3M

-17.33%

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

$34.9K Rp 629.2M

$32.6K Rp 588.1M

6.98%

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

$83.0 Rp 1.5M

$70.3 Rp 1.3M

18.12%

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

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

$6.16 Rp 111.2K

-31.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.44 Rp 350.9K

$23.11 Rp 417.1K

-15.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.63 Rp 390.4K

$33.47 Rp 604.3K

-35.37%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.38 Rp 79.1K

$10.17 Rp 183.5K

-56.93%

Cinema Ticket

$2.98 Rp 53.9K

$2.99 Rp 53.9K

-0.33%

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

$186 Rp 3.4M

$113 Rp 2.0M

65.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,266 Rp 167.3M

$7,714 Rp 139.3M

20.12%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 Rp 1.1M

$41.85 Rp 755.4K

50.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.49 Rp 694.9K

$30.15 Rp 544.2K

27.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.9 Rp 1.4M

$63.2 Rp 1.1M

21.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.8 Rp 1.5M

$64.0 Rp 1.2M

30.90%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$249 Rp 4.5M

$303 Rp 5.5M

-17.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$138 Rp 2.5M

$250 Rp 4.5M

-44.93%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$775 Rp 14.0M

$532 Rp 9.6M

45.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$392 Rp 7.1M

$370 Rp 6.7M

5.95%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,136 Rp 38.6M

$1,160 Rp 20.9M

84.21%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,064 Rp 19.2M

$764 Rp 13.8M

39.30%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$269 Rp 4.9M

$438 Rp 7.9M

-38.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.33

9.59

-13.14%

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

Last update for Surabaya: July 27, 2026

Last update for South Tangerang: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $249 in Surabaya and $303 in South Tangerang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

South Tangerang pays 63% 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 $19.00 in South Tangerang. Groceries flip the comparison at $228 vs $211, 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 Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 10% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 63% 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: $249 in Surabaya versus $303 in South Tangerang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Surabaya – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $19.00 in South Tangerang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $702 per month in Surabaya versus $775 in South Tangerang – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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 10% less than in South Tangerang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.