Forum
Analytics
Surabaya, Indonesia 🇮🇩
#170
,
Nomad Score:
67%
💰 Cost & Affordability
💸 Cost of Living
81%
Weight: 150
Surabaya offers a low cost of living compared to many global cities, making it affordable for digital nomads.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
79%
Weight: 80
Affordable rental options are available, especially for apartments outside the city center.
🍎 Food & Groceries
85%
Weight: 40
Local markets and street food provide very affordable and diverse food options.
🚌 Transportation Cost
83%
Weight: 20
Public transport and ride-hailing services are inexpensive and widely used.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
72%
Weight: 15
Entertainment options are affordable but somewhat limited compared to larger cities.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
68%
Weight: 10
Gym memberships are moderately priced but fewer premium gyms available.
💱 Currency Stability
65%
Weight: 30
The Indonesian Rupiah experiences moderate fluctuations but remains relatively stable.
💻 Digital Nomad Essentials
🚀 Internet Speed
74%
Weight: 100
Average internet speeds around 20-30 Mbps; stable in coworking spaces but can vary.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
67%
Weight: 40
Several coworking spaces exist but fewer than in Jakarta or Bali.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
70%
Weight: 30
Many cafes offer WiFi, though quality and speed vary.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
65%
Weight: 30
Limited number of cafes specifically catering to digital nomads.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
52%
Weight: 100
Surabaya is less popular among digital nomads compared to Bali or Jakarta.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
88%
Weight: 25
Easy to obtain SIM cards with affordable data plans.
🌟 Quality of Life
⚖️ Work-Life Balance
78%
Weight: 30
Good balance with affordable leisure options and a relaxed lifestyle.
🌳 Environmental Quality
54%
Weight: 15
Urban pollution and traffic impact air and environmental quality.
🧼 Cleanliness
58%
Weight: 10
City cleanliness is moderate; some areas are well-maintained, others less so.
🗨️ Language Barrier
57%
Weight: 30
Bahasa Indonesia is dominant; English is limited outside tourist/business areas.
💨 Air Quality
49%
Weight: 15
Air pollution can be an issue due to traffic and industrial activity.
👨👩👧👦 Family Friendly
62%
Weight: 25
Basic family amenities available but limited international schools.
🏥 Healthcare
🏥 Healthcare Quality
63%
Weight: 20
Decent healthcare facilities, but not as advanced as Jakarta or Bali.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
75%
Weight: 25
Healthcare services are affordable compared to Western standards.
🏥 Healthcare
64%
Weight: 20
Basic to moderate healthcare services available; serious cases may require travel.
🌿 Climate & Environment
☀️ Weather
87%
Weight: 80
Tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round; rainy season from Nov to Mar.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
60%
Weight: 10
Moderate risk of flooding and occasional earthquakes; no major volcanic threats nearby.
🏞️ Green Spaces
51%
Weight: 10
Limited green spaces within the city; some parks available but not abundant.
❄️ Air Conditioning
89%
Weight: 15
Most accommodations and public places are well air-conditioned.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
23%
Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; tropical climate with wet and dry seasons only.
🔊 Noise Pollution
47%
Weight: 10
Traffic and urban noise can be significant in busy areas.
🎭 Culture & Entertainment
🎭 Culture
76%
Weight: 20
Rich Javanese culture with historical sites and traditional arts.
🌃 Nightlife
59%
Weight: 15
Nightlife is modest with bars and cafes but less vibrant than Bali or Jakarta.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
62%
Weight: 15
Limited natural attractions within city; nearby beaches and parks accessible by travel.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
55%
Weight: 10
Some language schools available for Bahasa Indonesia; limited for other languages.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
68%
Weight: 10
Cultural tours and local experiences available but less tourist-focused.
🎳 Indoors Fun
60%
Weight: 10
Shopping malls and cinemas provide indoor entertainment options.
🍎 Food & Fitness
🍽️ Food Scene
84%
Weight: 25
Diverse and flavorful local cuisine with many street food options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
50%
Weight: 10
Few dedicated yoga studios compared to Bali; limited options.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
63%
Weight: 15
Basic gyms and fitness centers available but not extensive.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
67%
Weight: 15
Increasing availability of healthy and organic food options.
💼 Work Environment
🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
78%
Weight: 20
UTC+7 is convenient for Asia and Australia, less so for Europe and Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
56%
Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events for digital nomads.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
50%
Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most rely on international clients.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
53%
Weight: 20
Growing but still nascent freelance community.
🏢 Coworking Quality
65%
Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are functional but fewer amenities compared to bigger hubs.
📈 Business & Economy
🚀 Startup Scene
54%
Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem but less developed than Jakarta or Bali.
💳 Local Payment Services
71%
Weight: 10
Mobile payments and e-wallets widely used and accepted.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
60%
Weight: 15
Moderate interest and adoption; regulatory environment evolving.
🚆 Transportation
✈️ Airport Connectivity
72%
Weight: 30
Juanda International Airport offers good regional connections.
🚇 Public Transit
55%
Weight: 20
Limited public transit options; buses exist but not extensive or frequent.
🚶 Walkability
50%
Weight: 20
City is sprawling with limited pedestrian infrastructure.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
84%
Weight: 15
Ride-hailing apps like Gojek and Grab are widely available and affordable.
🚲 Cycling
42%
Weight: 10
Cycling infrastructure is minimal and traffic can be challenging.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
70%
Weight: 15
Good bus and train connections to other major cities in Java.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
75%
Weight: 10
Scooter rentals are common and affordable.
📡 Connectivity
📱 Mobile Network Coverage
80%
Weight: 20
Good 4G coverage throughout the city and surrounding areas.
🔒 VPN Reliability
73%
Weight: 20
VPN services generally reliable; occasional throttling reported.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
70%
Weight: 15
Power outages are infrequent but can occur.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
58%
Weight: 10
Public WiFi is limited and often unreliable.
⚖️ Legal & Administrative
🛂 Visa Ease
69%
Weight: 40
Visa on arrival available for many nationalities; extensions possible but bureaucratic.
📊 Tax Friendliness
50%
Weight: 30
Tax system can be complex; no special digital nomad tax incentives.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
62%
Weight: 15
Moderate freedom of speech with some government restrictions.
🏛️ Political Stability
71%
Weight: 20
Generally stable political environment.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
55%
Weight: 15
Opening bank accounts can be bureaucratic for foreigners.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
58%
Weight: 10
Business registration is possible but involves paperwork and time.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0%
Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available as of mid-2025.
🌍 Digital Nomad Community
🌍 Nomad Friendly
57%
Weight: 50
Moderately friendly but lacks infrastructure and community compared to top nomad hubs.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
43%
Weight: 25
Few organized nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
51%
Weight: 20
Limited online presence for Surabaya digital nomads.
🛡️ Safety & Tolerance
🛡️ Safety
74%
Weight: 100
Generally safe with low violent crime rates; petty theft can occur.
♀️ Female Friendly
60%
Weight: 50
Moderate female friendliness; cultural norms may require some caution.
✊ Racial Tolerance
65%
Weight: 50
Generally tolerant society but some cultural conservatism exists.