😐A single person spends $700 per month in Surabaya vs $668 in Timika, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,117 per month in Surabaya vs $1,027 in Timika, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,535 per month in Surabaya vs $1,386 in Timika, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 5% more than Timika, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Surabaya and Timika are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya48% lower, Timika50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52Rp 27.4K
$1.56Rp 28.0K
-2.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.46Rp 224.0K
$12.22Rp 219.6K
1.96%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.13Rp 56.3K
$3.31Rp 59.6K
-5.44%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 31.2K
$1.65Rp 29.7K
5.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66Rp 11.8K
$0.51Rp 9,132
29.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,033
$0.28Rp 5,063
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.50Rp 44.9K
$2.43Rp 43.7K
2.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92Rp 70.5K
$3.59Rp 64.6K
9.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.42Rp 25.6K
$1.23Rp 22.2K
15.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50Rp 27.0K
$1.18Rp 21.3K
27.12%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.7K
$0.94Rp 16.9K
-1.06%
Eggs
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$1.59Rp 28.7K
-5.66%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.31Rp 167.3K
$7.91Rp 142.2K
17.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.17Rp 57.0K
$3.10Rp 55.7K
2.26%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.19Rp 147.2K
$7.92Rp 142.4K
3.41%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40Rp 43.1K
$2.42Rp 43.4K
-0.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$1.51Rp 27.1K
-0.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.17Rp 39.0K
$1.79Rp 32.2K
21.23%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.5K
$1.56Rp 28.0K
-8.97%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 24.8K
$1.37Rp 24.6K
0.73%
Onion(1kg)
$1.78Rp 32.0K
$1.89Rp 33.9K
-5.82%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16Rp 20.8K
$0.94Rp 17.0K
23.40%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,126
$0.41Rp 7,401
9.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.44Rp 43.8K
$2.42Rp 43.4K
0.83%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.54Rp 441.1K
$19.89Rp 357.5K
23.38%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.83Rp 32.9K
$2.02Rp 36.4K
-9.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.27Rp 58.8K
$3.21Rp 57.7K
1.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.47Rp 8,523
$0.30Rp 5,390
56.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.14Rp 164.3K
$9.62Rp 172.9K
-4.99%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47Rp 8,459
$0.52Rp 9,411
-9.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,587
$0.37Rp 6,670
-16.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.75Rp 49.4K
$2.93Rp 52.7K
-6.14%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87Rp 15.6K
$0.78Rp 14.0K
11.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KRp 374.6M
$24.3KRp 437.3M
-14.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KRp 626.7M
$27.8KRp 499.6M
25.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.9Rp 1.5M
$68.8Rp 1.2M
21.96%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.10Rp 73.7K
$4.34Rp 77.9K
-5.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.83Rp 356.5K
$22.71Rp 408.3K
-12.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.93Rp 394.3K
$23.11Rp 415.4K
-5.11%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.44Rp 79.8K
$5.98Rp 107.5K
-25.75%
Cinema Ticket
$2.96Rp 53.2K
$3.00Rp 53.9K
-1.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$192Rp 3.4M
$94.5Rp 1.7M
102.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,350Rp 168.1M
$7,541Rp 135.5M
23.99%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9Rp 1.1M
$41.03Rp 737.6K
53.20%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$39.45Rp 709.2K
$30.11Rp 541.2K
31.02%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.9Rp 1.4M
$66.4Rp 1.2M
17.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0Rp 1.5M
$72.8Rp 1.3M
12.70%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.4M
$260Rp 4.7M
-6.15%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.4M
$161Rp 2.9M
-16.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$762Rp 13.7M
$589Rp 10.6M
29.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$389Rp 7.0M
$340Rp 6.1M
14.61%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,223Rp 40.0M
$1,316Rp 23.7M
68.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,057Rp 19.0M
$594Rp 10.7M
77.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$269Rp 4.8M
-
-
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Timika: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $244 in Surabaya versus $260 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 $12.00 in Timika. Groceries tell a different story – $227 in Surabaya vs $206 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: $700 in Surabaya, $668 in Timika – roughly 5% 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 $1,050 per month in Surabaya and $1,003 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 10% 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 $700 in Surabaya and $668 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.