Cost Of Living in Surakarta 2025

Average monthly spending for singles, couples, students, and families in Surakarta

Whether you're living in Surakarta or planning to move there, it is very important to know the cost of living and the prices of things. Here we list the average spending for the four main population groups.

Singles

The average monthly expense for a single person living in Surakarta is 13M IDR. Expenses can range from 1.9M IDR at the minimum level to 90M IDR at the highest end.

Couples

The average monthly spending of couples in Surakarta is 22M IDR. Expenditure can range from 7.5M IDR to 120M IDR per month.

Families

The average cost of living for families in Surakarta is 30M IDR per month. Families spend anywhere from 10M IDR to 190M IDR.

Students

The average monthly expenditure for students in Surakarta is 9.9M IDR. Students spend from 1.5M IDR to 66M IDR per month.

Expenditure to Income Ratio 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.

Expense to income distribution levels

Interpretation and Analysis

The average spending-to-salary ratio in Surakarta is 74% This means that on average, people spend around 74% of their income for living. According to the distribution table, 14% of the population spend approximately 60% to 70% of their income every month.

Individual
67%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

61%

74%

Couple
71%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

65%

78%

Family
78%
Spending-Income-Ratio

---

72%

86%

How do people spend their money in Surakarta?

We asked thousands of people about their spending habits and expenditure breaks. Below are their answers.

People living in Surakarta typically spend from 11% to 30% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 22% being the average. The average spend on housing is 5.8M IDR with expenditure ranging from 450,000 IDR to 58M IDR. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses. Housing costs are highest for families and lowest for students as expected.

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Surakarta ranges from 5% to 12% of total expenses with 8% being the average. The average monthly cost of utilities is 970,000 IDR with 75,000 IDR and 9.7M IDR being the upper and lower limits.

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether you live near your work or school, but roughly speaking you would expect to spend from 150,000 IDR to 19M IDR on commuting with 1.9M IDR being the norm for most people in one month. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 6% of total spending on average but can go as low as 3% or as high as 10%.

The average outlay on groceries in a month in Surakarta is 4.9M IDR. The cost of groceries can range between 370,000 IDR to 49M IDR. People spend on average about 29% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 21% and 35% respectively.

People in Surakarta allocate 6% to 14% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending is around 11%. The range of medical expenses range from 100,000 IDR to 14M IDR with 1.4M IDR being the norm.

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 60,000 IDR to 7.8M IDR with 780,000 IDR being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 2% to 8% of total expenses with an average of 4% for most residents.

Spending on education can vary drastically between different people. While working singles can spend 0% on education, families and students' expenditure can reach up to 22%. On average, education constitutes 5% of the monthly expenditure with 3% and 11% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 1.2M IDR per month with 90,000 IDR being the minimum spent amount and 12M IDR being the maximum.

How much money can you save in Surakarta every month?

We asked thousands of people what percentage of their income can they save in a month. Below are the answers.

What percentage of people in Surakarta manage to save money from their income every month?

Almost 53% of the surveyed people in Surakarta said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 48% said that aren't saving anything.

Percentage of people saving money by population group in Surakarta

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

For most people, 9.6% to 27% of their monthly income is what they can allocate to their savings, with 17% being the average. The amount of money that people can save is approximately 6.2M IDR on average with savings ranging from 480,000 IDR to 62M IDR.

53% of surveyed singles reported some of their income going to savings while 48% of couples said the same. 44% of families confirmed their ability to save money.

How much money do people actually save in Surakarta?

Singles

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for singles

Interpretation and Analysis

Singles who can afford to save reported that they allocate from 12% to 29% of their monthly income to savings, with 20% being the average for most singles. The average amount of money that singles are able to save is 4.3M IDR with 480,000 IDR and 29M IDR being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Couples

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for couples

Interpretation and Analysis

Couples who confirmed their ability to save reported saving equivalent to 11% to 28% of their monthly income, with 18% being the average for most couples. The average amount of money that couples can save is 7.1M IDR with 2.4M IDR and 38M IDR being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Families

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for families

Interpretation and Analysis

Families in Surakarta can save anywhere between 8.8% to 25% of their monthly income, with 16% being the average for most families. The average amount of money that families can put aside is 9.5M IDR with 3.3M IDR and 62M IDR being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Surakarta

Reasons that make it difficult for people to save money

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

Around 4% of the people 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% 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 people 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 residents one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Surakarta?

Around 49% of surveyed residents 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 residents 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 people 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

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 residents of Surakarta whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes49%

No51%

Based on the survey, 51% of the people 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 residents of Indonesia 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 residents 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 people 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 those who participated in the survey 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.

Retirement, pension plans, and life after work in Surakarta

What does the retirement lifestyle look like in Surakarta and how much retirement savings are required?

Retirement age

The retirement age for most employees in Indonesia is 65 years. Specific retirement ages can vary based on factors like occupation, gender, years of contribution, and location. It is not entirely unlikely for people to retire either before or after this age.

Retirement planning and savings

There are many retirement saving options, some are personally initiated and others are government-sponsered. Regardless of the source of savings, the minimum amount of money that needs to be put aside to ensure a peaceful and comfortable retirement at each age can be found in the table below. This data is largely approximated and can vary drastically based on individual needs and situations. Treat these figures as a general guideline.

Retirement Income Distribution

We asked residents of Surakarta about their retirement income sources and below are the results.

Retirement Monthly Expenses in Surakarta

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Surakarta

Percentage of people who are in debt

According to the survey, 23% of the people 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 the people'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 residents 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 / Individual

110,000 IDR

810,000 IDR

5.4M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$7.2

$51

$340

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Couple

300,000 IDR

1M IDR

6.6M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$19

$64

$420

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / Family

520,000 IDR

1.5M IDR

9.7M IDR

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$33

$95

$620

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 expenditure for individuals on electricty, water, and gas in Surakarta ranges between 110,000 IDR and 5.4M IDR with average being 810,000 IDR, meanwhile the expenditure of couples is slightly higher at 1M IDR with 300,000 IDR and 6.6M IDR being the upper and lower limits respectively. As expected, the energy and water consumption of families is the highest among the three groups with an average of 1.5M IDR. The cost of internet and WiFi is unchanged among the three groups and 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 people 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 every population group

A single person living alone spends approximately 2.2M IDR per month on grocery and food with expenditure fluctuating between 300,000 IDR and 14M IDR depending on location and the type of person. The average cost of food and groceries for a couple is around 3.1M IDR per month. That number can be get as low as 1M IDR or a high as 17M IDR. Families' spending on grocery ranges from 1.9M IDR to 35M IDR with the location, income, and size of the family being the most determinite factors.

SingleSpending habits, consumption analysis, and expenditure patterns for a single person living in Surakarta

CoupleAverage monthly living expenditure breaks and spending patterns for couples in Surakarta

FamilyAverage monthly expenses and break out of spending for families living in Surakarta

StudentCost of living and expenses break down for students living in Surakarta