😐A single person spends $702 per month in Surabaya vs $640 in Yogyakarta, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,117 per month in Surabaya vs $1,007 in Yogyakarta, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $1,532 per month in Surabaya vs $1,374 in Yogyakarta, rent included.
😐Surabaya costs about 10% more than Yogyakarta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Surabaya and Yogyakarta are more affordable than the global median – Surabaya47% lower, Yogyakarta52% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.58Rp 28.4K
$1.40Rp 25.2K
12.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.11Rp 217.6K
$9.47Rp 170.1K
27.88%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.05Rp 54.9K
$3.05Rp 54.9K
-
Cappuccino
$1.80Rp 32.4K
$1.47Rp 26.4K
22.45%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.64Rp 11.5K
$0.51Rp 9,132
25.49%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,048
$0.26Rp 4,638
7.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40Rp 43.2K
$2.51Rp 45.1K
-4.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.09Rp 73.5K
$3.30Rp 59.2K
23.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.38Rp 24.7K
$1.16Rp 20.8K
18.97%
White Bread(500g)
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$1.38Rp 24.8K
8.70%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94Rp 17.0K
$0.87Rp 15.6K
8.05%
Eggs
$1.50Rp 26.9K
$1.34Rp 24.0K
11.94%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.24Rp 166.1K
$6.88Rp 123.7K
34.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.19Rp 57.3K
$3.18Rp 57.1K
0.31%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.13Rp 146.0K
$8.14Rp 146.2K
-0.12%
Apples(1kg)
$2.41Rp 43.3K
$2.41Rp 43.3K
-
Banana(1kg)
$1.56Rp 28.1K
$1.44Rp 26.0K
8.33%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.20Rp 39.5K
$1.43Rp 25.7K
53.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.50Rp 27.0K
$1.09Rp 19.6K
37.61%
Potato(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.8K
$1.10Rp 19.8K
20.91%
Onion(1kg)
$1.73Rp 31.1K
$1.77Rp 31.9K
-2.26%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19Rp 21.4K
$0.46Rp 8,278
158.70%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,091
$0.41Rp 7,384
9.76%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.45Rp 44.1K
$2.53Rp 45.4K
-3.16%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.13Rp 451.6K
$19.65Rp 353.1K
27.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86Rp 33.5K
$1.85Rp 33.2K
0.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.31Rp 59.5K
$3.15Rp 56.5K
5.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.44Rp 7,860
$0.21Rp 3,762
109.52%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.48Rp 170.4K
$9.79Rp 176.0K
-3.17%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.48Rp 8,592
$0.48Rp 8,605
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,615
$0.31Rp 5,600
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.73Rp 49.1K
$4.33Rp 77.9K
-36.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.86Rp 15.4K
$0.81Rp 14.6K
6.17%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5KRp 368.6M
$18.7KRp 336.5M
9.53%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.0KRp 629.7M
$27.1KRp 487.8M
29.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0Rp 1.5M
$72.1Rp 1.3M
15.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.31Rp 77.5K
$4.32Rp 77.7K
-0.23%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.61Rp 352.5K
$19.43Rp 349.1K
0.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.82Rp 392.2K
$15.52Rp 279.0K
40.59%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.59Rp 82.6K
$3.09Rp 55.5K
48.54%
Cinema Ticket
$2.87Rp 51.7K
$2.70Rp 48.5K
6.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$186Rp 3.3M
$72.4Rp 1.3M
156.75%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,556Rp 171.7M
$4,410Rp 79.2M
116.69%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9Rp 1.1M
$33.43Rp 600.9K
88.15%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.85Rp 698.2K
$30.34Rp 545.3K
28.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.8Rp 1.4M
$77.5Rp 1.4M
0.49%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$83.1Rp 1.5M
$82.0Rp 1.5M
1.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$244Rp 4.4M
$194Rp 3.5M
26.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$136Rp 2.4M
$172Rp 3.1M
-20.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$792Rp 14.2M
$762Rp 13.7M
3.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$399Rp 7.2M
$392Rp 7.0M
1.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,202Rp 39.6M
$1,642Rp 29.5M
34.05%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,045Rp 18.8M
$216Rp 3.9M
383.12%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surabaya
Yogyakarta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$269Rp 4.8M
$212Rp 3.8M
27.14%
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: July 11, 2026
Last update for Yogyakarta: July 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $244 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 27% 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: $228 vs $195 – 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 in Yogyakarta compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $702 in Surabaya, $640 in Yogyakarta – roughly 10% 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 $1,054 per month in Surabaya and $960 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 17% 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 compared to Yogyakarta?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $702 in Surabaya and $640 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 $640 in Yogyakarta to $702 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.