Surabaya Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 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 |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING SURABAYA