Cost Of Living For a Couple in Surakarta 2025

Average monthly spending for couples in Surakarta

How much money does a couple need in a month to survive in Surakarta?

Couples in Surakarta spend around 22M IDR per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a couple can survive with a monthly budget as low as 7.5M IDR or as high as 120M IDR. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Couple expenditure to income ratio in Surakarta

Analysing the how affordable it is for couples to live in Surakarta

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Couples usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a couple of four ranges between 70% to 80%.

Couples in Surakarta spend around 71% of their monthly income. Some couples spend as low as 65% of their income while some as high as 78%.

How do couples spend their money in Surakarta?

We asked thousands of couples about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for couples

Couples in Surakarta typically spend from 18% to 35% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 25% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 7.6M IDR with expenditure ranging from 2.5M IDR to 41M IDR. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for couples

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Surakarta ranges from 6% to 12% of total expenses with 8% being the average for most couples. The average monthly cost of utilities is 1M IDR with 300,000 IDR and 6.6M IDR being the upper and lower limits for a couple of four.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for couples

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a couple resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a couple would expect to spend from 900,000 IDR to 14M IDR in a month on commuting with 2.7M IDR being the norm for most couples. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 8% of total spending on average but can go as low as 2% or as high as 13%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for couples

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical couple in a month in Surakarta is 3.1M IDR. The cost of groceries can range between 1M IDR to 17M IDR. Couples spend on average about 18% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 13% and 23% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for couples

Couples in Surakarta allocate 9% to 19% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 15%. The range of medical expenses range from 820,000 IDR to 13M IDR with 2.5M IDR being the norm for most couples.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for couples

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 450,000 IDR to 7.2M IDR with 1.3M IDR being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 1% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most couples.

Education and schooling expenditure for couples

Spending on education can vary drastically between different couples. On average, education constitutes 1% of the monthly expenditure of couples with 0.00% and 3% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 450,000 IDR per month with 150,000 IDR being the minimum spent amount and 2.4M IDR being the maximum.

What percentage of couples in Surakarta are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of couples that reported their ability to save money

Almost 48% of surveyed couples in Surakarta said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 52% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do couples manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples that are able to save money can put anywhere from 11% to 28% of their monthly income to their savings, with 18% being the average for most couples. The average monthly amount of money that couples can put aside is 7.1M IDR with 2.4M IDR and 38M IDR being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Surakarta

Reasons that make it difficult for couples to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping couples from maximizing their savings in Surakarta. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 4% of the couples said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 7% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 12% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 12% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 12% of couples blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 7% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 5% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 22% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 14% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 2% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 2% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for couples in Surakarta

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Surakarta

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked couples one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Surakarta?

Around 49% of surveyed couples think that living in Surakarta is affordable with proper budgeting while 51% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Surakarta

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked couples how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options51%

Few low-cost options49%

Based on the survey, 51% of the couples living in Surakarta have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 49% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Couples

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked couples of Surakarta whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes49%

No51%

Based on the survey, 51% of the couples living in Surakarta said that they don't have an emergency fund while 49% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Indonesia

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy51%

We asked couple guardians and parents in Surakarta whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 49% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 51% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether couples of Indonesia have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 39% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 61% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance39%

Easily manages finances61%

Financial goals of couples in Surakarta

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Surakarta, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 9% of couples said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 46% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 11% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 6% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 19% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 6% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 5% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 15% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Surakarta

Percentage of couples who are in debt

According to the survey, 23% of the couples in Surakarta have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 77% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Surakarta

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 26% of a couple's monthly income in Surakarta goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 4% of the debtors in Surakarta pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 20% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 16% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 18% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 9% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Surakarta

7% of debtors in Surakarta confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 31% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 12% of people and personal loans rose at 45%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 4% of debtors in Surakarta.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Surakarta

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked couples of Surakarta how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Surakarta

Rent Cost in Surakarta

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

1.6M IDR

2.5M IDR

6.6M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$100

$160

$420

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

2.5M IDR

3.9M IDR

9.8M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$160

$250

$630

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

3.3M IDR

4.9M IDR

13M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$210

$310

$830

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

3.9M IDR

6.6M IDR

18M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$250

$420

$1,100

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

7.9M IDR

20M IDR

39M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$500

$1,300

$2,500

Townhouse monthly rent cost

6.6M IDR

9.8M IDR

28M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$420

$630

$1,800

House monthly rent cost

7.9M IDR

20M IDR

39M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$500

$1,300

$2,500

Villa monthly rent cost

9.8M IDR

25M IDR

39M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$630

$1,600

$2,500

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Surakarta ranges between 1.6M IDR and 6.6M IDR, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 2.5M IDR to 9.8M IDR. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 3.3M IDR and 13M IDR per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 3.9M IDR to 18M IDR. The average rent of a townhouse in Surakarta is around 9.8M IDR while house rental costs can be as high as 20M IDR per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 9.8M IDR to 39M IDR per month.

