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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $652 per month in Surakarta vs $836 in Jakarta, rent included.

A couple spends around $991 per month in Surakarta vs $1,355 in Jakarta, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,330 per month in Surakarta vs $1,875 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.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.50 Rp 27.1K

$3.00 Rp 54.1K

-50.00%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$12.08 Rp 218.0K

$18.33 Rp 330.8K

-34.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.05 Rp 55.1K

$3.50 Rp 63.3K

-12.86%

Cappuccino

$1.72 Rp 31.1K

$2.14 Rp 38.7K

-19.63%

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

$0.60 Rp 10.9K

$0.56 Rp 10.1K

7.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 Rp 4,483

$0.26 Rp 4,691

-3.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.79 Rp 32.3K

$2.69 Rp 48.5K

-33.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 Rp 52.1K

$4.36 Rp 78.8K

-33.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.21 Rp 21.8K

$1.32 Rp 23.9K

-8.33%

White Bread (500g)

$0.87 Rp 15.8K

$1.11 Rp 20.0K

-21.62%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.76 Rp 13.7K

$1.02 Rp 18.5K

-25.49%

Eggs

$1.25 Rp 22.5K

$1.82 Rp 32.9K

-31.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.35 Rp 168.8K

$6.36 Rp 114.9K

47.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$2.86 Rp 51.7K

$3.15 Rp 56.8K

-9.21%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.32 Rp 132.2K

$7.89 Rp 142.4K

-7.22%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 Rp 41.6K

$2.92 Rp 52.7K

-21.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 Rp 26.6K

$1.63 Rp 29.4K

-9.82%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.11 Rp 38.2K

$2.24 Rp 40.4K

-5.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

$1.49 Rp 26.9K

-9.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.32 Rp 23.9K

$1.74 Rp 31.4K

-24.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.68 Rp 30.2K

$2.52 Rp 45.5K

-33.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 Rp 11.5K

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

-39.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 Rp 8,158

$0.45 Rp 8,159

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.17 Rp 39.2K

$2.96 Rp 53.4K

-26.69%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.23 Rp 148.6K

$21.43 Rp 386.9K

-61.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.83 Rp 33.0K

$2.24 Rp 40.4K

-18.30%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.22 Rp 58.1K

$3.17 Rp 57.1K

1.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 Rp 8,102

$0.23 Rp 4,159

95.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.09 Rp 182.2K

$12.16 Rp 219.5K

-17.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.47 Rp 8,523

$0.53 Rp 9,528

-11.32%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.31 Rp 5,597

$0.38 Rp 6,784

-18.42%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.78 Rp 50.3K

$2.99 Rp 53.9K

-7.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.83 Rp 14.9K

$0.80 Rp 14.4K

3.75%

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

$21.1K Rp 380.8M

$30.2K Rp 545.6M

-30.20%

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

$35.3K Rp 636.5M

$33.6K Rp 607.0M

4.87%

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

$84.1 Rp 1.5M

$93.0 Rp 1.7M

-9.62%

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

$2.23 Rp 40.2K

$6.50 Rp 117.3K

-65.69%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$19.64 Rp 354.5K

$26.87 Rp 485.0K

-26.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$20.09 Rp 362.6K

$29.66 Rp 535.4K

-32.27%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.13 Rp 110.7K

$12.31 Rp 222.3K

-50.20%

Cinema Ticket

$2.09 Rp 37.8K

$3.04 Rp 54.9K

-31.25%

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

$36.76 Rp 663.6K

$165 Rp 3.0M

-77.79%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,073 Rp 37.4M

$9,773 Rp 176.4M

-78.79%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.9 Rp 1.1M

$56.2 Rp 1.0M

11.97%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.17 Rp 689.1K

$32.95 Rp 594.9K

15.84%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.1 Rp 1.4M

$82.6 Rp 1.5M

-6.73%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$72.8 Rp 1.3M

$90.6 Rp 1.6M

-19.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$261 Rp 4.7M

$386 Rp 7.0M

-32.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$160 Rp 2.9M

$232 Rp 4.2M

-30.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$594 Rp 10.7M

$1,171 Rp 21.1M

-49.26%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$338 Rp 6.1M

$649 Rp 11.7M

-47.91%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,979 Rp 53.8M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,426 Rp 25.7M

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$158 Rp 2.9M

$419 Rp 7.6M

-62.28%

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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Jakarta: July 25, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $261 in Surakarta versus $386 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 165% 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: $176 vs $215 – 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

Jakarta costs about 28% 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 $978 per month in Surakarta and $1,254 in Jakarta. 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.

Kindergarten costs $36.76 per month in Surakarta and $165 in Jakarta. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 22% more in Jakarta, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $652 in Surakarta and $836 in Jakarta, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Surakarta costs $652 versus $836 in Jakarta. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.