Cost of Living Comparison Between Surakarta and Ambato Cost of Living Comparison Between Surakarta and Ambato

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $644 per month in Surakarta vs $669 in Ambato, rent included.

A couple spends around $997 per month in Surakarta vs $1,002 in Ambato, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,350 per month in Surakarta vs $1,334 in Ambato, rent included.

Surakarta is about 4% cheaper than Ambato, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Surakarta and Ambato are more affordable than the global median – Surakarta 52% lower, Ambato 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

$3.03 $3.03

-48.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.06 Rp 215.3K

$25.06 $25.06

-51.88%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.05 Rp 54.4K

$5.12 $5.12

-40.43%

Cappuccino

$1.66 Rp 29.7K

$2.49 $2.49

-33.33%

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

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

$0.78 $0.78

-28.21%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 Rp 4,429

$0.64 $0.64

-60.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.86 Rp 33.2K

$2.01 $2.01

-7.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 Rp 51.9K

$3.60 $3.60

-19.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$0.98 $0.98

22.45%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 Rp 15.9K

$1.02 $1.02

-12.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 Rp 14.4K

$1.50 $1.50

-46.00%

Eggs

$1.24 Rp 22.2K

$1.98 $1.98

-37.37%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.24 Rp 165.0K

$3.05 $3.05

202.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.89 Rp 51.7K

$2.93 $2.93

-1.37%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.41 Rp 132.2K

$4.11 $4.11

80.29%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 Rp 41.0K

$0.97 $0.97

137.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 Rp 26.5K

$1.02 $1.02

46.08%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 Rp 37.7K

$1.02 $1.02

106.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 Rp 24.0K

$1.01 $1.01

33.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 Rp 23.8K

$1.02 $1.02

30.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 Rp 29.5K

$0.98 $0.98

68.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

$0.50 $0.50

26.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 8,086

$1.03 $1.03

-56.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.12 Rp 37.9K

$5.90 $5.90

-64.07%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.48 Rp 151.4K

$8.93 $8.93

-5.04%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 Rp 32.6K

$1.50 $1.50

22.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 Rp 56.9K

$3.04 $3.04

4.93%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 Rp 7,489

$0.31 $0.31

35.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.69 Rp 173.0K

$24.02 $24.02

-59.66%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,575

$0.67 $0.67

-28.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,588

$0.99 $0.99

-68.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 Rp 50.1K

$9.62 $9.62

-70.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

$0.66 $0.66

24.24%

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

$20.5K Rp 365.9M

$30.4K $30.4K

-32.68%

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

$34.7K Rp 619.4M

$28.4K $28.4K

22.06%

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

$84.4 Rp 1.5M

$39.33 $39.33

114.49%

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

$2.27 Rp 40.6K

$13.79 $13.79

-83.54%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.70 Rp 351.7K

$30.26 $30.26

-34.90%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.91 Rp 355.5K

$29.61 $29.61

-32.76%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.29 Rp 112.4K

$14.84 $14.84

-57.61%

Cinema Ticket

$2.11 Rp 37.6K

$6.07 $6.07

-65.24%

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

$36.58 Rp 653.3K

$255 $255

-85.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,069 Rp 36.9M

$2,356 $2,356

-12.19%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 Rp 1.1M

$49.59 $49.59

24.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.67 Rp 708.4K

$37.10 $37.10

6.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.5 Rp 1.3M

$88.5 $88.5

-14.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

$58.9 $58.9

23.67%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 Rp 4.5M

$336 $336

-24.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$155 Rp 2.8M

$187 $187

-17.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$589 Rp 10.5M

$616 $616

-4.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 Rp 6.0M

$251 $251

33.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,133 $1,133

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$883 $883

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$157 Rp 2.8M

$668 $668

-76.50%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.33

4.13%

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

Last update for Surakarta: May 31, 2026

Last update for Ambato: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $255 in Surakarta versus $336 in Ambato. 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 325% higher in Ambato, 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 Surakarta versus $25.00 in Ambato. Groceries tell a different story – $177 in Surakarta vs $141 in Ambato – so Ambato 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

Surakarta vs Ambato: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ambato costs about 4% more than Surakarta, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $966 per month in Surakarta and $1,004 in Ambato. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Surakarta, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surakarta and $25.00 in Ambato. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $644 in Surakarta and $669 in Ambato. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $644 in Surakarta and $669 in Ambato, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Surakarta – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Surakarta. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ambato makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.