🇮🇩 Indonesia · A realistic 2026 budget for newcomers — rent, food, transport, and what a month actually costs.
Wondering how far your salary goes in Surabaya? Here’s what everyday life costs, in local prices — the numbers that matter when you’re deciding to move or negotiating a package.
What things cost
One-bed apartment, central (Tunjungan, Darmo, Gubeng)IDR 3,500,000–7,000,000 / month
Family house, west or east Surabaya clusterIDR 60,000,000–150,000,000 / year, paid annually
Utilities, internet and building service chargeIDR 1,200,000–2,500,000 / month with air conditioning running
Warung meal vs mid-range restaurantIDR 20,000–35,000 vs IDR 90,000–180,000
Running a motorbike, including fuel and servicingIDR 400,000–700,000 / month
Good to know
Population
≈3 million in the city; roughly 9–10 million across the Gerbangkertosusila metropolitan region
Role
Indonesia's second city and the commercial capital of eastern Indonesia — industrial and port-driven rather than corporate
Languages
Indonesian plus Suroboyoan Javanese, which uses the plain ngoko register far more freely than the Javanese of Yogyakarta. English is thin outside multinationals
Currency
Indonesian rupiah (IDR); QRIS QR payment accepted almost everywhere
Time zone
WIB (GMT+7) — Java, Sumatra and West Kalimantan; Bali is an hour ahead on WITA
Power plug
Types C and F, 230 V, 50 Hz
Climate
Tropical, hot and flat, with a sharper dry season than Jakarta and a reputation as one of the hottest big cities in Java
Minimum wage
IDR 5,288,796 per month in Surabaya for 2026 — the highest in East Java and more than double the provincial floor
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.
A note on budgeting
Rent is usually the swing factor — location and whether bills are included move the number most. Build your estimate from the rent band above, add a monthly living figure, and keep a buffer for one-off setup costs (deposits, a residence permit, a local SIM, first-month transport). Globe Quest turns this into a personalized Surabaya checklist so nothing setup-related catches you off guard.
Plan your move to Surabaya
A free, AI-personalized plan — the language, culture, and setup steps timed to your move date.