AI generatedn° 637, asia
Surabaya, indonesia.
For nomads or corporate relocators wanting working Indonesian industrial metro outside tourism corridors.
- cost / mo
- $770
- internet
- 100 Mbps
- visa-free · eu
- 30 days
the scores
Four scores, seven components each.
Each ring is a weighted blend, click any of them to see the seven components that produce it.
your monthly budget
default $700–$4,500 range · drag to personalize
score priority
balanced weighting, cost 25%, infra 40%, lifestyle 35%
weighted blends of cost, internet, safety, climate, english, visa & social density. Default cost band: $700–$4,500/mo. 100% data coverage. Each ring is clickable, see exactly why a city scored what it did.
monthly cost · solo nomad
Tier 3 · estimate (no verified rent yet)Rent · central 1 BR | – | $460 |
Food · groceries + modest dining | bps.go.id | $120 |
Mobile · 20 GB plan | telkomsel.com | $9 |
Utilities · electricity + heat + water | web.pln.co.id | $45 |
Transit · monthly pass regional avg fallback | – | $18 |
Coworking · 4 days/month baseline 12/day × 4 days/mo regional estimate | – | $48 |
Buffer · 10% for variance + occasional weekend trips | – | $70 |
Total solo burn | sum of above | $770 |
Every line above sourced to a public primary reference. Tier 1 = all components verified for this city/country; Tier 2 = rent verified + country-baseline components; Tier 3 = approximate. Solo nomad baseline assumes one person, central 1-bedroom, modest groceries, 20 GB mobile, 4 paid coworking days/month. Where the rent basis above notes a private-market premium, expat condo budgets run higher than this baseline.
in one sentence · curated
Hand-written by the ExpatWhy editorial team.
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city, East Java's working industrial capital, the 1945 Battle of Surabaya as the founding-independence-history city, and a structurally less-touristic alternative to Bali/Jakarta.
editorial
The case & the friction.
The case is the package. Surabaya (3M city, 10M metro) is Indonesia's second metro after Jakarta, with the country's busiest port (Tanjung Perak), Universitas Airlangga, and a working industrial/petroleum/manufacturing economy. A 1-bed in central Surabaya or Gubeng runs IDR 5-10 million/month ($310-620).
Same Indonesia visa picture.
The friction is the structural lack-of-tourism focus (Surabaya is genuinely a working Indonesian industrial city, not many foreigners outside the corporate-expat sector), tropical climate, traffic, and air quality (PM2.5 around 30-40 µg/m³). The Mount Bromo volcano + the Ijen sulfur crater are accessible day-trips east.
verdict
For nomads or corporate relocators wanting working Indonesian industrial metro outside tourism corridors.
work & connectivity
Getting work done.
work-friendly density · OSM
Strong for laptop work.
coworking spaces
0
wifi cafés
53
In practice: Workable but thin, 0 coworking spaces and 53 wifi cafés. A hotel-with-desk or one good coworking membership covers most days.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · Overpass API · ODbL 1.0 · 2026-07-09
tax & stay reality · Indonesia
Stay past 183 days, become tax resident.
residency trigger
183
days in 12 mo
top marginal rate
35%
on highest bracket
scope
Worldwide
Worldwide income taxed
expat / nomad regime
E33G Remote Worker KITAS holders subject to Indonesian tax once resident; first 4 years of new tax residency exempt on foreign income for qualifying skilled workers (Law HPP 2021).
tax treaty with
Indonesia taxes residents on worldwide income, but the 2021 HPP law gives qualifying new tax residents a 4-year exemption on foreign-source income. Enforcement of this carve-out for E33G holders is still evolving in 2026.
Sources: country tax authority + Wikipedia "Taxation in Indonesia" (CC-BY-SA) · last reviewed 2026-05-22.
Verifywhen to visit
Twelve months of weather.
best month
Aug
Visit in August, 28°C, only 4mm of rain.
Off-season December–January, monsoon brings 426mm/month, and hotel rates typically drop 20–40% from peak.
temperaturerainfallcurrent monthbest month
air quality · 12 months verified
When the air turns.
Hourly PM2.5 averaged by calendar month from Copernicus CAMS satellite data, window 2025-07-08 → 2026-07-07. WHO annual guideline is 5 µg/m³.
annual mean
42.5µg/m³
Unhealthy
worst month
Nov · 78 µg/m³
Very unhealthy
cleanest month
Jun · 28 µg/m³
Unhealthy (sens.)
annual swing
49 µg/m³
Stable year-round
Cleanest air in June (28 µg/m³); worst in November (78 µg/m³).
Annual mean 42.5 µg/m³ is unhealthy for everyone, mask + air purifier are non-negotiable, and November is genuinely dangerous outdoors. The 49 µg/m³ swing between worst and best month is large, month-of-travel matters more here than in stable cities.
Source: Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) via Open-Meteo Air Quality API · CC-BY 4.0. Modelled, not measured at a station: near coasts CAMS counts sea salt as PM2.5 and reads high against ground networks. Read the curve, not the absolute.
natural risk
The numbers other sites don't show.
seismic risk · 50 yr · 200 km
Low seismic exposure.
