Wise Logo
Wise (formerly TransferWise) is a trusted money transfer service used by millions of digital nomads worldwide.

Smart money transfers worldwide.

Affiliate disclosure

Surat, India 🇮🇳
#1395 ,

Nomad Score: 63%

💰 Cost & Affordability

💸 Cost of Living
87% Weight: 150
Surat is significantly cheaper than many global cities, with low costs for daily expenses and services.
🏠 Accommodation Cost
81% Weight: 80
Affordable rental options available, especially for long-term stays; however, premium apartments can be pricier.
🍎 Food & Groceries
90% Weight: 40
Local markets and street food offer very affordable and diverse options; groceries are inexpensive.
🚌 Transportation Cost
92% Weight: 20
Public transport and auto-rickshaws are cheap; fuel prices are moderate.
🎟️ Entertainment Cost
78% Weight: 15
Affordable cinemas, malls, and local events, though nightlife options are limited.
🏋️ Gym Membership Cost
85% Weight: 10
Gyms and fitness centers are available at low monthly rates compared to global standards.
💱 Currency Stability
60% Weight: 30
Indian Rupee has moderate volatility but generally stable for short to medium-term stays.

💻 Digital Nomad Essentials

🚀 Internet Speed
74% Weight: 100
Good 4G coverage and increasing fiber-optic availability; speeds can vary by area.
👥 Coworking Spaces Availability
53% Weight: 40
Limited coworking spaces compared to metro cities; some options emerging but not widespread.
☕ Cafes with WiFi
67% Weight: 30
Several cafes offer WiFi but quality and reliability can be inconsistent.
💻☕ Digital Nomad Friendly Cafes
55% Weight: 30
Few cafes specifically catering to digital nomads; most are traditional setups.
🌟 Digital Nomad Popularity
32% Weight: 100
Surat is not a well-known destination among digital nomads yet.
📱 Local SIM Card Availability
85% Weight: 25
Easy to obtain SIM cards with multiple providers and affordable plans.

🌟 Quality of Life

⚖️ Work-Life Balance
68% Weight: 30
Work culture is improving; however, the city is industrial and busy, which may affect balance.
🌳 Environmental Quality
41% Weight: 15
Industrial pollution impacts air and water quality; efforts for improvement ongoing.
🧼 Cleanliness
50% Weight: 10
City cleanliness is moderate; some areas are well-maintained, others less so.
🗨️ Language Barrier
63% Weight: 30
Gujarati and Hindi are primary languages; English is spoken in business and tourist areas but limited elsewhere.
💨 Air Quality
38% Weight: 15
Air pollution levels can be high due to industrial activity and traffic congestion.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Friendly
60% Weight: 25
Some family-oriented amenities; schools and healthcare adequate.

🏥 Healthcare

🏥 Healthcare Quality
65% Weight: 20
Good private hospitals and clinics available; quality varies between facilities.
💉 Healthcare Affordability
89% Weight: 25
Medical services are affordable compared to Western standards.
🏥 Healthcare
67% Weight: 20
Access to healthcare is decent, but specialized care may require travel to larger cities.

🌿 Climate & Environment

☀️ Weather
79% Weight: 80
Tropical climate with hot summers and mild winters; monsoon season brings heavy rains.
🌪️ Natural Disaster Risk
62% Weight: 10
Low risk of major natural disasters; occasional flooding during monsoon.
🏞️ Green Spaces
47% Weight: 10
Limited parks and green areas within the city; some public gardens available.
❄️ Air Conditioning
75% Weight: 15
Air conditioning is common in accommodations and public places due to hot climate.
🍂 Seasonal Variety
34% Weight: 10
Minimal seasonal variation; mostly hot and humid with monsoon rains.
🔊 Noise Pollution
43% Weight: 10
High noise levels in busy areas due to traffic and industrial activity.

🎭 Culture & Entertainment

🎭 Culture
78% Weight: 20
Rich cultural heritage with festivals, traditional crafts, and cuisine.
🌃 Nightlife
42% Weight: 15
Limited nightlife options; mostly family-oriented venues and a few bars.
🏞️ Outdoors & Nature
51% Weight: 15
Nearby natural attractions exist but urban environment dominates.
🗣️ Language Learning Opportunities
56% Weight: 10
Some language schools available for Gujarati and Hindi; limited English language courses.
🧭 Local Experiences & Tours
64% Weight: 10
Cultural tours and textile industry visits available; not heavily tourist-focused.
🎳 Indoors Fun
60% Weight: 10
Shopping malls, cinemas, and cultural centers provide indoor entertainment.