Apartment and house prices in Surakarta

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

330M IDR

490M IDR

980M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$21,000

$31,000

$63,000

1-bedroom apartment price

390M IDR

660M IDR

2,500M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$25,000

$42,000

$160,000

2-bedroom apartment price

660M IDR

2,000M IDR

3,900M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$42,000

$130,000

$250,000

3-bedroom apartment price

2,200M IDR

3,300M IDR

9,800M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$140,000

$210,000

$630,000

Townhouse price

2,800M IDR

6,600M IDR

25,000M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$180,000

$420,000

$1.6M

House price

3,300M IDR

20,000M IDR

28,000M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$210,000

$1.3M

$1.8M

Villa price

3,900M IDR

22,000M IDR

33,000M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$250,000

$1.4M

$2.1M

The average price of a studio apartment in Surakarta can range from 330M IDR to 980M IDR depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 390M IDR to 2,500M IDR. A villa can cost you 22,000M IDR on average with prices ranging from 3,900M IDR to 33,000M IDR.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Surakarta can be x90 to x177 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x90 multiples of the average monthly salary in Surakarta.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Surakarta is around 26%. This means that people pay 26% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 18% to 35% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Surakarta

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Surakarta

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

300,000 IDR

1M IDR

6.6M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$19

$64

$420

Internet and cable cost

110,000 IDR

210,000 IDR

290,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$6.8

$14

$18

Mobile phone bill and charges

86,000 IDR

140,000 IDR

430,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$5.5

$9.1

$27

The average monthly energy and water consumption of couples is around 1M IDR. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 110,000 IDR to 290,000 IDR with 210,000 IDR being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 140,000 IDR but can range between 86,000 IDR and 430,000 IDR depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Surakarta is around 5.3%. This means that people pay 5.3% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.6% to 8.8% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Surakarta

Prices and cost of goods and services in Surakarta

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

21,000 IDR

43,000 IDR

72,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.4

$2.7

$4.5

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Surakarta is approximatly 43,000 IDR with meal cost ranging from 21,000 IDR to 72,000 IDR. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

69,000 IDR

100,000 IDR

210,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.4

$6.5

$13

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 69,000 IDR and 210,000 IDR with 100,000 IDR being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Surakarta.

Fine dining meal for one price

140,000 IDR

210,000 IDR

820,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$8.7

$13

$52

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 140,000 IDR to 820,000 IDR with the average cost being 210,000 IDR for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Surakarta.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

18,000 IDR

29,000 IDR

43,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.8

$2.7

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Surakarta is around 29,000 IDR. Price ranges between 18,000 IDR and 43,000 IDR depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

14,000 IDR

17,000 IDR

21,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.91

$1.1

$1.4

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Surakarta is 17,000 IDR. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 21,000 IDR and the minimum being 14,000 IDR depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

11,000 IDR

14,000 IDR

21,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.68

$0.91

$1.4

A dozen eggs costs around 14,000 IDR on average with 11,000 IDR and 21,000 IDR being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

24,000 IDR

32,000 IDR

45,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.6

$2

$2.8

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Surakarta is between 24,000 IDR and 45,000 IDR depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 32,000 IDR.

Pack of beef price

29,000 IDR

43,000 IDR

86,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.8

$2.7

$5.5

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 43,000 IDR. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

12,000 IDR

16,000 IDR

22,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.73

$1

$1.4

A bag of rice in Surakarta costs around 16,000 IDR on average with prices rangeing between 12,000 IDR and 22,000 IDR depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

4,300 IDR

5,700 IDR

11,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.27

$0.36

$0.68

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 4,300 IDR to 11,000 IDR. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

7,700 IDR

10,000 IDR

17,000 IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.49

$0.64

$1

A bag of apples costs 10,000 IDR on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Surakarta is around 23%. This means that couples spend 23% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 16% to 28% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for couples