M5+ events
91
M6+ events
11
largest
M7.0
Largest recorded: M7.0 in 2023.
In practice: Real seismic exposure (91 M5+ and 11 M6+ in 50 years), long stays should factor in earthquake insurance, building age, and a basic preparedness kit.
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (public domain) · counted within 200 km, last 50 years.
tropical storms · 46 yr · 200 km
Very low cyclone exposure.
named storms
1
cat 1+ hurricanes
0
In practice: 1 named storms tracked in 46 years, but only 0 reached hurricane strength, light exposure, mostly a planning footnote for beach trips.
Source: NOAA IBTrACS v04r01 (public domain) · unique storm IDs within 200 km since 1980.
–Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city, East Java's working industrial capital, the 1945 Battle of Surabaya as the founding-independence-history city, and a structurally less-touristic alternative to Bali/Jakarta.
quality of life
Female-safety scores fall in the elevated-risk band, read recent reports for specific neighborhoods.
3.5
/10
Asher & Lyric Women's Danger Index, country-level, plan accordingly
Velasco LGBT+ Policy Index
Asher & Lyric Index 2024
ERA5 reanalysis · 12-mo derived
derived from monthly rainfall
vs Berlin 09–17 · Asia/Jakarta
moving with family
Bringing kids? The school-fee reality.
showhide
moving with family
Bringing kids? The school-fee reality.
family education · annual tuition
International primary school in Surabaya costs about
$917 / month for 1 child, international primary.
Range for 1 child: $6,000 to $20,000 / year (mid-market to premium).
adjust
children
stage
fee basis
National-average international-school primary tuition, aggregated from published 2025/26 fee schedules across the country's international schools. Country baseline, not anchored to schools in this specific city; the real figure for a given school varies with tier, location and grade. Preschool = full-day international preschool, annual. Secondary is an estimate, modelled as a published uplift over primary (low +20%, typical +30%, high +40%), since secondary tuition rises with grade; it is not a separately sourced figure.
Tuition only. Excludes one-off enrolment/capital levies, school bus, lunch, uniforms and exam fees, which add materially at most schools.
–For nomads or corporate relocators wanting working Indonesian industrial metro outside tourism corridors.
ExpatWhy editorial
what to know
Pros & cons.
pros
- Budget-friendly for solo nomads
- Strong international school options
- Lively nightlife and dining
- Has a dedicated digital nomad visa
cons
- High air pollution (annual PM2.5)
- Short visa-free stay (<60 days for EU)
visa & stay
How long can you stay?
- digital nomad visa
- Yes
- income requirement
- $2,000/mo
- visa-free for EU passport
- 30 days
- visa-free for US passport
- 30 days
visa figures as of August 2026 · verify with official immigration sources before traveling
before you go
What to plan around.
Drawn only from the verified figures on this page, the things worth knowing before you book.
US passport: short visa-free window, 30 days
US passports get 30 visa-free days. For a longer stay, plan an extension or a border run before day 30.
EU passport: short visa-free window, 30 days
EU passports get 30 visa-free days. For a longer stay, plan an extension or a border run before day 30.
Pronounced wet season
Rain peaks around Jan, Feb & Dec, up to 426 mm in the wettest month. Time a visit for the drier half of the year.
Seasonal air-quality dip
PM2.5 climbs to about 78 µg/m³ around Nov, well above the WHO guideline. Sensitive lungs should plan around it.
Seismically active region
11 quakes of M6+ within 200 km over 50 years (strongest M7.0). Know your building's earthquake rating before signing a lease.
Cost is a modelled estimate
Living costs here are a purchasing-power estimate, not locally verified prices. Treat the total as a starting point and add a buffer.
compare side-by-side
Surabaya versus three popular alternatives.
you might also like
Where to go next.
Closer on the map, closer on the wallet, or closer on the way it feels.
closest on the map
Other cities in Southeast Asia.
Same sub-region, short flights, similar climate, comparable visa landscape.
asia
6.3Malang, indonesia.
A budget asia option with a nomad-visa pathway.
asia
7.0Canggu, indonesia.
A budget asia option with a nomad-visa pathway.
asia
6.6Ubud, indonesia.
A budget asia option with a nomad-visa pathway.
closest on the wallet
Other budget cities, different continent.
Same band as Surabaya, budget (under $1,500/mo), outside asia.
europe
7.2Ohrid, north macedonia.
A budget europe option with workable visa-free EU access.
latin america
7.0Puerto Ayora, ecuador.
A budget latin america option with a nomad-visa pathway.
latin america
7.0Ayampe, ecuador.
A budget latin america option with a nomad-visa pathway.
closest on the way it feels
Same wellbeing, different climate.
Cities that score like Surabaya on quality-of-life but trade tropical for something else.
asia
7.8Busan, south korea.
A mid-tier asia option with workable visa-free EU access.
middle east
7.5Ras Al Khaimah, united arab emirates.
A mid-tier middle east option with a nomad-visa pathway.
asia
7.3Gwangju, south korea.
A budget asia option with workable visa-free EU access.
where Surabaya ranks
Surabaya also makes these lists.
