🙂A single person spends $638 per month in Timika vs $692 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,017 per month in Timika vs $1,196 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,396 per month in Timika vs $1,700 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂Timika is about 8% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Timika and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Timika54% lower, Surabaya50% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.68Rp 29.7K
$1.73Rp 30.5K
-2.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$14.11Rp 248.3K
$11.58Rp 203.9K
21.85%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.41Rp 60.1K
$3.14Rp 55.3K
8.60%
Cappuccino
$1.57Rp 27.6K
$1.59Rp 28.0K
-1.26%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,943
$0.57Rp 10.1K
-21.05%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.25Rp 4,434
$0.26Rp 4,556
-3.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.31Rp 40.8K
$2.31Rp 40.7K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.36Rp 59.2K
$4.30Rp 75.7K
-21.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13Rp 20.0K
$1.22Rp 21.4K
-7.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.11Rp 19.6K
$1.30Rp 22.9K
-14.62%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.89Rp 15.6K
$0.84Rp 14.7K
5.95%
Eggs
$1.49Rp 26.1K
$1.21Rp 21.3K
23.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.17Rp 126.2K
$7.90Rp 139.1K
-9.24%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$2.93Rp 51.5K
$2.97Rp 52.3K
-1.35%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.86Rp 138.4K
$7.60Rp 133.8K
3.42%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28Rp 40.1K
$2.13Rp 37.5K
7.04%
Banana(1kg)
$1.33Rp 23.4K
$1.33Rp 23.4K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.77Rp 31.1K
$1.85Rp 32.6K
-4.32%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.24Rp 21.9K
$1.56Rp 27.6K
-20.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.32Rp 23.3K
$1.34Rp 23.6K
-1.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.95Rp 34.4K
$2.00Rp 35.1K
-2.50%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73Rp 12.9K
$0.97Rp 17.0K
-24.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43Rp 7,591
$0.43Rp 7,648
-
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.79Rp 49.0K
$2.04Rp 35.9K
36.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$20.36Rp 358.5K
$25.91Rp 456.1K
-21.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.94Rp 34.2K
$1.75Rp 30.8K
10.86%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.95Rp 51.9K
$3.03Rp 53.4K
-2.64%
🚌 Getting Around
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.27Rp 4,727
$0.33Rp 5,732
-18.18%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.49Rp 8,543
$0.48Rp 8,409
2.08%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33Rp 5,787
$0.46Rp 8,175
-28.26%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.92Rp 51.5K
$2.73Rp 48.0K
6.96%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.74Rp 13.1K
$0.81Rp 14.2K
-8.64%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.6KRp 414.6M
$25.4KRp 446.3M
-7.10%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$30.5KRp 536.9M
$32.7KRp 575.2M
-6.66%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$67.6Rp 1.2M
$89.2Rp 1.6M
-24.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.51Rp 79.5K
$4.62Rp 81.4K
-2.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.59Rp 344.9K
$19.75Rp 347.8K
-0.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$20.49Rp 360.8K
$18.50Rp 325.7K
10.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$8.54Rp 150.3K
$6.79Rp 119.5K
25.77%
Cinema Ticket
$2.88Rp 50.6K
$2.71Rp 47.6K
6.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$96.2Rp 1.7M
$278Rp 4.9M
-65.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,945Rp 139.9M
$9,802Rp 172.6M
-18.95%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.69Rp 786.9K
$72.7Rp 1.3M
-38.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.88Rp 526.1K
$40.01Rp 704.5K
-25.32%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.3Rp 1.3M
$82.2Rp 1.4M
-9.57%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$71.9Rp 1.3M
$76.4Rp 1.3M
-5.84%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$222Rp 3.9M
$290Rp 5.1M
-23.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$156Rp 2.7M
$150Rp 2.6M
4.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$565Rp 9.9M
$1,277Rp 22.5M
-55.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$370Rp 6.5M
$607Rp 10.7M
-39.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,165Rp 20.5M
$2,202Rp 38.8M
-47.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$656Rp 11.5M
$1,066Rp 18.8M
-38.47%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$279Rp 4.9M
-
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 Timika: September 8, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: September 5, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $222 in Timika 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $14.00 in Timika versus $12.00 in Surabaya. Groceries tell a different story – $197 in Timika vs $212 in Surabaya – so Timika 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
Timika vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Timika and in Surabaya compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $638 in Timika, $692 in Surabaya – roughly 9% apart. Surabaya costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Timika compared to Surabaya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $956 per month in Timika and $1,038 in Surabaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Timika and Surabaya?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Timika, 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: Timika or Surabaya?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $638 in Timika and $692 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 Timika and Surabaya?
Kindergarten costs $96.2 per month in Timika and $278 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 Timika compared to Surabaya?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $638 in Timika and $692 in Surabaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Where should families live: Timika or Surabaya?
Families tend to lean toward Timika – 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 Timika and Surabaya?
If budget matters most, go with Timika. 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.