Cost of Living Comparison Between Surakarta and Jakarta Cost of Living Comparison Between Surakarta and Jakarta

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $660 per month in Surakarta vs $849 in Jakarta, rent included.

A couple spends around $999 per month in Surakarta vs $1,389 in Jakarta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,339 per month in Surakarta vs $1,929 in Jakarta, rent included.

Surakarta is about 22% cheaper than Jakarta, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Surakarta and Jakarta are more affordable than the global median – Surakarta 51% lower, Jakarta 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surakarta
Jakarta
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.50 Rp 26.0K
$3.02 Rp 52.3K
-50.33%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.10 Rp 209.8K
$18.34 Rp 317.8K
-34.02%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.16 Rp 54.7K
$3.51 Rp 60.8K
-9.97%
Cappuccino
$1.65 Rp 28.6K
$2.14 Rp 37.2K
-22.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60 Rp 10.5K
$0.52 Rp 8,949
15.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 Rp 4,721
$0.28 Rp 4,873
-3.57%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.85 Rp 32.1K
$2.73 Rp 47.2K
-32.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84 Rp 49.3K
$4.26 Rp 73.8K
-33.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surakarta
Jakarta
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 Rp 19.9K
$1.39 Rp 24.2K
-17.27%
White Bread (500g)
$0.90 Rp 15.6K
$1.16 Rp 20.1K
-22.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.75 Rp 13.0K
$1.03 Rp 17.8K
-27.18%
Eggs
$1.23 Rp 21.4K
$1.87 Rp 32.4K
-34.22%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.99 Rp 155.8K
$6.29 Rp 109.0K
42.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.89 Rp 50.1K
$3.12 Rp 54.1K
-7.37%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.27 Rp 126.0K
$7.86 Rp 136.2K
-7.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.40 Rp 41.6K
$2.86 Rp 49.5K
-16.08%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 26.7K
$1.55 Rp 26.9K
-0.65%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.12 Rp 36.7K
$2.19 Rp 38.0K
-3.20%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.39 Rp 24.1K
$1.49 Rp 25.8K
-6.71%
Potato (1kg)
$1.37 Rp 23.8K
$1.81 Rp 31.4K
-24.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.65 Rp 28.6K
$2.63 Rp 45.6K
-37.26%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.62 Rp 10.8K
$1.06 Rp 18.4K
-41.51%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46 Rp 7,898
$0.42 Rp 7,277
9.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18 Rp 37.7K
$2.96 Rp 51.3K
-26.35%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.86 Rp 153.6K
$22.32 Rp 386.9K
-60.30%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78 Rp 30.8K
$2.23 Rp 38.7K
-20.18%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15 Rp 54.6K
$3.06 Rp 53.0K
2.94%
🚌 Getting Around
Surakarta
Jakarta
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.45 Rp 7,757
$0.21 Rp 3,624
114.29%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$10.08 Rp 174.7K
$12.42 Rp 215.3K
-18.84%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,642
$0.54 Rp 9,305
-18.52%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.29 Rp 5,002
$0.37 Rp 6,497
-21.62%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.69 Rp 46.7K
$3.14 Rp 54.5K
-14.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.77 Rp 13.3K
$0.78 Rp 13.4K
-1.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K Rp 359.7M
$30.1K Rp 522.5M
-31.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1K Rp 608.9M
$32.4K Rp 561.6M
8.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surakarta
Jakarta
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$84.9 Rp 1.5M
$89.7 Rp 1.6M
-5.41%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.22 Rp 38.5K
$6.56 Rp 113.8K
-66.16%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.77 Rp 342.6K
$27.10 Rp 469.6K
-27.05%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surakarta
Jakarta
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$19.77 Rp 342.6K
$30.54 Rp 529.3K
-35.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00 Rp 104.0K
$12.74 Rp 220.9K
-52.90%
Cinema Ticket
$2.21 Rp 38.3K
$3.04 Rp 52.6K
-27.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surakarta
Jakarta
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$37.42 Rp 648.5K
$169 Rp 2.9M
-77.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,046 Rp 35.5M
$9,651 Rp 167.3M
-78.80%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surakarta
Jakarta
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.3 Rp 1.1M
$56.5 Rp 978.4K
10.36%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.19 Rp 661.9K
$33.55 Rp 581.5K
13.83%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.7 Rp 1.3M
$84.5 Rp 1.5M
-8.04%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.9 Rp 1.2M
$88.3 Rp 1.5M
-19.69%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surakarta
Jakarta
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$262 Rp 4.5M
$377 Rp 6.5M
-30.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$156 Rp 2.7M
$239 Rp 4.1M
-34.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$581 Rp 10.1M
$1,176 Rp 20.4M
-50.60%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$331 Rp 5.7M
$658 Rp 11.4M
-49.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$2,777 Rp 48.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,418 Rp 24.6M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surakarta
Jakarta
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$164 Rp 2.8M
$476 Rp 8.3M
-65.60%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.33
9.59
-13.14%

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

Last update for Surakarta: April 27, 2026

Last update for Jakarta: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Surakarta versus $377 in Jakarta. 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 191% higher in Jakarta, 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 $18.00 in Jakarta. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $217 – making Surakarta the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Jakarta: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Surakarta or Jakarta?
Jakarta costs about 29% 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.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Surakarta vs Jakarta?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $990 per month in Surakarta and $1,274 in Jakarta. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Surakarta or Jakarta?
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.
How do childcare costs compare in Surakarta and Jakarta?
Kindergarten costs $37.42 per month in Surakarta and $169 in Jakarta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Surakarta or Jakarta?
Groceries cost about 23% more in Jakarta, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Can you live on $1,200/month in Surakarta or Jakarta?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $660 in Surakarta and $849 in Jakarta, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Surakarta or Jakarta?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Surakarta costs $660 versus $849 in Jakarta. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Surakarta or Jakarta?
If budget matters most, go with Surakarta. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Jakarta makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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