🙂A single person spends $668 per month in Timika vs $700 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,027 per month in Timika vs $1,117 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,386 per month in Timika vs $1,535 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂Timika is about 5% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Timika and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Timika50% lower, Surabaya48% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.56Rp 28.0K
$1.52Rp 27.4K
2.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.22Rp 219.6K
$12.46Rp 224.0K
-1.93%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.31Rp 59.6K
$3.13Rp 56.3K
5.75%
Cappuccino
$1.65Rp 29.7K
$1.74Rp 31.2K
-5.17%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,132
$0.66Rp 11.8K
-22.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,063
$0.28Rp 5,033
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43Rp 43.7K
$2.50Rp 44.9K
-2.80%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.59Rp 64.6K
$3.92Rp 70.5K
-8.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.23Rp 22.2K
$1.42Rp 25.6K
-13.38%
White Bread(500g)
$1.18Rp 21.3K
$1.50Rp 27.0K
-21.33%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.94Rp 16.9K
$0.93Rp 16.7K
1.08%
Eggs
$1.59Rp 28.7K
$1.50Rp 26.9K
6.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.91Rp 142.2K
$9.31Rp 167.3K
-15.04%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.10Rp 55.7K
$3.17Rp 57.0K
-2.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.92Rp 142.4K
$8.19Rp 147.2K
-3.30%
Apples(1kg)
$2.42Rp 43.4K
$2.40Rp 43.1K
0.83%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 27.1K
$1.50Rp 26.9K
0.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.79Rp 32.2K
$2.17Rp 39.0K
-17.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56Rp 28.0K
$1.42Rp 25.5K
9.86%
Potato(1kg)
$1.37Rp 24.6K
$1.38Rp 24.8K
-0.72%
Onion(1kg)
$1.89Rp 33.9K
$1.78Rp 32.0K
6.18%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.94Rp 17.0K
$1.16Rp 20.8K
-18.97%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,401
$0.45Rp 8,126
-8.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.42Rp 43.4K
$2.44Rp 43.8K
-0.82%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.89Rp 357.5K
$24.54Rp 441.1K
-18.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02Rp 36.4K
$1.83Rp 32.9K
10.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.21Rp 57.7K
$3.27Rp 58.8K
-1.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,390
$0.47Rp 8,523
-36.17%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.62Rp 172.9K
$9.14Rp 164.3K
5.25%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.52Rp 9,411
$0.47Rp 8,459
10.64%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,670
$0.31Rp 5,587
19.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.93Rp 52.7K
$2.75Rp 49.4K
6.55%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78Rp 14.0K
$0.87Rp 15.6K
-10.34%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.3KRp 437.3M
$20.8KRp 374.6M
16.72%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8KRp 499.6M
$34.9KRp 626.7M
-20.29%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$68.8Rp 1.2M
$83.9Rp 1.5M
-18.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.34Rp 77.9K
$4.10Rp 73.7K
5.85%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.71Rp 408.3K
$19.83Rp 356.5K
14.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.11Rp 415.4K
$21.93Rp 394.3K
5.38%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.98Rp 107.5K
$4.44Rp 79.8K
34.68%
Cinema Ticket
$3.00Rp 53.9K
$2.96Rp 53.2K
1.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$94.5Rp 1.7M
$192Rp 3.4M
-50.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,541Rp 135.5M
$9,350Rp 168.1M
-19.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.03Rp 737.6K
$62.9Rp 1.1M
-34.73%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.11Rp 541.2K
$39.45Rp 709.2K
-23.68%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$66.4Rp 1.2M
$77.9Rp 1.4M
-14.67%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.8Rp 1.3M
$82.0Rp 1.5M
-11.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$260Rp 4.7M
$244Rp 4.4M
6.56%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$161Rp 2.9M
$135Rp 2.4M
19.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$589Rp 10.6M
$762Rp 13.7M
-22.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$340Rp 6.1M
$389Rp 7.0M
-12.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,316Rp 23.7M
$2,223Rp 40.0M
-40.80%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$594Rp 10.7M
$1,057Rp 19.0M
-43.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$269Rp 4.8M
-
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: June 8, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $260 in Timika 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.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $12.00 in Timika versus $12.00 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $206 vs $227 – 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: $668 in Timika, $700 in Surabaya – roughly 5% 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 $1,003 per month in Timika and $1,050 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 10% 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 $668 in Timika and $700 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.