😐A single person spends $685 per month in Surabaya vs $635 in Tanjung Pinang, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,197 per month in Surabaya vs $1,000 in Tanjung Pinang, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,710 per month in Surabaya vs $1,365 in Tanjung Pinang, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 8% more than Tanjung Pinang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Surabaya and Tanjung Pinang are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya50% lower, Tanjung Pinang54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.56Rp 27.8K
$3.47Rp 61.6K
-55.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.28Rp 200.6K
$11.19Rp 198.8K
0.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.98Rp 53.0K
$3.60Rp 64.0K
-17.22%
Cappuccino
$1.62Rp 28.9K
$1.43Rp 25.4K
13.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.56Rp 9,900
$0.50Rp 8,969
12.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,573
$0.23Rp 4,061
13.04%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.30Rp 40.9K
$2.50Rp 44.4K
-8.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.12Rp 73.3K
$3.83Rp 68.1K
7.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.27Rp 22.5K
$1.21Rp 21.5K
4.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.33Rp 23.7K
$0.93Rp 16.5K
43.01%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.83Rp 14.7K
$0.79Rp 14.0K
5.06%
Eggs
$1.23Rp 21.9K
$1.42Rp 25.2K
-13.38%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.67Rp 136.4K
$7.08Rp 125.9K
8.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.07Rp 54.5K
$2.88Rp 51.3K
6.60%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.53Rp 133.8K
$6.94Rp 123.4K
8.50%
Apples(1kg)
$2.09Rp 37.2K
$2.10Rp 37.4K
-0.48%
Banana(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.4K
$1.24Rp 22.0K
6.45%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.91Rp 34.0K
$2.01Rp 35.7K
-4.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.51Rp 26.8K
$1.07Rp 19.1K
41.12%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.4K
$1.15Rp 20.4K
14.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.99Rp 35.4K
$2.01Rp 35.7K
-1.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.92Rp 16.4K
$0.74Rp 13.2K
24.32%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,619
$0.39Rp 6,998
10.26%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.93Rp 34.2K
$2.67Rp 47.5K
-27.72%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.10Rp 446.2K
$19.03Rp 338.2K
31.90%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 31.1K
$1.87Rp 33.2K
-6.42%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88Rp 51.1K
$2.86Rp 50.8K
0.70%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.32Rp 5,640
$0.26Rp 4,685
23.08%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.51Rp 9,015
$0.53Rp 9,344
-3.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.47Rp 8,277
$0.34Rp 5,987
38.24%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.60Rp 46.2K
$2.79Rp 49.6K
-6.81%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 14.0K
$0.68Rp 12.1K
16.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7KRp 439.7M
$25.0KRp 444.9M
-1.17%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.2KRp 571.9M
$27.4KRp 487.9M
17.23%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$88.7Rp 1.6M
$71.4Rp 1.3M
24.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.78Rp 85.0K
$4.22Rp 75.1K
13.27%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.29Rp 342.9K
$16.62Rp 295.4K
16.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.24Rp 324.3K
$20.18Rp 358.8K
-9.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.71Rp 119.2K
$8.83Rp 156.9K
-24.01%
Cinema Ticket
$2.58Rp 45.9K
$2.86Rp 50.9K
-9.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$279Rp 5.0M
$104Rp 1.9M
167.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,074Rp 143.5M
$7,117Rp 126.5M
13.45%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$70.7Rp 1.3M
$46.00Rp 817.6K
53.74%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.64Rp 704.6K
$28.32Rp 503.3K
39.97%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.6Rp 1.5M
$70.2Rp 1.2M
17.72%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.2Rp 1.3M
$66.3Rp 1.2M
11.91%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$280Rp 5.0M
$208Rp 3.7M
34.49%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$146Rp 2.6M
$175Rp 3.1M
-16.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,241Rp 22.1M
$536Rp 9.5M
131.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$602Rp 10.7M
$369Rp 6.6M
63.23%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,202Rp 39.1M
$1,103Rp 19.6M
99.71%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,089Rp 19.3M
$706Rp 12.5M
54.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Tanjung Pinang
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$270Rp 4.8M
$197Rp 3.5M
36.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7.5
9.67
-22.44%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surabaya: August 18, 2026
Last update for Tanjung Pinang: August 17, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $280 in Surabaya versus $208 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 37% higher in Surabaya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $11.00 in Surabaya versus $11.00 in Tanjung Pinang. Groceries tell a different story – $210 in Surabaya vs $186 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
How do living costs in Surabaya and in Tanjung Pinang compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $685 in Surabaya, $635 in Tanjung Pinang – roughly 8% apart. Surabaya costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Surabaya compared to Tanjung Pinang?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,028 per month in Surabaya and $952 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 is more expensive overall: Surabaya or Tanjung Pinang?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $685 in Surabaya and $635 in Tanjung Pinang. 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 Pinang?
Kindergarten costs $279 per month in Surabaya and $104 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 compared to Tanjung Pinang?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $685 in Surabaya and $635 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.