😐A single person spends $693 per month in Surabaya vs $692 in Tanjung Pinang, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,106 per month in Surabaya vs $1,059 in Tanjung Pinang, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,520 per month in Surabaya vs $1,425 in Tanjung Pinang, rent included.
😐Surabaya and Tanjung Pinang have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.
📊Both Surabaya and Tanjung Pinang are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya48% lower, Tanjung Pinang48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.58Rp 27.4K
$3.58Rp 62.1K
-55.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.16Rp 210.8K
$12.53Rp 217.1K
-2.95%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.98Rp 51.7K
$3.41Rp 59.1K
-12.61%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 30.1K
$1.70Rp 29.5K
2.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65Rp 11.4K
$0.54Rp 9,404
20.37%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,460
$0.28Rp 4,892
-7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 41.8K
$2.53Rp 43.8K
-4.74%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05Rp 70.3K
$3.60Rp 62.3K
12.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 25.0K
$1.23Rp 21.3K
17.07%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46Rp 25.2K
$1.13Rp 19.6K
29.20%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.01Rp 17.4K
$0.95Rp 16.4K
6.32%
Eggs
$1.46Rp 25.3K
$1.43Rp 24.8K
2.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.39Rp 162.7K
$8.24Rp 142.8K
13.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.31Rp 57.4K
$3.14Rp 54.5K
5.41%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.24Rp 142.9K
$7.95Rp 137.7K
3.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.30Rp 39.9K
$2.37Rp 41.2K
-2.95%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 26.2K
$1.51Rp 26.2K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.13Rp 36.9K
$1.86Rp 32.2K
14.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.49Rp 25.9K
$1.50Rp 25.9K
-0.67%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.0K
$1.32Rp 22.9K
0.76%
Onion(1kg)
$1.81Rp 31.3K
$1.89Rp 32.7K
-4.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20Rp 20.9K
$0.89Rp 15.4K
34.83%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,874
$0.42Rp 7,254
7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55Rp 44.3K
$1.94Rp 33.7K
31.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.75Rp 446.3K
$23.06Rp 399.6K
11.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.85Rp 32.0K
$2.11Rp 36.6K
-12.32%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14Rp 54.4K
$3.09Rp 53.6K
1.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48Rp 8,241
$0.30Rp 5,157
60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.24Rp 160.1K
$10.10Rp 175.0K
-8.51%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 7,715
$0.57Rp 9,958
-21.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,453
$0.34Rp 5,969
-8.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.72Rp 47.2K
$2.94Rp 51.0K
-7.48%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.85Rp 14.7K
$0.77Rp 13.3K
10.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KRp 364.5M
$24.2KRp 420.2M
-13.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.7KRp 619.1M
$27.9KRp 484.3M
27.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.8Rp 1.5M
$69.9Rp 1.2M
19.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.29Rp 74.3K
$4.36Rp 75.6K
-1.61%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.62Rp 340.1K
$22.55Rp 390.8K
-12.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.80Rp 377.9K
$23.25Rp 403.1K
-6.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.42Rp 76.5K
$6.22Rp 107.7K
-28.94%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98Rp 51.7K
$2.64Rp 45.8K
12.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186Rp 3.2M
$93.6Rp 1.6M
98.95%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,464Rp 164.0M
$7,575Rp 131.3M
24.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.8Rp 1.1M
$42.29Rp 733.0K
48.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.18Rp 679.1K
$30.77Rp 533.4K
27.33%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.0Rp 1.4M
$66.1Rp 1.1M
18.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.3Rp 1.4M
$74.3Rp 1.3M
10.87%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.2M
$261Rp 4.5M
-6.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.3M
$156Rp 2.7M
-13.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$790Rp 13.7M
$594Rp 10.3M
33.05%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$394Rp 6.8M
$336Rp 5.8M
17.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,262Rp 39.2M
$1,212Rp 21.0M
86.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,122Rp 19.4M
$797Rp 13.8M
40.75%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$302Rp 5.2M
$283Rp 4.9M
6.91%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
6.5
28.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surabaya: April 25, 2026
Last update for Tanjung Pinang: April 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Surabaya versus $261 in Tanjung Pinang. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 7% higher in Surabaya. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya versus $13.00 in Tanjung Pinang. Groceries tell a different story – $230 in Surabaya vs $212 in Tanjung Pinang – so Tanjung Pinang 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 Pinang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What salary covers living expenses in Surabaya compared to Tanjung Pinang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,039 per month in Surabaya and $1,038 in Tanjung Pinang. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Surabaya and Tanjung Pinang?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tanjung Pinang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 8% more in Surabaya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Surabaya and Tanjung Pinang?
Kindergarten costs $186 per month in Surabaya and $93.6 in Tanjung Pinang. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $800 go in Surabaya vs Tanjung Pinang?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $693 in Surabaya and $692 in Tanjung Pinang, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Surabaya or Tanjung Pinang?
Families tend to lean toward Tanjung Pinang – 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 Pinang?
If budget matters most, go with Tanjung Pinang. 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.