🙂A single person spends $652 per month in Yogyakarta vs $708 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,012 per month in Yogyakarta vs $1,133 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $1,371 per month in Yogyakarta vs $1,557 in Surabaya, rent included.
🙂Yogyakarta is about 8% cheaper than Surabaya, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both Yogyakarta and Surabaya are more affordable than the global median – Yogyakarta51% lower, Surabaya47% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Yogyakarta
Surabaya
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.41Rp 25.2K
$1.52Rp 27.3K
-7.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$9.01Rp 161.6K
$12.12Rp 217.3K
-25.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.12Rp 55.9K
$3.13Rp 56.1K
-0.32%
Cappuccino
$1.46Rp 26.1K
$1.82Rp 32.6K
-19.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53Rp 9,555
$0.60Rp 10.8K
-11.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.28Rp 5,073
$0.26Rp 4,620
7.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.43Rp 43.6K
$2.41Rp 43.2K
0.83%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30Rp 59.2K
$4.02Rp 72.0K
-17.91%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Yogyakarta
Surabaya
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.22Rp 22.0K
$1.38Rp 24.8K
-11.59%
White Bread(500g)
$1.37Rp 24.5K
$1.46Rp 26.2K
-6.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.82Rp 14.8K
$0.93Rp 16.7K
-11.83%
Eggs
$1.33Rp 23.8K
$1.44Rp 25.9K
-7.64%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.10Rp 127.3K
$9.04Rp 162.1K
-21.46%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.28Rp 58.9K
$3.29Rp 59.0K
-0.30%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.13Rp 145.8K
$8.45Rp 151.5K
-3.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.37Rp 42.4K
$2.42Rp 43.3K
-2.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.46Rp 26.1K
$1.54Rp 27.6K
-5.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.36Rp 24.4K
$2.19Rp 39.3K
-37.90%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.03Rp 18.5K
$1.42Rp 25.5K
-27.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.08Rp 19.3K
$1.32Rp 23.7K
-18.18%
Onion(1kg)
$1.74Rp 31.2K
$1.80Rp 32.2K
-3.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.46Rp 8,187
$1.18Rp 21.2K
-61.02%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.39Rp 6,934
$0.42Rp 7,557
-7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.53Rp 45.4K
$2.54Rp 45.6K
-0.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$16.85Rp 302.0K
$24.78Rp 444.3K
-32.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.77Rp 31.8K
$1.77Rp 31.6K
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.30Rp 59.1K
$3.14Rp 56.4K
5.10%
🚌 Getting Around
Yogyakarta
Surabaya
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.21Rp 3,755
$0.48Rp 8,521
-56.25%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$9.79Rp 175.5K
$9.40Rp 168.6K
4.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.47Rp 8,428
$0.44Rp 7,949
6.82%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.31Rp 5,574
$0.29Rp 5,185
6.90%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.19Rp 75.0K
$2.77Rp 49.7K
51.26%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.82Rp 14.6K
$0.84Rp 15.1K
-2.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.2KRp 344.5M
$20.6KRp 369.9M
-6.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KRp 486.6M
$35.8KRp 641.8M
-24.19%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Yogyakarta
Surabaya
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.7Rp 1.3M
$84.9Rp 1.5M
-13.15%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.31Rp 77.3K
$4.09Rp 73.3K
5.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.59Rp 351.1K
$19.75Rp 354.1K
-0.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Yogyakarta
Surabaya
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$15.17Rp 272.0K
$21.59Rp 387.0K
-29.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.05Rp 54.7K
$4.57Rp 81.9K
-33.26%
Cinema Ticket
$2.82Rp 50.5K
$2.85Rp 51.1K
-1.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Yogyakarta
Surabaya
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$72.5Rp 1.3M
$188Rp 3.4M
-61.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,468Rp 80.1M
$9,556Rp 171.3M
-53.24%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Yogyakarta
Surabaya
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.45Rp 617.5K
$61.6Rp 1.1M
-44.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.38Rp 544.6K
$38.56Rp 691.1K
-21.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$77.2Rp 1.4M
$77.8Rp 1.4M
-0.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.6Rp 1.5M
$83.6Rp 1.5M
-1.22%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Yogyakarta
Surabaya
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$194Rp 3.5M
$242Rp 4.3M
-19.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$171Rp 3.1M
$135Rp 2.4M
26.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$782Rp 14.0M
$762Rp 13.7M
2.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$386Rp 6.9M
$393Rp 7.0M
-1.95%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,652Rp 29.6M
$2,209Rp 39.6M
-25.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$223Rp 4.0M
$1,067Rp 19.1M
-79.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Yogyakarta
Surabaya
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$213Rp 3.8M
$276Rp 4.9M
-22.56%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
8.33
8.33
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Yogyakarta: May 31, 2026
Last update for Surabaya: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $194 in Yogyakarta versus $242 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 29% higher in Surabaya, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $9.00 in Yogyakarta versus $12.00 in Surabaya. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $226 – making Yogyakarta 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
Yogyakarta vs Surabaya: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Yogyakarta and Surabaya compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $652 in Yogyakarta, $708 in Surabaya – roughly 9% apart. Surabaya costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Yogyakarta compared to Surabaya?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $978 per month in Yogyakarta and $1,062 in Surabaya. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Yogyakarta and Surabaya?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Yogyakarta, 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 19% 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 $9.00 in Yogyakarta 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 Yogyakarta vs Surabaya?
$1,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $652 in Yogyakarta and $708 in Surabaya, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
How does quality of life compare between Yogyakarta and Surabaya?
It depends on your priorities. Surabaya has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $652 in Yogyakarta to $708 in Surabaya. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Yogyakarta or Surabaya safer for residents?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
How do I decide between Yogyakarta and Surabaya?
If budget matters most, go with Yogyakarta. 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.
Yogyakarta vs other spots: cost of living compared