😐A single person spends $692 per month in Surabaya vs $628 in Tanjung Pandan, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,196 per month in Surabaya vs $996 in Tanjung Pandan, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,700 per month in Surabaya vs $1,363 in Tanjung Pandan, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 10% more than Tanjung Pandan, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Surabaya and Tanjung Pandan are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya50% lower, Tanjung Pandan54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Tanjung Pandan
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
$14.06Rp 247.6K
-17.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.14Rp 55.3K
$3.42Rp 60.2K
-8.19%
Cappuccino
$1.59Rp 28.0K
$1.55Rp 27.2K
2.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57Rp 10.1K
$0.42Rp 7,461
35.71%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,557
$0.23Rp 4,026
13.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.31Rp 40.7K
$2.21Rp 38.9K
4.52%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30Rp 75.8K
$3.36Rp 59.2K
27.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 21.4K
$1.17Rp 20.7K
4.27%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30Rp 23.0K
$1.06Rp 18.7K
22.64%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.84Rp 14.7K
$0.88Rp 15.5K
-4.55%
Eggs
$1.21Rp 21.3K
$1.50Rp 26.4K
-19.33%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.90Rp 139.2K
$7.34Rp 129.3K
7.63%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.97Rp 52.3K
$3.06Rp 53.8K
-2.94%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60Rp 133.8K
$7.88Rp 138.9K
-3.55%
Apples(1kg)
$2.13Rp 37.5K
$2.20Rp 38.8K
-3.18%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.4K
$1.33Rp 23.4K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85Rp 32.6K
$1.70Rp 30.0K
8.82%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.6K
$1.23Rp 21.7K
26.83%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34Rp 23.6K
$1.27Rp 22.3K
5.51%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00Rp 35.2K
$2.00Rp 35.2K
-
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97Rp 17.0K
$0.77Rp 13.5K
25.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,651
$0.43Rp 7,621
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04Rp 35.9K
$2.76Rp 48.7K
-26.09%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.91Rp 456.3K
$20.57Rp 362.3K
25.96%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 30.8K
$1.85Rp 32.7K
-5.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03Rp 53.4K
$2.96Rp 52.2K
2.36%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33Rp 5,734
$0.29Rp 5,118
13.79%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,413
$0.52Rp 9,181
-7.69%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46Rp 8,178
$0.35Rp 6,198
31.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.73Rp 48.0K
$2.83Rp 49.9K
-3.53%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.2K
$0.81Rp 14.3K
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KRp 446.5M
$23.3KRp 410.6M
8.76%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7KRp 575.4M
$30.6KRp 538.8M
6.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.2Rp 1.6M
$67.8Rp 1.2M
31.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.62Rp 81.4K
$4.35Rp 76.5K
6.21%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.75Rp 347.9K
$19.53Rp 344.0K
1.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.50Rp 325.9K
$20.04Rp 353.0K
-7.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.79Rp 119.6K
$8.59Rp 151.2K
-20.95%
Cinema Ticket
$2.71Rp 47.7K
$2.88Rp 50.7K
-5.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$278Rp 4.9M
$97.0Rp 1.7M
186.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,802Rp 172.6M
$7,767Rp 136.8M
26.21%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.7Rp 1.3M
$43.93Rp 773.8K
65.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.01Rp 704.8K
$29.70Rp 523.2K
34.71%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.2Rp 1.4M
$72.5Rp 1.3M
13.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4Rp 1.3M
$72.5Rp 1.3M
5.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$290Rp 5.1M
$223Rp 3.9M
30.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$150Rp 2.6M
$157Rp 2.8M
-4.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,277Rp 22.5M
$557Rp 9.8M
129.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$607Rp 10.7M
$363Rp 6.4M
67.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,202Rp 38.8M
$1,198Rp 21.1M
83.85%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,066Rp 18.8M
$660Rp 11.6M
61.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Tanjung Pandan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$279Rp 4.9M
-
-
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 5, 2026
Last update for Tanjung Pandan: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $290 in Surabaya versus $223 in Tanjung Pandan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya versus $14.00 in Tanjung Pandan. Groceries tell a different story – $212 in Surabaya vs $197 in Tanjung Pandan – so Tanjung Pandan wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 Tanjung Pandan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Surabaya and in Tanjung Pandan compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $692 in Surabaya, $628 in Tanjung Pandan – roughly 10% apart. Surabaya costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Surabaya compared to Tanjung Pandan?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,038 per month in Surabaya and $942 in Tanjung Pandan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Surabaya and Tanjung Pandan?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tanjung Pandan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Surabaya or Tanjung Pandan?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $692 in Surabaya and $628 in Tanjung Pandan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Surabaya and Tanjung Pandan?
Kindergarten costs $278 per month in Surabaya and $97.0 in Tanjung Pandan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Surabaya compared to Tanjung Pandan?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $692 in Surabaya and $628 in Tanjung Pandan, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Surabaya or Tanjung Pandan?
Families tend to lean toward Tanjung Pandan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
How do I decide between Surabaya and Tanjung Pandan?
If budget matters most, go with Tanjung Pandan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Surabaya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.