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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $522 per month in Surakarta vs $589 in Ambato, rent included.

A couple spends around $834 per month in Surakarta vs $963 in Ambato, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,146 per month in Surakarta vs $1,337 in Ambato, rent included.

Surakarta is about 11% cheaper than Ambato, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Surakarta and Ambato are more affordable than the global median – Surakarta 62% lower, Ambato 57% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 Rp 30.3K

$3.51 $3.51

-51.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.71 Rp 207.1K

$30.47 $30.47

-61.57%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.11 Rp 55.0K

$5.30 $5.30

-41.32%

Cappuccino

$1.51 Rp 26.8K

$2.64 $2.64

-42.80%

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

$0.50 Rp 8,818

$0.71 $0.71

-29.58%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 Rp 4,454

$0.64 $0.64

-60.94%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 Rp 24.6K

$1.95 $1.95

-28.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 49.3K

$2.99 $2.99

-6.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.94 Rp 16.5K

$0.99 $0.99

-5.05%

White Bread (500g)

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

$1.01 $1.01

-23.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.70 Rp 12.4K

$1.58 $1.58

-55.70%

Eggs

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$1.75 $1.75

-42.29%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.59 Rp 134.2K

$5.40 $5.40

40.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.74 Rp 30.8K

$3.06 $3.06

-43.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.47 Rp 96.7K

$3.91 $3.91

39.90%

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 Rp 37.2K

$1.27 $1.27

66.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.28 Rp 22.7K

$0.89 $0.89

43.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.92 Rp 34.0K

$0.97 $0.97

97.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 Rp 25.6K

$0.98 $0.98

47.96%

Potato (1kg)

$1.37 Rp 24.3K

$0.83 $0.83

65.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 Rp 29.2K

$0.98 $0.98

68.37%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.55 Rp 9,795

$0.63 $0.63

-12.70%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,217

$1.03 $1.03

-60.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.02 Rp 35.7K

$5.27 $5.27

-61.67%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.56 Rp 151.4K

$8.84 $8.84

-3.17%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.68 Rp 29.7K

$1.47 $1.47

14.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 51.2K

$2.77 $2.77

4.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 Rp 6,834

$0.29 $0.29

34.48%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.46 Rp 397.2K

$13.92 $13.92

61.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 Rp 8,378

$0.97 $0.97

-51.55%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.44 Rp 7,754

$1.13 $1.13

-61.06%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.71 Rp 47.8K

$9.41 $9.41

-71.20%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 Rp 13.8K

$0.82 $0.82

-4.88%

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

$25.3K Rp 447.3M

$23.3K $23.3K

8.77%

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

$32.6K Rp 575.7M

$28.2K $28.2K

15.25%

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

$81.0 Rp 1.4M

$36.45 $36.45

122.22%

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

$2.10 Rp 37.2K

$12.16 $12.16

-82.73%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.10 Rp 337.7K

$26.25 $26.25

-27.24%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.35 Rp 289.1K

$29.83 $29.83

-45.19%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.70 Rp 153.8K

Cinema Ticket

$1.94 Rp 34.4K

$4.52 $4.52

-57.08%

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

$33.41 Rp 590.9K

$221 $221

-84.87%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,888 Rp 33.4M

$2,437 $2,437

-22.55%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.4 Rp 1.1M

$48.05 $48.05

25.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.27 Rp 659.1K

$35.06 $35.06

6.30%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$70.0 Rp 1.2M

$72.6 $72.6

-3.53%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.4 Rp 1.2M

$55.2 $55.2

22.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 Rp 2.9M

$180 $180

-7.19%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$56.0 Rp 989.7K

$123 $123

-54.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$340 Rp 6.0M

$376 $376

-9.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$195 Rp 3.5M

$276 $276

-29.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,139 $1,139

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$889 $889

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$161 Rp 2.9M

$666 $666

-75.78%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

-16.67%

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

Last update for Surakarta: August 31, 2026

Last update for Ambato: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $167 in Surakarta versus $180 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 313% 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 $30.00 in Ambato. Groceries tell a different story – $151 in Surakarta vs $147 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 13% more than Surakarta, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $783 per month in Surakarta and $884 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 $30.00 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 $522 in Surakarta and $589 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 $522 in Surakarta and $589 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.