😐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 – Surabaya50% lower, Timika54% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.73Rp 30.5K
$1.68Rp 29.7K
2.98%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$11.58Rp 203.9K
$14.11Rp 248.3K
-17.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.14Rp 55.3K
$3.41Rp 60.1K
-7.92%
Cappuccino
$1.59Rp 28.0K
$1.57Rp 27.6K
1.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.57Rp 10.1K
$0.45Rp 7,943
26.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,556
$0.25Rp 4,434
4.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.31Rp 40.7K
$2.31Rp 40.8K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.30Rp 75.7K
$3.36Rp 59.2K
27.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 21.4K
$1.13Rp 20.0K
7.96%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30Rp 22.9K
$1.11Rp 19.6K
17.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.84Rp 14.7K
$0.89Rp 15.6K
-5.62%
Eggs
$1.21Rp 21.3K
$1.49Rp 26.1K
-18.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.90Rp 139.1K
$7.17Rp 126.2K
10.18%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.97Rp 52.3K
$2.93Rp 51.5K
1.37%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.60Rp 133.8K
$7.86Rp 138.4K
-3.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.13Rp 37.5K
$2.28Rp 40.1K
-6.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.4K
$1.33Rp 23.4K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.85Rp 32.6K
$1.77Rp 31.1K
4.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56Rp 27.6K
$1.24Rp 21.9K
25.81%
Potato(1kg)
$1.34Rp 23.6K
$1.32Rp 23.3K
1.52%
Onion(1kg)
$2.00Rp 35.1K
$1.95Rp 34.4K
2.56%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.97Rp 17.0K
$0.73Rp 12.9K
32.88%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,648
$0.43Rp 7,591
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.04Rp 35.9K
$2.79Rp 49.0K
-26.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.91Rp 456.1K
$20.36Rp 358.5K
27.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.75Rp 30.8K
$1.94Rp 34.2K
-9.79%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.03Rp 53.4K
$2.95Rp 51.9K
2.71%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.33Rp 5,732
$0.27Rp 4,727
22.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,409
$0.49Rp 8,543
-2.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.46Rp 8,175
$0.33Rp 5,787
39.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.73Rp 48.0K
$2.92Rp 51.5K
-6.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.81Rp 14.2K
$0.74Rp 13.1K
9.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4KRp 446.3M
$23.6KRp 414.6M
7.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7KRp 575.2M
$30.5KRp 536.9M
7.13%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$89.2Rp 1.6M
$67.6Rp 1.2M
32.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.62Rp 81.4K
$4.51Rp 79.5K
2.44%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.75Rp 347.8K
$19.59Rp 344.9K
0.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$18.50Rp 325.7K
$20.49Rp 360.8K
-9.71%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.79Rp 119.5K
$8.54Rp 150.3K
-20.49%
Cinema Ticket
$2.71Rp 47.6K
$2.88Rp 50.6K
-5.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$278Rp 4.9M
$96.2Rp 1.7M
188.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,802Rp 172.6M
$7,945Rp 139.9M
23.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.7Rp 1.3M
$44.69Rp 786.9K
62.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$40.01Rp 704.5K
$29.88Rp 526.1K
33.90%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$82.2Rp 1.4M
$74.3Rp 1.3M
10.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$76.4Rp 1.3M
$71.9Rp 1.3M
6.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$290Rp 5.1M
$222Rp 3.9M
30.36%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$150Rp 2.6M
$156Rp 2.7M
-4.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,277Rp 22.5M
$565Rp 9.9M
126.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$607Rp 10.7M
$370Rp 6.5M
64.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,202Rp 38.8M
$1,165Rp 20.5M
89.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,066Rp 18.8M
$656Rp 11.5M
62.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Timika
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 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.