🙂A single person spends $668 per month in Tangerang vs $688 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,105 per month in Tangerang vs $1,205 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,541 per month in Tangerang vs $1,722 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂Tangerang is about 3% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Tangerang and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Tangerang51% lower, Surabaya50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Tangerang
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.38Rp 24.4K
$1.66Rp 29.4K
-16.87%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$15.39Rp 272.2K
$11.40Rp 201.7K
35.00%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.46Rp 61.2K
$3.24Rp 57.4K
6.79%
Cappuccino
$1.56Rp 27.6K
$1.56Rp 27.6K
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.42Rp 7,514
$0.56Rp 9,871
-25.00%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.24Rp 4,223
$0.26Rp 4,586
-7.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.60Rp 46.0K
$2.25Rp 39.7K
15.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.19Rp 56.5K
$4.37Rp 77.2K
-27.00%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Tangerang
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.14Rp 20.1K
$1.21Rp 21.5K
-5.79%
White Bread(500g)
$1.01Rp 17.8K
$1.34Rp 23.8K
-24.63%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.86Rp 15.2K
$0.86Rp 15.2K
-
Eggs
$1.50Rp 26.6K
$1.21Rp 21.3K
23.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.78Rp 172.9K
$7.80Rp 137.9K
25.38%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.04Rp 53.7K
$2.96Rp 52.4K
2.70%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.74Rp 136.8K
$7.87Rp 139.3K
-1.65%
Apples(1kg)
$2.21Rp 39.0K
$2.02Rp 35.8K
9.41%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11Rp 19.6K
$1.33Rp 23.5K
-16.54%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.58Rp 28.0K
$1.87Rp 33.0K
-15.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$0.88Rp 15.6K
$1.52Rp 27.0K
-42.11%
Potato(1kg)
$1.06Rp 18.7K
$1.37Rp 24.3K
-22.63%
Onion(1kg)
$2.19Rp 38.7K
$1.93Rp 34.2K
13.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70Rp 12.4K
$0.97Rp 17.2K
-27.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,188
$0.40Rp 7,072
2.50%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.78Rp 49.2K
$1.96Rp 34.6K
41.84%
Wine(Bottle)
$21.59Rp 381.8K
$25.35Rp 448.3K
-14.83%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.12Rp 37.5K
$1.71Rp 30.2K
23.98%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.12Rp 55.2K
$2.89Rp 51.0K
7.96%
🚌 Getting Around
Tangerang
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,773
$0.36Rp 6,290
-25.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$8.39Rp 148.3K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.53Rp 9,449
$0.47Rp 8,359
12.77%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 6,244
$0.47Rp 8,319
-25.53%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.07Rp 54.3K
$2.70Rp 47.8K
13.70%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.79Rp 13.9K
$0.80Rp 14.2K
-1.25%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.7KRp 383.8M
$24.7KRp 436.8M
-12.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6KRp 505.7M
$33.1KRp 585.1M
-13.58%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Tangerang
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$72.5Rp 1.3M
$88.9Rp 1.6M
-18.49%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.98Rp 88.1K
$4.83Rp 85.5K
3.11%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.02Rp 336.4K
$19.84Rp 350.8K
-4.13%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Tangerang
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.66Rp 276.9K
$18.57Rp 328.4K
-15.67%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.67Rp 312.5K
$6.54Rp 115.7K
170.18%
Cinema Ticket
$2.89Rp 51.0K
$2.65Rp 46.9K
9.06%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Tangerang
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$95.9Rp 1.7M
$286Rp 5.1M
-66.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,297Rp 146.7M
$9,694Rp 171.4M
-14.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Tangerang
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.11Rp 709.3K
$71.2Rp 1.3M
-43.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.34Rp 536.6K
$39.47Rp 698.0K
-23.13%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.7Rp 1.3M
$81.5Rp 1.4M
-10.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$70.2Rp 1.2M
$74.9Rp 1.3M
-6.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Tangerang
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$371Rp 6.6M
$290Rp 5.1M
28.02%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$170Rp 3.0M
$150Rp 2.6M
13.88%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$760Rp 13.4M
$1,276Rp 22.6M
-40.43%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$493Rp 8.7M
$618Rp 10.9M
-20.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,181Rp 20.9M
$2,231Rp 39.4M
-47.07%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$566Rp 10.0M
$1,073Rp 19.0M
-47.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Tangerang
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$283Rp 5.0M
$277Rp 4.9M
2.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.46
7.5
26.13%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Tangerang: August 29, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $371 in Tangerang versus $290 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 2% higher in Tangerang, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $15.00 in Tangerang versus $11.00 in Surabaya. Groceries tell a different story – $202 in Tangerang vs $211 in Surabaya – so Tangerang wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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
Tangerang vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Tangerang and in Surabaya compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $668 in Tangerang, $688 in Surabaya – roughly 3% apart. Surabaya costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Tangerang compared to Surabaya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,002 per month in Tangerang and $1,032 in Surabaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Tangerang and Surabaya?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Tangerang, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Tangerang or Surabaya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $668 in Tangerang and $688 in Surabaya. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Tangerang and Surabaya?
Kindergarten costs $95.9 per month in Tangerang and $286 in Surabaya. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How far does $1,000 go in Tangerang compared to Surabaya?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $668 in Tangerang and $688 in Surabaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Tangerang or Surabaya?
Families tend to lean toward Tangerang – 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 Tangerang and Surabaya?
If budget matters most, go with Tangerang. 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.