Surabaya
Surabaya works for the right person — affordable (~$900/mo on our price-index model; see the basket breakdown below for lifestyle-specific totals), but check the tradeoffs below.
WhereNext composite score
6-dimension index (safety, healthcare, education, career, climate, transport) · Indonesia avg 50 · global avg 63
- Cost index
- 25
- lower = cheaper · ~$900/mo single
- Safety (modeled)
- 52/100
- moderately safe
- Healthcare
- 58/100
- below average
- Climate
- 55/100
- moderate seasons
- Transport
- 40/100
- mixed
- Air quality
- 35/100
- watch AQI
Quick answer
Key facts
- ~$900/mo single-person estimated cost of living · 1-bed center $300/mo.
- Safety (modeled): 52/100 moderately safe city by modeled safety index using country-level inputs.
- Healthcare: 58/100 below-average healthcare access.
- Internet: 35 Mbps national median fixed broadband download, not a Surabaya-specific measurement — adequate for remote work.
City composite
On par with peers
- Surabaya
- 48/100
- Indonesia avg
- 50/100
- Global avg
- 63/100
Compared against 4 indexed cities in Indonesia and 380 indexed cities globally.
Source: WhereNext 6-dimension city composite (safety, healthcare, education, climate, career, transport) · updated
The short version
How much does it cost to live in Surabaya?
~$900/mo for a single person. A central 1-bed is ~$300/mo. Outside the center: ~$180/mo.
Is Surabaya safe?
Safety score (modeled from country-level inputs): 52/100. Exercise caution — research neighborhoods carefully.
Can I work remotely from Surabaya?
Internet: 35 Mbps avg. Consider coworking spaces for reliable connectivity. Coworking: ~$60/mo.
What's the climate like in Surabaya?
Climate score: 55/100. Moderate climate with distinct seasons.
The honest take
What's great
- Healthcare — scored 58/100
- Career — scored 58/100
- Climate — scored 55/100
Watch out for
- Education — scored 27/100
- Air Quality — scored 35/100
- Transport — scored 40/100
Is this place viable for you?
Quick decision check — Surabaya
Strengths
- Affordability88/100
- Healthcare58/100
- Career58/100
Likely blockers
Infrastructure trails comparable destinations
Re-rank destinations against your priorities
Decision Snapshot
Quality scores are out of 100, higher is better. Cost uses a 0–200 index, where lower is cheaper.
Monthly Reality Check
What things actually cost in Surabaya. Estimated total: ~$900/mo for a single person.
Based on verified local pricing data
1-bed apartment (centre)
$300
1-bed apartment (outside)
$180
Budget meal
$2
Cappuccino
$2.2
Monthly transport pass
$10
Coworking space
$60/mo
Avg internet speed (national)
35 Mbps
Deep Research
Expand any section for detailed data and narrative.
Transport & Getting Around
Transport & Getting Around
Monthly transport pass: $10
Indonesia — Policy & Systems
Indonesia — Policy & Systems
Visa, tax, healthcare, and education policies are set at the national level. See the Indonesia country guide for full details.
Language & Expat Community
Language & Expat Community
Official Languages
Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia)
English Proficiency
Low
Foreign-born
0.1%
Expat Level
Low
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Surabaya a good place to live for expats?
Surabaya scores 48/100 overall. It is very affordable (~$900/mo), moderately safe on the modeled safety index, and has a healthcare score of 58/100.
What does it cost to live in Surabaya?
The estimated monthly cost of living in Surabaya is ~$900 for a single person. A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs about $300/mo.
How do I get around Surabaya?
Surabaya has a transport score of 40/100.
Cities Like Surabaya
Similar cities worldwide, scored across cost, safety, healthcare, education, career, climate, and transport.
Suggested citation
CC BY 4.0This dataset is free to redistribute, quote, and embed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. The composite form below preserves source lineage so AI assistants can cite both WhereNext and the underlying institutional publishers.
WhereNext composite — WhereNext Surabaya, Indonesia City Profile 2026 (2026-05-20). Derived from: Numbeo (city-level cost; verified via WhereNext audit); World Bank ICP (country-level PPP anchor); OECD + Eurostat (where applicable); WhereNext flagship-city research (qualitative + neighborhood depth). Available at https://getwherenext.com/city/id/surabaya?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
WhereNext. (2026). WhereNext Surabaya, Indonesia City Profile 2026. Retrieved from https://getwherenext.com/city/id/surabaya?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
WhereNext. "WhereNext Surabaya, Indonesia City Profile 2026." WhereNext, 20 May 2026, https://getwherenext.com/city/id/surabaya?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. Accessed via https://getwherenext.com/city/id/surabaya?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
@misc{wherenext_getwherenext_com_city_id_surabaya,
author = {{WhereNext}},
title = {WhereNext Surabaya, Indonesia City Profile 2026},
year = {2026},
url = {https://getwherenext.com/city/id/surabaya?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation},
note = {CC BY 4.0}
}<a href="https://getwherenext.com/city/id/surabaya?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation">WhereNext — WhereNext Surabaya, Indonesia City Profile 2026</a>
Next step
Anchor Surabaya as your destination. Cost, neighborhoods, visa, healthcare and schools tools inherit the same context.
Important Notice
WhereNext provides data-driven insights for informational purposes only. Scores and rankings are algorithmically generated from public institutional data and may not reflect your individual circumstances. This tool does not replace professional advice for immigration, legal, tax, or financial matters.