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: $527 in Surakarta versus $328 in Gwalior.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $849 in Surakarta versus $513 in Gwalior.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,172 in Surakarta versus $698 in Gwalior.

Living in Surakarta is roughly 60% more expensive than in Gwalior, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Surakarta 62% lower, Gwalior 76% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.66 Rp 29.3K

$2.04 ₹196

-18.63%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$11.67 Rp 206.6K

$9.19 ₹882

26.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.14 Rp 55.7K

$2.66 ₹255

18.05%

Cappuccino

$1.59 Rp 28.2K

$1.46 ₹140

8.90%

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

$0.49 Rp 8,756

$0.29 ₹27.71

68.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.23 Rp 4,051

$0.10 ₹9.25

130.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.43 Rp 25.3K

$1.28 ₹123

11.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.90 Rp 51.4K

$2.57 ₹246

12.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.91 Rp 16.1K

$0.71 ₹68.5

28.17%

White Bread (500g)

$0.75 Rp 13.3K

$0.39 ₹37.35

92.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.77 Rp 13.7K

$0.58 ₹55.9

32.76%

Eggs

$1.01 Rp 17.9K

$0.92 ₹88.0

9.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.02 Rp 142.0K

$3.37 ₹323

137.98%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$1.75 Rp 30.9K

$2.45 ₹235

-28.57%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.35 Rp 94.8K

Apples (1kg)

$2.11 Rp 37.4K

$1.31 ₹125

61.07%

Banana (1kg)

$1.27 Rp 22.5K

$0.51 ₹48.69

149.02%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.94 Rp 34.4K

$0.66 ₹63.1

193.94%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.46 Rp 25.8K

$0.46 ₹44.51

217.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

$0.25 ₹24.02

452.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.67 Rp 29.6K

$0.36 ₹34.47

363.89%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.58 Rp 10.3K

$0.50 ₹48.29

16.00%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 Rp 7,247

$0.29 ₹28.18

41.38%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.00 Rp 35.4K

$3.07 ₹294

-34.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.57 Rp 151.7K

$7.61 ₹730

12.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 Rp 30.8K

$1.57 ₹151

10.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.92 Rp 51.6K

$2.90 ₹278

0.69%

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

$6.13 ₹588

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.39 Rp 6,862

$0.22 ₹21.14

77.27%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$22.73 Rp 402.5K

$3.44 ₹330

560.76%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.51 Rp 9,109

$0.65 ₹62.1

-21.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.47 Rp 8,269

$0.20 ₹19.15

135.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.70 Rp 47.8K

$1.32 ₹127

104.55%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.73 Rp 12.9K

$1.05 ₹100

-30.48%

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

$25.4K Rp 450.5M

$9,376 ₹899.5K

171.34%

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

$33.5K Rp 592.7M

$19.9K ₹1.9M

68.32%

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

$81.3 Rp 1.4M

$41.42 ₹3,974

96.21%

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

$2.06 Rp 36.4K

$3.00 ₹288

-31.33%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.91 Rp 334.8K

$5.07 ₹486

272.98%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$16.12 Rp 285.5K

$11.25 ₹1,079

43.29%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.56 Rp 151.6K

$15.96 ₹1,531

-46.37%

Cinema Ticket

$2.00 Rp 35.5K

$3.58 ₹343

-44.13%

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

$33.61 Rp 595.2K

$39.90 ₹3,828

-15.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,873 Rp 33.2M

$759 ₹72.8K

146.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.2 Rp 1.0M

$25.15 ₹2,413

135.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.91 Rp 653.5K

$24.76 ₹2,376

49.07%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$71.7 Rp 1.3M

$36.54 ₹3,505

96.25%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$67.3 Rp 1.2M

$15.96 ₹1,531

321.87%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$167 Rp 3.0M

$99.4 ₹9,540

68.06%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$57.0 Rp 1.0M

$63.9 ₹6,133

-10.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$341 Rp 6.0M

$178 ₹17.0K

91.88%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$197 Rp 3.5M

$128 ₹12.3K

53.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$587 ₹56.3K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$320 ₹30.7K

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$163 Rp 2.9M

$542 ₹52.0K

-69.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.5

8.64

-13.19%

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

Last update for Surakarta: September 15, 2026

Last update for Gwalior: September 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $167 in Surakarta and $99.4 in Gwalior. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Gwalior pays 233% 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 $9.00 in Gwalior for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $152 vs $90.0 per month, with Gwalior 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 Gwalior: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Gwalior wins on cost – living expenses run 60% 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, salaries run 233% lower in Gwalior. 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 $99.4 in Gwalior. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $527 per month in Surakarta versus $328 in Gwalior – a 60% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Gwalior runs roughly 561% 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 60% less than in Surakarta. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.