Cost of Living Comparison Between Surakarta and Gwalior Cost of Living Comparison Between Surakarta and Gwalior

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $644 in Surakarta versus $382 in Gwalior.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $997 in Surakarta versus $584 in Gwalior.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,350 in Surakarta versus $786 in Gwalior.

Living in Surakarta is roughly 69% more expensive than Gwalior, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surakarta 52% lower, Gwalior 71% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.57 Rp 28.1K

$2.13 ₹203

-26.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.06 Rp 215.3K

$11.71 ₹1,115

2.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.05 Rp 54.4K

$3.32 ₹316

-8.13%

Cappuccino

$1.66 Rp 29.7K

$1.48 ₹141

12.16%

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

$0.56 Rp 10.0K

$0.27 ₹25.52

107.41%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 Rp 4,429

$0.18 ₹17.15

38.89%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.86 Rp 33.2K

$1.50 ₹142

24.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.91 Rp 51.9K

$2.24 ₹214

29.91%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.20 Rp 21.5K

$0.77 ₹73.3

55.84%

White Bread (500g)

$0.89 Rp 15.9K

$0.43 ₹40.68

106.98%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.81 Rp 14.4K

$0.70 ₹66.3

15.71%

Eggs

$1.24 Rp 22.2K

$1.03 ₹97.7

20.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.24 Rp 165.0K

$5.01 ₹477

84.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.89 Rp 51.7K

$2.86 ₹272

1.05%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.41 Rp 132.2K

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 Rp 41.0K

$1.46 ₹139

57.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.49 Rp 26.5K

$0.55 ₹52.4

170.91%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 Rp 37.7K

$0.79 ₹75.0

167.09%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 Rp 24.0K

$0.56 ₹52.9

141.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.33 Rp 23.8K

$0.28 ₹26.64

375.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.65 Rp 29.5K

$0.40 ₹37.90

312.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.63 Rp 11.2K

$0.64 ₹60.7

-1.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 8,086

$0.34 ₹32.78

32.35%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.12 Rp 37.9K

$3.97 ₹378

-46.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.48 Rp 151.4K

$8.42 ₹802

0.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 Rp 32.6K

$1.73 ₹164

5.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.19 Rp 56.9K

$3.60 ₹343

-11.39%

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

$5.49 ₹523

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.42 Rp 7,489

$0.22 ₹20.93

90.91%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.69 Rp 173.0K

$3.67 ₹350

164.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.48 Rp 8,575

$0.56 ₹53.6

-14.29%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,588

$0.18 ₹16.84

72.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.81 Rp 50.1K

$1.17 ₹112

140.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

$1.17 ₹112

-29.91%

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

$20.5K Rp 365.9M

$11.5K ₹1.1M

77.53%

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

$34.7K Rp 619.4M

$16.4K ₹1.6M

111.27%

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

$84.4 Rp 1.5M

$50.9 ₹4,850

65.67%

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

$2.27 Rp 40.6K

$3.19 ₹304

-28.84%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.70 Rp 351.7K

$5.47 ₹521

260.15%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$19.91 Rp 355.5K

$12.88 ₹1,227

54.58%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.29 Rp 112.4K

$7.05 ₹672

-10.78%

Cinema Ticket

$2.11 Rp 37.6K

$4.09 ₹389

-48.41%

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

$36.58 Rp 653.3K

$35.97 ₹3,426

1.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,069 Rp 36.9M

$860 ₹81.9K

140.47%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 Rp 1.1M

$27.15 ₹2,586

127.29%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.67 Rp 708.4K

$31.62 ₹3,012

25.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.5 Rp 1.3M

$40.23 ₹3,833

87.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

$18.43 ₹1,756

295.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$255 Rp 4.5M

$110 ₹10.4K

132.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$155 Rp 2.8M

$71.3 ₹6,795

117.23%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$589 Rp 10.5M

$204 ₹19.5K

187.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 Rp 6.0M

$142 ₹13.6K

135.85%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$587 ₹55.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$325 ₹30.9K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$157 Rp 2.8M

$529 ₹50.4K

-70.32%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.33

8.49

-1.88%

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

Last update for Surakarta: May 31, 2026

Last update for Gwalior: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $255 in Surakarta and $110 in Gwalior. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gwalior pays 237% 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 $12.00 in Gwalior. Groceries flip the comparison at $177 vs $106, with Gwalior cheaper for home cooking.

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 Gwalior: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gwalior wins on cost – living expenses run 69% lower than in Surakarta. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Gwalior the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Gwalior earns 237% 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 $110 in Gwalior. 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 $382 in Gwalior – a 69% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Gwalior runs roughly 164% less than in Surakarta. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Gwalior 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 Gwalior gentler on the wallet – expenses run 69% less than in Surakarta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.