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: $708 in Surabaya versus $773 in South Tangerang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,133 in Surabaya versus $1,141 in South Tangerang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,557 in Surabaya versus $1,510 in South Tangerang.

Living in Surabaya costs roughly 8% 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

$1.52 Rp 27.3K

$2.53 Rp 45.3K

-39.92%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.12 Rp 217.3K

$18.39 Rp 329.6K

-34.09%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.13 Rp 56.1K

$3.44 Rp 61.7K

-9.01%

Cappuccino

$1.82 Rp 32.6K

$1.97 Rp 35.4K

-7.61%

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

$0.60 Rp 10.8K

$0.49 Rp 8,702

22.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.26 Rp 4,620

$0.28 Rp 5,080

-7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.41 Rp 43.2K

$2.79 Rp 50.1K

-13.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.02 Rp 72.0K

$4.22 Rp 75.7K

-4.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 Rp 24.8K

$1.26 Rp 22.6K

9.52%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 Rp 26.2K

$1.07 Rp 19.2K

36.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.93 Rp 16.7K

$0.89 Rp 16.0K

4.49%

Eggs

$1.44 Rp 25.9K

$1.62 Rp 29.0K

-11.11%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.04 Rp 162.1K

$6.32 Rp 113.2K

43.04%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.29 Rp 59.0K

$3.25 Rp 58.3K

1.23%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.45 Rp 151.5K

$8.04 Rp 144.0K

5.10%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 Rp 43.3K

$2.95 Rp 52.8K

-17.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.54 Rp 27.6K

$1.50 Rp 26.9K

2.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.19 Rp 39.3K

$2.08 Rp 37.2K

5.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 Rp 25.5K

$1.55 Rp 27.9K

-8.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 23.7K

$1.65 Rp 29.5K

-20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 Rp 32.2K

$2.61 Rp 46.8K

-31.03%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 Rp 21.2K

$0.90 Rp 16.1K

31.11%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,557

$0.42 Rp 7,502

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.54 Rp 45.6K

$2.52 Rp 45.2K

0.79%

Wine (Bottle)

$24.78 Rp 444.3K

$21.45 Rp 384.4K

15.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.77 Rp 31.6K

$2.18 Rp 39.2K

-18.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.14 Rp 56.4K

$3.13 Rp 56.0K

0.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 Rp 8,521

$0.23 Rp 4,132

108.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.40 Rp 168.6K

$18.68 Rp 334.9K

-49.68%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,949

$0.56 Rp 10.1K

-21.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.29 Rp 5,185

$0.35 Rp 6,194

-17.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.77 Rp 49.7K

$2.57 Rp 46.0K

7.78%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.84 Rp 15.1K

$0.81 Rp 14.5K

3.70%

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

$20.6K Rp 369.9M

$25.1K Rp 450.0M

-17.78%

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

$35.8K Rp 641.8M

$33.0K Rp 590.9M

8.63%

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

$84.9 Rp 1.5M

$68.5 Rp 1.2M

23.85%

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

$4.09 Rp 73.3K

$5.97 Rp 107.1K

-31.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.75 Rp 354.1K

$23.80 Rp 426.7K

-17.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.59 Rp 387.0K

$34.26 Rp 614.2K

-36.98%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.57 Rp 81.9K

$10.44 Rp 187.1K

-56.23%

Cinema Ticket

$2.85 Rp 51.1K

$3.13 Rp 56.2K

-8.95%

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

$188 Rp 3.4M

$109 Rp 2.0M

71.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,556 Rp 171.3M

$7,628 Rp 136.7M

25.27%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.6 Rp 1.1M

$41.00 Rp 735.0K

50.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.56 Rp 691.1K

$30.56 Rp 547.8K

26.18%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.8 Rp 1.4M

$63.2 Rp 1.1M

23.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$83.6 Rp 1.5M

$65.3 Rp 1.2M

28.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$242 Rp 4.3M

$310 Rp 5.6M

-21.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$135 Rp 2.4M

$242 Rp 4.3M

-44.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$762 Rp 13.7M

$528 Rp 9.5M

44.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$393 Rp 7.0M

$369 Rp 6.6M

6.62%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,209 Rp 39.6M

$1,178 Rp 21.1M

87.54%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,067 Rp 19.1M

$770 Rp 13.8M

38.57%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$276 Rp 4.9M

$445 Rp 8.0M

-38.11%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for South Tangerang: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $242 in Surabaya and $310 in South Tangerang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

South Tangerang pays 62% 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 $18.00 in South Tangerang. Groceries flip the comparison at $226 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 9% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, South Tangerang earns 62% less. 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: $242 in Surabaya versus $310 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 $18.00 in South Tangerang. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $708 per month in Surabaya versus $773 in South Tangerang – a 9% 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 9% less than in South Tangerang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.