🙂A single person spends $654 per month in Timika vs $702 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,006 per month in Timika vs $1,129 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,359 per month in Timika vs $1,557 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂Timika is about 7% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Timika and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Timika51% lower, Surabaya47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.55Rp 28.1K
$1.56Rp 28.3K
-0.64%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$12.09Rp 218.5K
$12.42Rp 224.6K
-2.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.32Rp 60.1K
$3.03Rp 54.7K
9.57%
Cappuccino
$1.65Rp 29.8K
$1.76Rp 31.7K
-6.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 9,212
$0.66Rp 11.9K
-22.73%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,125
$0.28Rp 5,104
-
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.40Rp 43.4K
$2.44Rp 44.1K
-1.64%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.54Rp 64.0K
$4.09Rp 73.9K
-13.45%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18Rp 21.3K
$1.44Rp 26.0K
-18.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.17Rp 21.2K
$1.52Rp 27.4K
-23.03%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.93Rp 16.8K
$0.98Rp 17.7K
-5.10%
Eggs
$1.58Rp 28.5K
$1.51Rp 27.3K
4.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.97Rp 144.2K
$9.28Rp 167.7K
-14.12%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.14Rp 56.8K
$3.24Rp 58.5K
-3.09%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.82Rp 141.3K
$8.13Rp 147.0K
-3.81%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37Rp 42.9K
$2.38Rp 43.0K
-0.42%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51Rp 27.3K
$1.50Rp 27.2K
0.67%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.80Rp 32.6K
$2.18Rp 39.5K
-17.43%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55Rp 28.0K
$1.42Rp 25.6K
9.15%
Potato(1kg)
$1.38Rp 24.9K
$1.32Rp 23.8K
4.55%
Onion(1kg)
$1.91Rp 34.5K
$1.73Rp 31.2K
10.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90Rp 16.3K
$1.15Rp 20.7K
-21.74%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45Rp 8,091
$0.46Rp 8,242
-2.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.46Rp 44.4K
$2.52Rp 45.6K
-2.38%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.41Rp 351.0K
$25.18Rp 455.2K
-22.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.11Rp 38.1K
$1.78Rp 32.2K
18.54%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06Rp 55.4K
$3.30Rp 59.6K
-7.27%
🚌 Getting Around
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.30Rp 5,365
$0.44Rp 8,044
-31.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.72Rp 175.8K
$9.26Rp 167.5K
4.97%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.57Rp 10.2K
$0.45Rp 8,128
26.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.37Rp 6,779
$0.31Rp 5,643
19.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.90Rp 52.4K
$2.74Rp 49.6K
5.84%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.83Rp 15.1K
$0.87Rp 15.6K
-4.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.6KRp 444.8M
$20.8KRp 375.4M
18.51%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0KRp 506.2M
$34.9KRp 630.2M
-19.67%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$69.6Rp 1.3M
$83.0Rp 1.5M
-16.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.34Rp 78.5K
$4.19Rp 75.7K
3.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.55Rp 407.8K
$19.44Rp 351.5K
16.00%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$23.18Rp 419.2K
$21.63Rp 391.0K
7.17%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.20Rp 112.1K
$4.38Rp 79.2K
41.55%
Cinema Ticket
$3.02Rp 54.6K
$2.98Rp 54.0K
1.34%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$93.3Rp 1.7M
$186Rp 3.4M
-49.87%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,621Rp 137.8M
$9,266Rp 167.5M
-17.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.17Rp 744.4K
$62.9Rp 1.1M
-34.53%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.46Rp 550.7K
$38.49Rp 696.0K
-20.86%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$67.2Rp 1.2M
$76.9Rp 1.4M
-12.59%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$72.5Rp 1.3M
$83.8Rp 1.5M
-13.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$260Rp 4.7M
$249Rp 4.5M
4.45%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$158Rp 2.9M
$138Rp 2.5M
14.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$594Rp 10.7M
$775Rp 14.0M
-23.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$332Rp 6.0M
$392Rp 7.1M
-15.35%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,194Rp 21.6M
$2,136Rp 38.6M
-44.12%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$709Rp 12.8M
$1,064Rp 19.2M
-33.37%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timika
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$269Rp 4.9M
-
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: July 28, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $260 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 $12.00 in Timika versus $12.00 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $205 vs $228 – 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 in Surabaya compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $654 in Timika, $702 in Surabaya – roughly 7% apart. Surabaya costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Timika compared to Surabaya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $982 per month in Timika and $1,053 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 11% 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 compared to Surabaya?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $654 in Timika and $702 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.