Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Timika Cost of Living Comparison Between Surabaya and Timika

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $692 per month in Surabaya vs $638 in Timika, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,196 per month in Surabaya vs $1,017 in Timika, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,700 per month in Surabaya vs $1,396 in Timika, rent included.

Surabaya costs about 9% more than Timika, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Surabaya and Timika are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya 50% lower, Timika 54% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.73 Rp 30.5K
$1.68 Rp 29.7K
2.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.58 Rp 203.9K
$14.11 Rp 248.3K
-17.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.14 Rp 55.3K
$3.41 Rp 60.1K
-7.92%
Cappuccino
$1.59 Rp 28.0K
$1.57 Rp 27.6K
1.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57 Rp 10.1K
$0.45 Rp 7,943
26.67%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26 Rp 4,556
$0.25 Rp 4,434
4.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.31 Rp 40.7K
$2.31 Rp 40.8K
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30 Rp 75.7K
$3.36 Rp 59.2K
27.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.22 Rp 21.4K
$1.13 Rp 20.0K
7.96%
White Bread (500g)
$1.30 Rp 22.9K
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
17.12%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.84 Rp 14.7K
$0.89 Rp 15.6K
-5.62%
Eggs
$1.21 Rp 21.3K
$1.49 Rp 26.1K
-18.79%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.90 Rp 139.1K
$7.17 Rp 126.2K
10.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.97 Rp 52.3K
$2.93 Rp 51.5K
1.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.60 Rp 133.8K
$7.86 Rp 138.4K
-3.31%
Apples (1kg)
$2.13 Rp 37.5K
$2.28 Rp 40.1K
-6.58%
Banana (1kg)
$1.33 Rp 23.4K
$1.33 Rp 23.4K
-
Oranges (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 32.6K
$1.77 Rp 31.1K
4.52%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.6K
$1.24 Rp 21.9K
25.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.34 Rp 23.6K
$1.32 Rp 23.3K
1.52%
Onion (1kg)
$2.00 Rp 35.1K
$1.95 Rp 34.4K
2.56%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.97 Rp 17.0K
$0.73 Rp 12.9K
32.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 Rp 7,648
$0.43 Rp 7,591
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04 Rp 35.9K
$2.79 Rp 49.0K
-26.88%
Wine (Bottle)
$25.91 Rp 456.1K
$20.36 Rp 358.5K
27.26%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75 Rp 30.8K
$1.94 Rp 34.2K
-9.79%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03 Rp 53.4K
$2.95 Rp 51.9K
2.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 Rp 5,732
$0.27 Rp 4,727
22.22%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,409
$0.49 Rp 8,543
-2.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.46 Rp 8,175
$0.33 Rp 5,787
39.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.73 Rp 48.0K
$2.92 Rp 51.5K
-6.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
$0.74 Rp 13.1K
9.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K Rp 446.3M
$23.6K Rp 414.6M
7.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K Rp 575.2M
$30.5K Rp 536.9M
7.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$89.2 Rp 1.6M
$67.6 Rp 1.2M
32.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.62 Rp 81.4K
$4.51 Rp 79.5K
2.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.75 Rp 347.8K
$19.59 Rp 344.9K
0.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.50 Rp 325.7K
$20.49 Rp 360.8K
-9.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.79 Rp 119.5K
$8.54 Rp 150.3K
-20.49%
Cinema Ticket
$2.71 Rp 47.6K
$2.88 Rp 50.6K
-5.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$278 Rp 4.9M
$96.2 Rp 1.7M
188.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,802 Rp 172.6M
$7,945 Rp 139.9M
23.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.7 Rp 1.3M
$44.69 Rp 786.9K
62.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.01 Rp 704.5K
$29.88 Rp 526.1K
33.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.2 Rp 1.4M
$74.3 Rp 1.3M
10.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4 Rp 1.3M
$71.9 Rp 1.3M
6.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$290 Rp 5.1M
$222 Rp 3.9M
30.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$150 Rp 2.6M
$156 Rp 2.7M
-4.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 Rp 22.5M
$565 Rp 9.9M
126.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$607 Rp 10.7M
$370 Rp 6.5M
64.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,202 Rp 38.8M
$1,165 Rp 20.5M
89.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,066 Rp 18.8M
$656 Rp 11.5M
62.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$279 Rp 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 Timika: September 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $290 in Surabaya versus $222 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 $12.00 in Surabaya versus $14.00 in Timika. Groceries tell a different story – $212 in Surabaya vs $197 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 in Timika compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $692 in Surabaya, $638 in Timika – roughly 9% 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 $1,038 per month in Surabaya and $956 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 is more expensive overall: Surabaya or Timika?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $692 in Surabaya and $638 in Timika. 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 Timika?
Kindergarten costs $278 per month in Surabaya and $96.2 in Timika. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,000 go in Surabaya compared to Timika?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $692 in Surabaya and $638 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.

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