🍎 Food & Fitness

🍽️ Food Scene
83% Weight: 25
Diverse and flavorful local cuisine with many affordable street food options.
🧠 Yoga Studios
61% Weight: 10
Yoga classes are available but not as widespread or specialized as in larger cities.
🏋️ Fitness Facilities
70% Weight: 15
Gyms and fitness centers are accessible and affordable.
🥗 Healthy Food Options
72% Weight: 15
Plenty of vegetarian and fresh food options; organic stores are limited.

💼 Work Environment

🕰️ Time Zone Favorability
65% Weight: 20
Indian Standard Time (UTC+5:30) is moderately favorable for working with Europe and Asia but less so for Americas.
🤝 Networking Opportunities
48% Weight: 25
Limited formal networking events for digital nomads or startups.
💻 Remote Job Opportunities
50% Weight: 20
Local remote job market is small; most remote workers are freelancers or work for companies abroad.
🆓 Freelance Ecosystem
54% Weight: 20
Growing freelance community but still nascent compared to metro hubs.
🏢 Coworking Quality
51% Weight: 30
Coworking spaces are basic with limited amenities.

📈 Business & Economy

🚀 Startup Scene
47% Weight: 15
Emerging startup ecosystem but overshadowed by larger Indian cities.
💳 Local Payment Services
73% Weight: 10
Digital payment platforms like UPI widely used and reliable.
🔗 Blockchain & Crypto Adoption
55% Weight: 15
Moderate interest and adoption; regulatory environment is cautious.

🚆 Transportation

✈️ Airport Connectivity
60% Weight: 30
Surat airport has domestic flights; international connectivity requires travel to Mumbai or Ahmedabad.
🚇 Public Transit
58% Weight: 20
Limited public transit options; buses available but not extensive.
🚶 Walkability
52% Weight: 20
Some walkable areas but traffic and infrastructure limit pedestrian comfort.
🚗 Ride-sharing Services
76% Weight: 15
Uber and Ola operate widely and affordably.
🚲 Cycling
39% Weight: 10
Limited cycling infrastructure; traffic and road conditions pose challenges.
🚄 Intercity Travel Options
70% Weight: 15
Good rail and bus connectivity to major cities.
🛵 Scooter/Bike Rental Availability
63% Weight: 10
Bike rentals available but not widespread or organized.

📡 Connectivity

📱 Mobile Network Coverage
80% Weight: 20
Strong 4G coverage with multiple providers; 5G rollout in progress.
🔒 VPN Reliability
75% Weight: 20
VPN services generally reliable; occasional restrictions possible.
⚡ Power Grid Reliability
72% Weight: 15
Power outages occur but are less frequent than in smaller towns.
📶 Public WiFi Availability
45% Weight: 10
Public WiFi is limited and often unreliable.

⚖️ Legal & Administrative

🛂 Visa Ease
50% Weight: 40
India offers e-visas but processes can be bureaucratic and restrictive for long stays.
📊 Tax Friendliness
43% Weight: 30
Tax system is complex; no special benefits for digital nomads.
🗣️ Freedom of Speech
60% Weight: 15
Generally allowed but with some government oversight and occasional restrictions.
🏛️ Political Stability
70% Weight: 20
Stable local governance; occasional political tensions at national level.
🏦 Ease of Opening Bank Account
65% Weight: 15
Possible for foreigners but requires documentation and can be time-consuming.
📄 Ease of Business Registration
58% Weight: 10
Bureaucratic but improving with digital processes.
📄✈️ Digital Nomad Visa Availability
0% Weight: 35
No specific digital nomad visa available.

🌍 Digital Nomad Community

🌍 Nomad Friendly
42% Weight: 50
Limited infrastructure and community support for digital nomads.
🤝 Nomad Events & Meetups
31% Weight: 25
Very few or no regular digital nomad events or meetups.
🌐👥 Online Community Presence
40% Weight: 20
Small online presence for digital nomads in Surat.

🛡️ Safety & Tolerance

🛡️ Safety
71% Weight: 100
Generally safe for foreigners; normal precautions advised.
♀️ Female Friendly
54% Weight: 50
Moderate; cultural norms require awareness; some areas safer than others.
✊ Racial Tolerance
60% Weight: 50
Generally tolerant but occasional biases exist.

Feedback Thank You!

Thank you!

Your feedback has been submitted successfully.