🙂A single person spends $660 per month in Surakarta vs $693 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $999 per month in Surakarta vs $1,106 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,339 per month in Surakarta vs $1,520 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂Surakarta is about 5% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Surakarta and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Surakarta51% lower, Surabaya48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Surakarta
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.50Rp 25.9K
$1.58Rp 27.3K
-5.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.10Rp 209.0K
$12.16Rp 210.0K
-0.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.16Rp 54.5K
$2.98Rp 51.5K
6.04%
Cappuccino
$1.65Rp 28.4K
$1.74Rp 30.0K
-5.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.60Rp 10.4K
$0.65Rp 11.3K
-7.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27Rp 4,703
$0.26Rp 4,443
3.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85Rp 31.9K
$2.41Rp 41.6K
-23.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.84Rp 49.1K
$4.05Rp 70.0K
-29.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Surakarta
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.15Rp 19.8K
$1.44Rp 24.9K
-20.14%
White Bread(500g)
$0.90Rp 15.6K
$1.46Rp 25.1K
-38.36%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.75Rp 12.9K
$1.01Rp 17.4K
-25.74%
Eggs
$1.23Rp 21.3K
$1.46Rp 25.2K
-15.75%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.99Rp 155.2K
$9.39Rp 162.1K
-4.26%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.89Rp 50.0K
$3.31Rp 57.2K
-12.69%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.27Rp 125.5K
$8.24Rp 142.3K
-11.77%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40Rp 41.5K
$2.30Rp 39.8K
4.35%
Banana(1kg)
$1.54Rp 26.6K
$1.51Rp 26.1K
1.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.12Rp 36.5K
$2.13Rp 36.7K
-0.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.39Rp 24.1K
$1.49Rp 25.8K
-6.71%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37Rp 23.7K
$1.33Rp 22.9K
3.01%
Onion(1kg)
$1.65Rp 28.5K
$1.81Rp 31.2K
-8.84%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.62Rp 10.7K
$1.20Rp 20.8K
-48.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.46Rp 7,868
$0.45Rp 7,844
2.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.18Rp 37.6K
$2.55Rp 44.1K
-14.51%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.86Rp 153.0K
$25.75Rp 444.6K
-65.59%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.78Rp 30.7K
$1.85Rp 31.9K
-3.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.15Rp 54.4K
$3.14Rp 54.2K
0.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Surakarta
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.45Rp 7,728
$0.48Rp 8,210
-6.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.08Rp 174.1K
$9.24Rp 159.5K
9.09%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.44Rp 7,613
$0.45Rp 7,686
-2.22%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.29Rp 4,983
$0.31Rp 5,433
-6.45%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.69Rp 46.5K
$2.72Rp 47.0K
-1.10%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77Rp 13.3K
$0.85Rp 14.6K
-9.41%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8KRp 358.3M
$21.0KRp 363.1M
-1.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.1KRp 606.6M
$35.7KRp 616.7M
-1.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Surakarta
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.9Rp 1.5M
$83.8Rp 1.4M
1.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$2.22Rp 38.4K
$4.29Rp 74.1K
-48.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.77Rp 341.3K
$19.62Rp 338.8K
0.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Surakarta
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$19.77Rp 341.3K
$21.80Rp 376.4K
-9.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.00Rp 103.6K
$4.42Rp 76.2K
35.75%
Cinema Ticket
$2.21Rp 38.2K
$2.98Rp 51.5K
-25.84%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Surakarta
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$37.42Rp 646.0K
$186Rp 3.2M
-79.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,046Rp 35.3M
$9,464Rp 163.4M
-78.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Surakarta
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.3Rp 1.1M
$62.8Rp 1.1M
-0.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.19Rp 659.4K
$39.18Rp 676.5K
-2.53%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.7Rp 1.3M
$78.0Rp 1.3M
-0.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.9Rp 1.2M
$82.3Rp 1.4M
-13.86%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Surakarta
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$262Rp 4.5M
$244Rp 4.2M
7.55%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.7M
$135Rp 2.3M
15.78%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$581Rp 10.0M
$790Rp 13.6M
-26.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331Rp 5.7M
$394Rp 6.8M
-16.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$2,262Rp 39.1M
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,122Rp 19.4M
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Surakarta
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$164Rp 2.8M
$302Rp 5.2M
-45.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
8.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Surakarta: April 27, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: April 25, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $262 in Surakarta versus $244 in Surabaya. 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 85% higher in Surabaya, 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 $12.00 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $177 vs $230 – 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 Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Surakarta and Surabaya compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $660 in Surakarta, $693 in Surabaya – roughly 5% apart. Surabaya costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Surakarta compared to Surabaya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $990 per month in Surakarta and $1,039 in Surabaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Surakarta and Surabaya?
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.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 30% more in Surabaya, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Surakarta and $12.00 in Surabaya. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How far does $1,200 go in Surakarta vs Surabaya?
$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $660 in Surakarta and $693 in Surabaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Surakarta or Surabaya?
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.
How do I decide between Surakarta and Surabaya?
If budget matters most, go with Surakarta. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Surabaya makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.