🙂A single person spends $679 per month in Timika vs $689 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,041 per month in Timika vs $1,115 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,402 per month in Timika vs $1,542 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂Timika is about 1% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Timika and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Timika49% lower, Surabaya49% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.56Rp 26.8K
$1.52Rp 26.2K
2.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.34Rp 212.0K
$12.11Rp 208.2K
1.90%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.40Rp 58.4K
$3.10Rp 53.2K
9.68%
Cappuccino
$1.74Rp 29.9K
$1.81Rp 31.1K
-3.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.55Rp 9,380
$0.65Rp 11.2K
-15.38%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.26Rp 4,453
$0.28Rp 4,872
-7.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.42Rp 41.6K
$2.41Rp 41.4K
0.41%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54Rp 60.8K
$4.04Rp 69.4K
-12.38%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 20.9K
$1.44Rp 24.8K
-15.28%
White Bread(500g)
$1.14Rp 19.5K
$1.49Rp 25.7K
-23.49%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.87Rp 14.9K
$0.92Rp 15.9K
-5.43%
Eggs
$1.55Rp 26.6K
$1.51Rp 26.0K
2.65%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.05Rp 138.3K
$9.21Rp 158.3K
-12.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.23Rp 55.6K
$3.35Rp 57.6K
-3.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.72Rp 132.6K
$8.17Rp 140.5K
-5.51%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37Rp 40.8K
$2.32Rp 39.8K
2.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.48Rp 25.5K
$1.48Rp 25.4K
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.78Rp 30.7K
$2.09Rp 36.0K
-14.83%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56Rp 26.8K
$1.44Rp 24.7K
8.33%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37Rp 23.5K
$1.38Rp 23.7K
-0.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.87Rp 32.1K
$1.79Rp 30.7K
4.47%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.95Rp 16.3K
$1.15Rp 19.8K
-17.39%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 7,684
$0.43Rp 7,323
4.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.52Rp 43.3K
$2.46Rp 42.2K
2.44%
Wine(Bottle)
$25.41Rp 436.7K
$26.02Rp 447.1K
-2.34%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.08Rp 35.8K
$1.77Rp 30.4K
17.51%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21Rp 55.2K
$3.32Rp 57.1K
-3.31%
🚌 Getting Around
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,107
$0.48Rp 8,202
-37.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$10.12Rp 173.9K
$9.47Rp 162.7K
6.86%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57Rp 9,868
$0.44Rp 7,580
29.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35Rp 5,954
$0.31Rp 5,358
12.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.85Rp 48.9K
$2.70Rp 46.4K
5.56%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 14.2K
$0.86Rp 14.8K
-3.49%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5KRp 420.4M
$21.2KRp 364.4M
15.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KRp 467.3M
$34.6KRp 594.4M
-21.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$70.7Rp 1.2M
$83.8Rp 1.4M
-15.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.18Rp 71.8K
$4.17Rp 71.7K
0.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.68Rp 389.8K
$19.55Rp 336.0K
16.01%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.25Rp 399.6K
$21.75Rp 373.7K
6.90%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.27Rp 107.8K
$4.36Rp 75.0K
43.81%
Cinema Ticket
$3.01Rp 51.7K
$2.97Rp 51.0K
1.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$92.9Rp 1.6M
$190Rp 3.3M
-51.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,436Rp 127.8M
$9,220Rp 158.5M
-19.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.48Rp 712.9K
$62.5Rp 1.1M
-33.60%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.97Rp 532.2K
$38.60Rp 663.4K
-19.77%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.3Rp 1.2M
$76.3Rp 1.3M
-11.77%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.5Rp 1.3M
$82.9Rp 1.4M
-10.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$254Rp 4.4M
$249Rp 4.3M
2.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$155Rp 2.7M
$137Rp 2.4M
12.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$587Rp 10.1M
$764Rp 13.1M
-23.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$334Rp 5.7M
$400Rp 6.9M
-16.42%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,053Rp 18.1M
$2,309Rp 39.7M
-54.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$733Rp 12.6M
$1,123Rp 19.3M
-34.74%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$304Rp 5.2M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
9.15
8.33
9.84%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Timika: April 21, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: April 20, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $254 in Timika versus $249 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 $12 in Timika versus $12 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $217 vs $229 – making Timika 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
Timika vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Timika and Surabaya compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $679 in Timika, $689 in Surabaya – roughly 1% 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 $1,019 per month in Timika and $1,033 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 has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 6% 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 Timika 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 $1,000 go in Timika vs Surabaya?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $679 in Timika and $689 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.