😐A single person spends $689 per month in Surabaya vs $679 in Timika, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,115 per month in Surabaya vs $1,041 in Timika, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,542 per month in Surabaya vs $1,402 in Timika, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 1% more than Timika, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Surabaya and Timika are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya49% lower, Timika49% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52Rp 26.2K
$1.56Rp 26.8K
-2.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.11Rp 208.2K
$12.34Rp 212.0K
-1.86%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.10Rp 53.2K
$3.40Rp 58.4K
-8.82%
Cappuccino
$1.81Rp 31.1K
$1.74Rp 29.9K
4.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.65Rp 11.2K
$0.55Rp 9,380
18.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 4,872
$0.26Rp 4,453
7.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 41.4K
$2.42Rp 41.6K
-0.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.04Rp 69.4K
$3.54Rp 60.8K
14.12%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 24.8K
$1.22Rp 20.9K
18.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.49Rp 25.7K
$1.14Rp 19.5K
30.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.92Rp 15.9K
$0.87Rp 14.9K
5.75%
Eggs
$1.51Rp 26.0K
$1.55Rp 26.6K
-2.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.21Rp 158.3K
$8.05Rp 138.3K
14.41%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.35Rp 57.6K
$3.23Rp 55.6K
3.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.17Rp 140.5K
$7.72Rp 132.6K
5.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32Rp 39.8K
$2.37Rp 40.8K
-2.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48Rp 25.4K
$1.48Rp 25.5K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.09Rp 36.0K
$1.78Rp 30.7K
17.42%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.44Rp 24.7K
$1.56Rp 26.8K
-7.69%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 23.7K
$1.37Rp 23.5K
0.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.79Rp 30.7K
$1.87Rp 32.1K
-4.28%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15Rp 19.8K
$0.95Rp 16.3K
21.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,323
$0.45Rp 7,684
-4.44%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.46Rp 42.2K
$2.52Rp 43.3K
-2.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$26.02Rp 447.1K
$25.41Rp 436.7K
2.40%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77Rp 30.4K
$2.08Rp 35.8K
-14.90%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32Rp 57.1K
$3.21Rp 55.2K
3.43%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48Rp 8,202
$0.30Rp 5,107
60.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.47Rp 162.7K
$10.12Rp 173.9K
-6.42%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,580
$0.57Rp 9,868
-22.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,358
$0.35Rp 5,954
-11.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.70Rp 46.4K
$2.85Rp 48.9K
-5.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86Rp 14.8K
$0.83Rp 14.2K
3.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.2KRp 364.4M
$24.5KRp 420.4M
-13.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6KRp 594.4M
$27.2KRp 467.3M
27.21%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.8Rp 1.4M
$70.7Rp 1.2M
18.57%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.17Rp 71.7K
$4.18Rp 71.8K
-0.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.55Rp 336.0K
$22.68Rp 389.8K
-13.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.75Rp 373.7K
$23.25Rp 399.6K
-6.45%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.36Rp 75.0K
$6.27Rp 107.8K
-30.46%
Cinema Ticket
$2.97Rp 51.0K
$3.01Rp 51.7K
-1.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$190Rp 3.3M
$92.9Rp 1.6M
104.82%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,220Rp 158.5M
$7,436Rp 127.8M
24.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.5Rp 1.1M
$41.48Rp 712.9K
50.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.60Rp 663.4K
$30.97Rp 532.2K
24.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.3Rp 1.3M
$67.3Rp 1.2M
13.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.9Rp 1.4M
$74.5Rp 1.3M
11.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$249Rp 4.3M
$254Rp 4.4M
-2.22%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$137Rp 2.4M
$155Rp 2.7M
-11.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$764Rp 13.1M
$587Rp 10.1M
30.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$400Rp 6.9M
$334Rp 5.7M
19.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,309Rp 39.7M
$1,053Rp 18.1M
119.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,123Rp 19.3M
$733Rp 12.6M
53.23%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$304Rp 5.2M
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
9.15
-8.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surabaya: April 20, 2026
Last update for Timika: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $249 in Surabaya versus $254 in Timika. 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 in Surabaya versus $12 in Timika. Groceries tell a different story – $229 in Surabaya vs $217 in Timika – so Timika 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 Timika: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Surabaya and Timika compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $689 in Surabaya, $679 in Timika – roughly 1% apart. Surabaya costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Surabaya compared to Timika?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,033 per month in Surabaya and $1,019 in Timika. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Surabaya and Timika?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Timika, 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 6% more in Surabaya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya and $12.00 in Timika. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How far does $1,000 go in Surabaya vs Timika?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $689 in Surabaya and $679 in Timika, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Surabaya or Timika?
Families tend to lean toward Timika – 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 Timika?
If budget matters most, go with Timika. 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.