Surabaya

Cost of Living in Surabaya

Surabaya is one of Southeast Asia's more affordable large cities, and your money goes further here than in Bali or Jakarta. Expect a comfortable nomad life for roughly IDR 11,000,000-17,000,000 per month (USD 680-1,050) depending on your lifestyle.

• Rent, central areas (Gubeng, Tegalsari): IDR 3,000,000-5,000,000/month (USD 185-310) for a 1-bedroom apartment
• Rent, outer areas (Rungkut, Dukuhpakis): IDR 1,500,000-2,500,000/month (USD 90-155)
• Groceries (cooking at home): IDR 1,200,000-2,000,000/month (USD 75-125)
• Eating out: A warung meal costs IDR 15,000-30,000 (USD 1-2); a sit-down restaurant runs IDR 80,000-200,000 for two (USD 5-12)
• Coworking hot-desk: IDR 1,500,000-2,500,000/month (USD 90-155) at spaces like SUB Co or MyCo X
• Local transport (Grab/Gojek, no car): IDR 500,000-900,000/month (USD 30-55)
• Total range: IDR 9,000,000-16,000,000/month (USD 560-1,000), or up to USD 1,200 if you add a gym, dining out frequently, or weekend travel

The currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). As of mid-2026, USD 1 is roughly IDR 16,200.

Where to Work

Surabaya has a growing but still modest coworking scene. Dedicated spaces are mostly business-oriented and cater to local startups rather than nomads, so expect professional environments without much international community.

• SUB Co (Dukuhpakis) and MyCo X (Ciputra World) are the most nomad-friendly options, with reliable high-speed internet, comfortable seating, and flexible daily or monthly rates.
• Regus at Pakuwon Centre is a 24/7 option if you need round-the-clock access, though pricing is higher.
• VISMA (Tegalsari) doubles as a coffee shop and coworking space with long hours (8am-10pm), making it a good drop-in choice.
• Koridor Coworking Space in the historic Siola building on Jalan Tunjungan is free to enter and a pleasant option for shorter sessions.

Cafe-working is common among locals but hit-or-miss. Many cafes have decent WiFi in the 10-30 Mbps range, though some throttle speeds or require purchases every hour. The city's average recorded internet speed sits around 9-15 Mbps, which is adequate for video calls but not for large file transfers or 4K streaming. Dedicated coworking spaces offer more reliable speeds. Bring a local SIM card (Telkomsel or XL) for mobile backup; 4G coverage is solid across most of the city.

Getting Around

Surabaya is not a walkable city. It is large, hot, and designed around vehicles. You will need ride-hailing for nearly everything.

Grab and Gojek are the standard way to get around. Both apps work well across the city and prices are low: a typical 5-10 km trip costs IDR 15,000-35,000 (USD 1-2.50). Motorcycles (ojeks) through the same apps are even cheaper and faster in traffic.

Public buses exist but routes are difficult to navigate without Indonesian language skills and the network is unreliable for time-sensitive trips. Surabaya does not yet have a metro system.

Juanda International Airport (SUB) is about 27 km south of the city center. A Grab to the center takes 40-60 minutes depending on traffic and costs IDR 80,000-130,000 (USD 5-8). DAMRI airport buses run hourly for around IDR 25,000 (USD 1.50) if you want the budget option. Traffic congestion is serious during morning and evening rush hours; plan around it.

Visas and Staying Long-Term

Most Western passports (US, UK, EU, Australia, Canada) receive a Visa on Arrival (VoA) on arrival at Juanda Airport. It costs USD 35, covers 30 days, and can be extended once at a local immigration office for another 30 days, giving you 60 days total. As of May 2025, extensions must be done in person.

Indonesia offers a Remote Worker Visa (E33G), designed for digital nomads earning at least USD 5,000/month from clients or employers outside Indonesia. It permits a 12-month stay and costs approximately IDR 2,700,000 (USD 165) in government fees. You cannot earn income from Indonesian sources on this visa.

For longer stays beyond 60 days without the E33G, a Social Visa (B211A) is commonly used; it requires an Indonesian sponsor but can be extended multiple times. Confirm all current requirements directly with the official Indonesian immigration portal at evisa.imigrasi.go.id before travel, as rules change frequently.

Best Time to Visit

Surabaya has a tropical climate with two distinct seasons. Temperatures sit between 25-33°C (77-91°F) year-round with high humidity. The difference between seasons is mostly rain, not temperature.

Dry season: May to October. This is the best window for remote workers. July to September are the driest and slightly cooler months, with lows around 22°C (72°F). You get more predictable working days with fewer power interruptions and no flooding concerns.

Rainy season: November to April. Heavy downpours, mostly in the afternoon, can cause localized flooding in low-lying areas. Internet and power infrastructure occasionally dip during storms. It's workable but less comfortable, and moving around the city is slower.

If you want to take weekend trips to Mount Bromo, the Ijen crater, or coastal areas, the dry season gives you far better conditions.

Pros and Cons

• Very low cost of living for a city of its size and infrastructure level
• Authentic Indonesian city life with minimal tourist crowds and no Bali-style commercialization
• Excellent local food scene, from street warungs to a growing upscale dining scene
• Good private healthcare at hospitals like Siloam and Mayapada
• Proximity to nature: Mount Bromo and the Ijen crater are within a few hours
• Safe for foreigners; violent crime is rare and petty theft is manageable with basic awareness

• Heavy traffic and poor walkability: you are ride-hail dependent for almost everything
• Air quality is poor, especially during rush hours; a mask helps
• Very small digital nomad community: meeting other remote workers requires effort
• Limited English outside hotels, malls, and upscale restaurants; daily errands often require Google Translate
• Heat and humidity are relentless; outdoor time is uncomfortable for much of the year
• Internet speeds are adequate but not fast; expect variability

Who Surabaya Is Best For

Surabaya suits nomads who want an affordable, low-drama base in Indonesia without Bali's tourist markup or Jakarta's scale. You will thrive here if you are comfortable navigating a city mostly through a phone app, enjoy Indonesian food and local culture, and do not need a built-in expat scene around you.

It is also a smart choice if you want easy access to East Java's natural highlights, including Bromo, Ijen, and the Madura coastline, while keeping a functional city as your home base.

Skip Surabaya if your work demands consistently fast internet (above 50 Mbps), if you rely on in-person nomad community for motivation or networking, or if you are uncomfortable in a city where English is rarely spoken on the street. Bali remains the go-to for those priorities. Jakarta is better for those who want a large international business community.