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: $522 in Surakarta versus $318 in Alwar.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $834 in Surakarta versus $498 in Alwar.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,146 in Surakarta versus $678 in Alwar.

Living in Surakarta is roughly 64% more expensive than in Alwar, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surakarta 62% lower, Alwar 77% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 Rp 30.3K

$1.79 ₹169

-3.91%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.71 Rp 207.1K

$5.29 ₹500

121.36%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.11 Rp 55.0K

$2.14 ₹202

45.33%

Cappuccino

$1.51 Rp 26.8K

$1.27 ₹120

18.90%

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

$0.50 Rp 8,818

$0.20 ₹18.88

150.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 Rp 4,454

$0.10 ₹9.88

150.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 Rp 24.6K

$0.81 ₹76.3

71.60%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.3K

$1.90 ₹180

46.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 Rp 16.5K

$0.56 ₹52.8

67.86%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

$0.44 ₹41.44

75.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 Rp 12.4K

$0.72 ₹68.1

-2.78%

Eggs

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$0.77 ₹73.0

31.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.59 Rp 134.2K

$3.60 ₹340

110.83%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.74 Rp 30.8K

$3.17 ₹300

-45.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.47 Rp 96.7K

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 Rp 37.2K

$1.47 ₹139

43.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 Rp 22.7K

$0.48 ₹45.14

166.67%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

$0.62 ₹58.5

209.68%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 Rp 25.6K

$0.37 ₹35.40

291.89%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 Rp 24.3K

$0.27 ₹25.20

407.41%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 Rp 29.2K

$0.36 ₹34.06

358.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 Rp 9,795

$0.39 ₹36.67

41.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,217

$0.28 ₹26.28

46.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 Rp 35.7K

$3.58 ₹338

-43.58%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.56 Rp 151.4K

$7.38 ₹697

15.99%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 Rp 29.7K

$1.36 ₹128

23.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 51.2K

$1.15 ₹108

152.17%

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

$7.11 ₹671

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 Rp 6,834

$0.49 ₹45.95

-20.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.46 Rp 397.2K

$6.21 ₹587

261.67%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 Rp 8,378

$0.31 ₹29.02

51.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 Rp 7,754

$0.17 ₹16.46

158.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 Rp 47.8K

$1.02 ₹96.5

165.69%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$1.04 ₹98.6

-25.00%

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

$25.3K Rp 447.3M

$10.5K ₹989.1K

141.59%

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

$32.6K Rp 575.7M

$19.0K ₹1.8M

71.10%

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

$81.0 Rp 1.4M

$36.03 ₹3,404

124.81%

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

$2.10 Rp 37.2K

$3.31 ₹313

-36.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.10 Rp 337.7K

$4.67 ₹442

308.99%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.35 Rp 289.1K

$13.92 ₹1,315

17.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.70 Rp 153.8K

$5.74 ₹542

51.57%

Cinema Ticket

$1.94 Rp 34.4K

$3.12 ₹295

-37.82%

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

$33.41 Rp 590.9K

$20.84 ₹1,968

60.32%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,888 Rp 33.4M

$630 ₹59.6K

199.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 Rp 1.1M

$17.40 ₹1,644

246.95%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.27 Rp 659.1K

$19.74 ₹1,865

88.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 Rp 1.2M

$20.92 ₹1,977

234.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.4 Rp 1.2M

$20.78 ₹1,964

224.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$47.83 ₹4,519

248.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 989.7K

$73.5 ₹6,940

-23.81%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 Rp 6.0M

$270 ₹25.5K

25.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 Rp 3.5M

$174 ₹16.5K

11.89%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$966 ₹91.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$518 ₹48.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$161 Rp 2.9M

$391 ₹37.0K

-58.75%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

8.33

-9.96%

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

Last update for Surakarta: August 31, 2026

Last update for Alwar: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $167 in Surakarta and $47.83 in Alwar. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Alwar pays 142% 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 $5.00 in Alwar for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $151 vs $87.0 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, Getting Around, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 64% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 142% lower in Alwar. 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: $167 in Surakarta versus $47.83 in Alwar. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $522 per month in Surakarta versus $318 in Alwar – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Alwar runs roughly 262% 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 64% less than in Surakarta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.