Cost of Living Comparison Between Surakarta and Alwar Cost of Living Comparison Between Surakarta and Alwar

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $644 in Surakarta versus $371 in Alwar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $997 in Surakarta versus $566 in Alwar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,350 in Surakarta versus $761 in Alwar.

Living in Surakarta is roughly 74% more expensive than Alwar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surakarta 52% lower, Alwar 72% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

$2.08 ₹198

-24.52%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.06 Rp 215.3K

$5.94 ₹566

103.03%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.05 Rp 54.4K

$2.28 ₹217

33.77%

Cappuccino

$1.66 Rp 29.7K

$1.37 ₹131

21.17%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

$0.22 ₹20.86

154.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 Rp 4,429

$0.12 ₹11.12

108.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.86 Rp 33.2K

$0.92 ₹87.3

102.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 Rp 51.9K

$2.04 ₹194

42.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$0.66 ₹63.3

81.82%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 Rp 15.9K

$0.40 ₹38.29

122.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 Rp 14.4K

$0.78 ₹74.7

3.85%

Eggs

$1.24 Rp 22.2K

$0.86 ₹82.1

44.19%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.24 Rp 165.0K

$4.45 ₹424

107.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.89 Rp 51.7K

$2.40 ₹229

20.42%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.41 Rp 132.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 Rp 41.0K

$1.56 ₹149

47.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 Rp 26.5K

$0.56 ₹53.7

166.07%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 Rp 37.7K

$0.67 ₹64.1

214.93%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 Rp 24.0K

$0.45 ₹42.69

200.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 Rp 23.8K

$0.34 ₹32.26

291.18%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 Rp 29.5K

$0.45 ₹43.12

266.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

$0.43 ₹40.89

46.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 8,086

$0.33 ₹31.86

36.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.12 Rp 37.9K

$3.08 ₹294

-31.17%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.48 Rp 151.4K

$7.40 ₹705

14.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 Rp 32.6K

$1.61 ₹154

13.66%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 Rp 56.9K

$2.73 ₹260

16.85%

Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)

$5.57 ₹531

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 Rp 7,489

$0.53 ₹50.7

-20.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.69 Rp 173.0K

$8.77 ₹835

10.49%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,575

$0.56 ₹53.6

-14.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,588

$0.20 ₹18.58

55.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 Rp 50.1K

$1.18 ₹112

138.14%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

$1.12 ₹107

-26.79%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.5K Rp 365.9M

$17.3K ₹1.7M

18.24%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$34.7K Rp 619.4M

$24.4K ₹2.3M

42.35%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$84.4 Rp 1.5M

$64.9 ₹6,181

30.00%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$2.27 Rp 40.6K

$4.32 ₹411

-47.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.70 Rp 351.7K

$4.57 ₹435

331.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.91 Rp 355.5K

$17.58 ₹1,674

13.25%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.29 Rp 112.4K

$7.22 ₹688

-12.88%

Cinema Ticket

$2.11 Rp 37.6K

$3.96 ₹377

-46.72%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$36.58 Rp 653.3K

$22.99 ₹2,190

59.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,069 Rp 36.9M

$694 ₹66.1K

198.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 Rp 1.1M

$19.62 ₹1,869

214.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.67 Rp 708.4K

$23.42 ₹2,231

69.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.5 Rp 1.3M

$23.50 ₹2,238

221.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

$23.11 ₹2,201

215.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 Rp 4.5M

$47.14 ₹4,491

440.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$155 Rp 2.8M

$75.0 ₹7,142

106.66%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$589 Rp 10.5M

$269 ₹25.6K

118.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 Rp 6.0M

$178 ₹16.9K

89.07%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$974 ₹92.7K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$527 ₹50.2K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$157 Rp 2.8M

$391 ₹37.3K

-59.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.33

-7.44%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Surakarta: May 31, 2026

Last update for Alwar: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $255 in Surakarta and $47.14 in Alwar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alwar pays 149% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $12.00 in Surakarta vs $6.00 in Alwar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $177 vs $95.0 per month, with Alwar cheaper across the board.

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

Surakarta vs Alwar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Alwar is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Monthly Utilities & Internet, Getting Around. The 74% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, Alwar earns 149% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $255 in Surakarta versus $47.14 in Alwar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $644 per month in Surakarta versus $371 in Alwar – a 74% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Alwar runs roughly 10% less than in Surakarta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Alwar gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Alwar gentler on the wallet – expenses run 74% less than in Surakarta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.