😐A single person spends $708 per month in Surabaya vs $652 in Yogyakarta, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,133 per month in Surabaya vs $1,012 in Yogyakarta, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,557 per month in Surabaya vs $1,371 in Yogyakarta, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 9% more than Yogyakarta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Surabaya and Yogyakarta are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya47% lower, Yogyakarta51% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.52Rp 27.3K
$1.41Rp 25.2K
7.80%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.12Rp 217.3K
$9.01Rp 161.6K
34.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.13Rp 56.1K
$3.12Rp 55.9K
0.32%
Cappuccino
$1.82Rp 32.6K
$1.46Rp 26.1K
24.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60Rp 10.8K
$0.53Rp 9,555
13.21%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,620
$0.28Rp 5,073
-7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.41Rp 43.2K
$2.43Rp 43.6K
-0.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02Rp 72.0K
$3.30Rp 59.2K
21.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38Rp 24.8K
$1.22Rp 22.0K
13.11%
White Bread(500g)
$1.46Rp 26.2K
$1.37Rp 24.5K
6.57%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.7K
$0.82Rp 14.8K
13.41%
Eggs
$1.44Rp 25.9K
$1.33Rp 23.8K
8.27%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.04Rp 162.1K
$7.10Rp 127.3K
27.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.29Rp 59.0K
$3.28Rp 58.9K
0.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.45Rp 151.5K
$8.13Rp 145.8K
3.94%
Apples(1kg)
$2.42Rp 43.3K
$2.37Rp 42.4K
2.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54Rp 27.6K
$1.46Rp 26.1K
5.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.19Rp 39.3K
$1.36Rp 24.4K
61.03%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42Rp 25.5K
$1.03Rp 18.5K
37.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.7K
$1.08Rp 19.3K
22.22%
Onion(1kg)
$1.80Rp 32.2K
$1.74Rp 31.2K
3.45%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.18Rp 21.2K
$0.46Rp 8,187
156.52%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,557
$0.39Rp 6,934
7.69%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.54Rp 45.6K
$2.53Rp 45.4K
0.40%
Wine(Bottle)
$24.78Rp 444.3K
$16.85Rp 302.0K
47.06%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77Rp 31.6K
$1.77Rp 31.8K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.14Rp 56.4K
$3.30Rp 59.1K
-4.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.48Rp 8,521
$0.21Rp 3,755
128.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.40Rp 168.6K
$9.79Rp 175.5K
-3.98%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,949
$0.47Rp 8,428
-6.38%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 5,185
$0.31Rp 5,574
-6.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.77Rp 49.7K
$4.19Rp 75.0K
-33.89%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.84Rp 15.1K
$0.82Rp 14.6K
2.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6KRp 369.9M
$19.2KRp 344.5M
7.40%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KRp 641.8M
$27.1KRp 486.6M
31.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.9Rp 1.5M
$73.7Rp 1.3M
15.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.09Rp 73.3K
$4.31Rp 77.3K
-5.10%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.75Rp 354.1K
$19.59Rp 351.1K
0.82%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.59Rp 387.0K
$15.17Rp 272.0K
42.32%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.57Rp 81.9K
$3.05Rp 54.7K
49.84%
Cinema Ticket
$2.85Rp 51.1K
$2.82Rp 50.5K
1.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$188Rp 3.4M
$72.5Rp 1.3M
158.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,556Rp 171.3M
$4,468Rp 80.1M
113.86%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.6Rp 1.1M
$34.45Rp 617.5K
78.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.56Rp 691.1K
$30.38Rp 544.6K
26.93%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.8Rp 1.4M
$77.2Rp 1.4M
0.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.6Rp 1.5M
$82.6Rp 1.5M
1.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$242Rp 4.3M
$194Rp 3.5M
24.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$135Rp 2.4M
$171Rp 3.1M
-20.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$762Rp 13.7M
$782Rp 14.0M
-2.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$393Rp 7.0M
$386Rp 6.9M
1.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,209Rp 39.6M
$1,652Rp 29.6M
33.75%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,067Rp 19.1M
$223Rp 4.0M
378.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$276Rp 4.9M
$213Rp 3.8M
29.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
8.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surabaya: May 31, 2026
Last update for Yogyakarta: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $242 in Surabaya versus $194 in Yogyakarta. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
💰Salaries run about 29% higher in Surabaya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surabaya versus $9.00 in Yogyakarta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $226 vs $190 – making Yogyakarta the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Yogyakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Surabaya and Yogyakarta compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $708 in Surabaya, $652 in Yogyakarta – roughly 9% apart. Surabaya costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Surabaya compared to Yogyakarta?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,062 per month in Surabaya and $978 in Yogyakarta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Surabaya and Yogyakarta?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Yogyakarta, 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 19% 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 $9.00 in Yogyakarta. 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 Yogyakarta?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $708 in Surabaya and $652 in Yogyakarta, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Surabaya and Yogyakarta?
It depends on your priorities. Surabaya has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $652 in Yogyakarta to $708 in Surabaya. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Surabaya or Yogyakarta safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Surabaya and Yogyakarta?
If budget matters most, go with Yogyakarta. 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.