😐A single person spends $702 per month in Surabaya vs $654 in Timika, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,129 per month in Surabaya vs $1,006 in Timika, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,557 per month in Surabaya vs $1,359 in Timika, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 7% more than Timika, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Surabaya and Timika are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya47% lower, Timika51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.56Rp 28.3K
$1.55Rp 28.1K
0.65%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.42Rp 224.6K
$12.09Rp 218.5K
2.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.03Rp 54.7K
$3.32Rp 60.1K
-8.73%
Cappuccino
$1.76Rp 31.7K
$1.65Rp 29.8K
6.67%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66Rp 11.9K
$0.51Rp 9,212
29.41%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,104
$0.28Rp 5,125
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.44Rp 44.1K
$2.40Rp 43.4K
1.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09Rp 73.9K
$3.54Rp 64.0K
15.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44Rp 26.0K
$1.18Rp 21.3K
22.03%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52Rp 27.4K
$1.17Rp 21.2K
29.91%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.98Rp 17.7K
$0.93Rp 16.8K
5.38%
Eggs
$1.51Rp 27.3K
$1.58Rp 28.5K
-4.43%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.28Rp 167.7K
$7.97Rp 144.2K
16.44%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.24Rp 58.5K
$3.14Rp 56.8K
3.18%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.13Rp 147.0K
$7.82Rp 141.3K
3.96%
Apples(1kg)
$2.38Rp 43.0K
$2.37Rp 42.9K
0.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.50Rp 27.2K
$1.51Rp 27.3K
-0.66%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.18Rp 39.5K
$1.80Rp 32.6K
21.11%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.6K
$1.55Rp 28.0K
-8.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.8K
$1.38Rp 24.9K
-4.35%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73Rp 31.2K
$1.91Rp 34.5K
-9.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.15Rp 20.7K
$0.90Rp 16.3K
27.78%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 8,242
$0.45Rp 8,091
2.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52Rp 45.6K
$2.46Rp 44.4K
2.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.18Rp 455.2K
$19.41Rp 351.0K
29.73%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78Rp 32.2K
$2.11Rp 38.1K
-15.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30Rp 59.6K
$3.06Rp 55.4K
7.84%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44Rp 8,044
$0.30Rp 5,365
46.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.26Rp 167.5K
$9.72Rp 175.8K
-4.73%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.45Rp 8,128
$0.57Rp 10.2K
-21.05%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,643
$0.37Rp 6,779
-16.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.74Rp 49.6K
$2.90Rp 52.4K
-5.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.87Rp 15.6K
$0.83Rp 15.1K
4.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KRp 375.4M
$24.6KRp 444.8M
-15.62%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.9KRp 630.2M
$28.0KRp 506.2M
24.49%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0Rp 1.5M
$69.6Rp 1.3M
19.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.19Rp 75.7K
$4.34Rp 78.5K
-3.46%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.44Rp 351.5K
$22.55Rp 407.8K
-13.79%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.63Rp 391.0K
$23.18Rp 419.2K
-6.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.38Rp 79.2K
$6.20Rp 112.1K
-29.35%
Cinema Ticket
$2.98Rp 54.0K
$3.02Rp 54.6K
-1.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186Rp 3.4M
$93.3Rp 1.7M
99.46%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,266Rp 167.5M
$7,621Rp 137.8M
21.59%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9Rp 1.1M
$41.17Rp 744.4K
52.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.49Rp 696.0K
$30.46Rp 550.7K
26.36%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.9Rp 1.4M
$67.2Rp 1.2M
14.40%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.8Rp 1.5M
$72.5Rp 1.3M
15.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$249Rp 4.5M
$260Rp 4.7M
-4.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$138Rp 2.5M
$158Rp 2.9M
-12.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$775Rp 14.0M
$594Rp 10.7M
30.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$392Rp 7.1M
$332Rp 6.0M
18.13%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,136Rp 38.6M
$1,194Rp 21.6M
78.97%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,064Rp 19.2M
$709Rp 12.8M
50.08%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Timika
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$269Rp 4.9M
-
-
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Timika: July 28, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $249 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 – $228 in Surabaya vs $205 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: $702 in Surabaya, $654 in Timika – roughly 7% apart. Surabaya costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Surabaya compared to Timika?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,053 per month in Surabaya and $982 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 11% 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 compared to Timika?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $702 in Surabaya and $654 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.