Essentials
- City
- Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia
- Population
- Approx. 3,000,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 45-60 Mbps fiber, up to 100 Mbps in malls and coworking spaces
- Currency & Banking
- Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). 1 USD ≈ 15,700 IDR, 1 EUR ≈ 17,050 IDR
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable. Use bottled water (Aqua) or 19L gallons (approx. 20,000 IDR)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C / F sockets
- SIM Card
- Telkomsel (Best coverage) or XL Axiata. 30GB data approx. 150,000 IDR at GraPARI outlets
- Banking for Expats
- BCA, Mandiri, and digital banks like Bank Jago or SeaBank. Wise is widely used for transfers.
- Accommodation
- Serviced apartments like Ascott Waterplace or Airbnb units in Pakuwon Mall area
- Cashless Friendly
- High. QRIS (e-wallets like GoPay/OVO) and cards accepted in malls and major cafes.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Travelio (for monthly apartment rentals), or Mamikos for local 'Kos' rooms
- Budget Accommodation
- My Studio Hotel City Center (Approx. 150,000 IDR/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Tunjungan Area (Historic center, near Tunjungan Plaza and heritage sites)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- West Surabaya (Pakuwon/Graha Famili) for upscale amenities or Gubeng for central access
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Sub Co (Spazio Branch) - Approx. 100,000 IDR/day or 1,500,000 IDR/month
- Best Cafe for Work
- Carpentier Kitchen (Orenburg St) or Calibre Coffee Roasters (Near Tunjungan)
- Networking Events
- Startup Grind Surabaya and events hosted by Koridor Co-working Space
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Surabaya community gatherings and the Surabaya Expat Group on Facebook
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Gojek and Grab (Essential for motorbikes and cars)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- GOWES (App-based bike sharing) available in certain parks; private scooter rentals are rare for short-term
- Best Beach Nearby
- Kenjeran Park (Local) or a 2-hour drive to Gili Labak (Via Madura)
- Top International Airline
- Singapore Airlines (via Changi) or Cathay Pacific
- Highway Access
- Trans-Java Toll Road connects Surabaya to Jakarta and Malang
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Surabaya Gubeng Station (Intercity) and Surabaya Pasar Turi Station
- Public Transport Passes
- Suroboyo Bus (Pay with plastic bottles or Flazz/e-Money cards, approx. 5,000 IDR)
- Regional Travel
- Executive trains to Malang (2 hours, 60,000 IDR) or flights to Bali (50 mins)
- Top Regional Airline
- Citilink or Batik Air
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Siloam Hospitals Surabaya or RS Premier Surabaya (Expats' choice)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Guan Yin Yoga Studio (West Surabaya) or Real Yoga (Pakuwon Mall)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Celebrity Fitness (Tunjungan Plaza) or Gold's Gym (Grand City)
- Laundry Services
- Local 'Laundry Kiloan' services (Approx. 7,000 - 10,000 IDR per kg)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- GoFood (Gojek) and GrabFood
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Rawon Setan (Black beef soup) at Jl. Embong Malang (Approx. 45,000 IDR)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Loving Hut (Jl. Sumbawa) or Loving Life (West Surabaya)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Zangrandi Ice Cream (Historic parlor since 1930) - Try the Tutti Frutti
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Pasar Atom (Local market snacks) or ITC Surabaya
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Tokopedia and Shopee Indonesia
- Grocery Delivery
- HappyFresh or Astro (15-minute delivery)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Spazio (West Surabaya) or Our Bar (Central Surabaya)
- Local Brewery
- Microbreweries are unavailable; Bintang/Heineken served at bars like The Socialite
- Wine Bars
- Vin+ at Wyndham Hotel or The Wine Cellar (Pakuwon Mall)
- Street Food Stalls
- Kya-Kya Kembang Jepun (Chinatown night market)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Mason (Western/Grill) or Gyu-Kaku (Japanese BBQ)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Tugu Pahlawan (Heroes Monument) and House of Sampoerna
- Museums & Art Venues
- Museum Sepuluh Nopember and De Javasche Bank
- Historical Sites
- Hotel Majapahit (formerly Oranje Hotel, site of the 1945 flag incident)
- Religious Sites
- Cheng Hoo Mosque (Chinese-style architecture) and Al-Akbar Great Mosque
- Annual Events
- Surabaya Vaganza (May) and the Surabaya Shopping Festival
- Cultural Districts
- Kampung Arab (Ampel) and Chinatown (Kembang Jepun)
- Theater Venues
- Cak Durasim (East Java Cultural Park) for traditional performances
- Local Markets
- Pasar Genteng (Souvenirs/snacks) and Pasar Turi
- Music Scene
- Live jazz and pop at Colors Pub & Restaurant
- Street Art
- Kampung Lawas Maspati (Heritage village with murals)
- Cooking Classes
- Authentic Indonesian cooking sessions at Hotel Majapahit
- Art Galleries
- Orasis Art Space (West Surabaya)
- Historic Buildings
- Gedung Internatio and the Red Bridge (Jembatan Merah)
- Local Heritage
- The Sura and Baya statue representing the Shark and Crocodile legend
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Mount Bromo (3-4 hours drive) - Iconic sunrise volcano trek
- National Parks Nearby
- Bromo Tengger Semeru National Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Taman Bungkul (Award-winning urban park with paths)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Suramadu Bridge (Longest bridge in Indonesia) at sunset
- Birdwatching Locations
- Wonorejo Mangrove Eco-Tourism
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Camping grounds in Trawas or Pacet (60 mins from city)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- JNE, J&T, and Pos Indonesia (Widely available)
- Tech Repair Services
- Hitech Mall (The major hub for IT/repairs) or WTC Surabaya for phones
- Table Tennis Spots
- Community tables at Taman Bungkul or local sports halls (GOR)
- Language Classes
- IALF (Indonesia Australia Language Foundation) for BIPA courses
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Perpustakaan Bank Indonesia (Mayangkara House)
- Community Centers
- Koridor Coworking Space (Publicly funded creative hub)
- Gaming Lounges
- Warkop Gaming (Local coffee shops with Wi-Fi) or malls like Marvell City
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Gambling is illegal in Indonesia; Timezone in malls for arcade gaming
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 22,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 660M IDR / $42k)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 15,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 450M IDR / $28k)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 20,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 45 m² = 900M IDR / $57k)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 14,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 45 m² = 630M IDR / $40k)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 19,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 70 m² = 1.33B IDR / $85k)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 13,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 70 m² = 910M IDR / $58k)
- Corporate Tax
- 22% (Standard flat rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents, 20% for non-residents (subject to tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for tax residents (present >183 days/year)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% (for income above 5B IDR)
- VAT
- 11% (Standard rate for most goods and services)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to foreign entities controlled by Indonesian residents
- Property Tax
- PBB (Land and Building Tax) approx. 0.1% to 0.3% of assessed value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- 5% BPHTB (Buyer) and 2.5% PPh (Seller)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- New 'Remote Worker' E33G Visa allows tax-free foreign income under specific conditions for up to 1 year