Living in Surabaya
What it really costs to live in Surabaya, what you can earn, the visas that get you in, and the taxes you'll pay — for Indonesia, updated 2026. Surabaya sits mid-range among the 5 Indonesia cities we track, so it can be a smarter base than the capital if budget matters. Surabaya lies in South-Eastern Asia. Indonesia's capital is Jakarta. The main language is Indonesian. The currency is the rupiah. Indonesia borders East Timor, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea.
Cost of Living in Surabaya
Full Monthly Breakdown for Surabaya
How Surabaya Compares to Other Indonesia Cities
Surabaya is not the only option in Indonesia. Here is how its single-person monthly cost (€850) stacks up against the other cities we track — Yogyakarta is the cheapest, Bali the priciest.
| City | Single / month | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Yogyakarta | €800/mo | -6% vs Surabaya |
| Bandung | €900/mo | +6% vs Surabaya |
| Jakarta (capital) | €1 100/mo | +29% vs Surabaya |
| Bali | €1 300/mo | +53% vs Surabaya |
What You Can Earn in Indonesia
Typical gross annual salaries in Indonesia by sector (entry · median · senior). Surabaya pay usually sits around the national median.
| Sector | Entry | Median | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| it | €5 000 | €8 000 | €15 000 |
| retail | €3 000 | €4 000 | €6 000 |
| finance | €8 500 | €12 000 | €17 000 |
| education | €4 500 | €6 500 | €9 000 |
| healthcare | €3 000 | €5 000 | €8 000 |
| engineering | €7 500 | €11 000 | €15 000 |
| hospitality | €3 500 | €5 000 | €6 500 |
| construction | €5 000 | €7 000 | €10 000 |
Living in Surabaya: Safety, Health & Climate
Surabaya shares Indonesia's wider quality-of-life profile. Surabaya has a tropical climate. Here is what daily life looks like on the things that matter most when you relocate.
Visa Routes to Indonesia
Affording Surabaya is only half the question — you also need a visa that lets you stay in Indonesia. The main routes:
- A job offer is normally required for the main work route.
- Permanent residence after about 5 years.
- Citizenship after ~8 years.
- Investment route from about €130 000 (USD).
Taxes in Indonesia
Top marginal rate 35%, VAT 11%.
Settling into Surabaya
- Foreigners can open a local bank account in Indonesia.
- Budget around €950 for first-month setup in Surabaya.
- Regulated professions needing credential recognition: Medicine, Law, Engineering, Nursing, Architecture.
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How much does it cost to live in Surabaya?
A single person in central Surabaya should budget about €850/month, roughly €722 outside the centre. A family of four needs around €2 125/month.
Can I get a visa to live in Indonesia?
Yes — the main route usually needs a job offer, with permanent residence reachable in about 5 years. See the full Indonesia visa comparison for the route that fits you.
Sources: salaries, taxes, safety, healthcare and visa data from World Bank, OECD, the Global Peace Index and official government portals. Cost-of-living figures are community-sourced benchmarks — a guide, not a quote. Last reviewed 2026-05.
Related: Indonesia Guide · Visa Comparison · All Countries