The cheapest cities for digital nomads
solo nomads live for ~$770/mo here
Cities with dedicated digital nomad visas
dedicated digital nomad visa available
The sunniest cities for digital nomads
3,703 sun hours / year
Cities with dedicated nomad / expat tax regimes
E33G Remote Worker KITAS holders subject to Indonesian tax once resident; first 4 years of new tax residency e…
frequently asked
Surabaya, honest answers.
- How much does it cost to live in Surabaya per month?
- A solo nomad in Surabaya runs roughly $770/month, broken down as rent $460 (estimate), food $120, mobile $9, utilities $45, transit $18, plus coworking and a 10% buffer. That puts it in the budget tier globally.
- How much does international school cost in Surabaya?
- International primary school in Surabaya costs about $11,000/year per child (range $6,000 to $20,000, mid-market to premium), a national-average baseline for Indonesia applied to Surabaya, not a quote from a specific school here. Full-day international preschool runs about $6,500/year per child. International secondary is higher: we model it around $14,500/year per child as a grade uplift over primary, a modelled estimate, not a separately sourced figure. Tuition only; it excludes one-off enrolment/capital levies, bus, lunch, uniforms and exam fees, which add materially at most schools.
- What is the tax situation for nomads in Indonesia?
- Tax residency triggers at 183 days in any 12-month period. Residents are taxed on worldwide income. Top marginal personal income tax is 35%. E33G Remote Worker KITAS holders subject to Indonesian tax once resident; first 4 years of new tax residency exempt on foreign income for qualifying skilled workers (Law HPP 2021). Verify current details at the country's tax authority, link on the city's Tax & Stay card.
- Does Indonesia have a digital nomad visa?
- Yes, Indonesia offers a dedicated digital nomad / remote-worker visa. Income thresholds and validity vary; verify current requirements at the issuing country's official immigration site (linked from the Tax & Stay card on this page).
- How is the air quality in Surabaya?
- Annual PM2.5 averages 42 µg/m³ (Copernicus CAMS satellite data), which consistently unhealthy, bring N95s and watch the 12-month curve. The 12-month curve on this page shows the seasonal swing, many cities have a sharp burning season or winter inversion that doesn't show in the annual number.
- Is Surabaya safe for solo female travelers?
- Indonesia scores 3.5/10 on the Asher & Lyric Women's Danger Index, elevated risk, review current state-department advisories before solo travel. Country-level scores; major cities often differ from country averages, especially by neighborhood.
- When is the best time to visit Surabaya?
- Aug typically scores best on our combined comfort index, average temperature 28°C, low rainfall, high sunshine. Each city's Climate Chart on this page shows the full 12-month picture.
- Are there earthquakes in Surabaya?
- Yes, the USGS catalog records 91 M5+ earthquakes and 11 M6+ within 200 km over the last 50 years. The largest was M7.0 in 2023. Modern buildings in major cities are engineered for this; factor it into long-stay decisions.
- Do people speak English in Surabaya?
- Indonesia scores 69/100 on the EF English Proficiency Index, workable in business contexts and most tourist-facing services; learn key phrases for everyday.
Every answer is built from this city's verified pipeline data, Copernicus CAMS, USGS, NOAA IBTrACS, country tax authorities, EF EPI, Asher & Lyric, OpenStreetMap. No marketing copy.
where it is
Surabaya on the map.
Surabaya, Indonesia, Asia.
-7.2575, 112.7521
Map tiles & data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
primary sources · click to verify
Every number on this page comes from somewhere.
- Vision of Humanity GPI· CC-BY 4.0Vision of Humanity, Global Peace Index 2024
- EF EPI· free non-commercialEF English Proficiency Index 2024
- Author-curated· facts listStatic dataset: digital nomad visas (curated 2025-05)
- World Bank· CC-BY 4.0World Bank Open Data, NY.GDP.PCAP.CD
- Author-curated· facts listCurated cost calibration (Bangkok-anchored, 2025-05)
- Open-Meteo (ERA5)· CC-BY 4.0open-meteo.com (current + 2024 archive)
- Velasco LGBT+ Policy Index (OWID)· CC-BYLGBTQ: Spartacus Gay Travel Index 2024 + ILGA Rainbow Europe 2024
- Asher & Lyric Danger Index· editorial use w/ attrib.Female safety: Asher & Lyric Women's Danger Index 2024
- OpenStreetMap· ODbL 1.0OpenStreetMap contributors (Overpass API, ODbL)
- Copernicus CAMS· CC-BY 4.0Air quality: Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo Air Quality API (CC-BY 4.0)
- USGS Earthquake Catalog· public domainSeismic: USGS Earthquake Catalog (public domain)
- NOAA IBTrACS· public domainTropical storms: NOAA IBTrACS v04r01 (public domain)
- ppp-estimate:country-median-rent (ID)
- Speedtest Global Index· display w/ attrib.Speedtest Global Index Q1 2026 (Ookla), fixed-broadband median upload
We aggregate from public primary sources only. Composite scores (nomad / solo / family / wellbeing) are derived using our own formula, see methodology. Full license map at /LICENSES.md.
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