Cost of Living: Jakarta vs Surabaya for Indian Students (2026)

Deciding between Jakarta and Surabaya for your studies? This comparison breaks down monthly living costs for both cities — rent, food, utilities, and transport — converted to INR so you can plan your education loan with confidence.

Monthly Cost Comparison — Jakarta vs Surabaya (2026)

Category Jakarta Surabaya
Accommodation (3BR outside ÷ 3) ₹19,621 ₹10,870
Food ₹5,390 ₹2,695
Utilities ₹10,572 ₹10,667
Transport ₹0 ₹0
Total / month ₹35,584 ₹24,232
Total / year ₹4,27,003 ₹2,90,787

Note: Budget preset: shared 3BR outside city centre ÷ 3 people, 5 meals/week, basic utilities. Comfortable preset: 1BR city centre, daily restaurant meals, full utilities, gym.

Which City is Cheaper for Indian Students?

Surabaya is 32% cheaper than Jakarta per month — saving approximately ₹11,351 every month or ₹1,36,212 annually on a budget lifestyle.

Jakarta ₹35,584
Surabaya ₹24,232

Cost of Living in Jakarta vs India

Accommodation Type Jakarta India (metro avg)
1BR, city centre (full cost) ₹34,332 ₹35,000
1BR, outside centre (full cost) ₹21,440 ₹25,000
3BR, city centre ÷ 3 people ₹35,137 ₹21,000
3BR, outside centre ÷ 3 people ₹19,621 ₹15,000

Note: 3BR costs shown per person ÷ 3 occupants by default. Use the calculator to adjust the split.

Explore Each City in Detail

Full Jakarta Breakdown

Budget Friendly

From

₹35,583/mo

View full breakdown

Full Surabaya Breakdown

Budget Friendly

From

₹24,232/mo

View full breakdown

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FAQ's

Is Jakarta or Surabaya cheaper for students?
Surabaya is 32% cheaper than Jakarta per month — saving approximately ₹11,351 every month or ₹1,36,212 annually on a budget lifestyle.
How much more expensive is Jakarta vs Surabaya?
Check the monthly comparison table and the savings block for the latest difference per month and per year in INR.
Which city is better for Indian students — Jakarta or Surabaya?
That depends on your university shortlist, rent tolerance, and funding plan. This page is designed to make the living-cost tradeoff obvious.
Do these comparison totals include tuition fees for Jakarta or Surabaya?
No. The compare page covers recurring living costs only, so tuition and one-time destination expenses still need to be added separately.
What education loan do I need after using this comparison?
Use the cheaper-vs-costlier view here as your living-cost input, then combine it with tuition to estimate the total funding requirement before checking loan eligibility.

These figures are planning estimates and can vary by lifestyle, location within city, and market conditions.

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