Side-by-side city decision # Budapest vs Surabaya. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link BudapestHungary5 VS SurabayaIndonesia1 $1,390Budapest monthly budget $570Surabaya monthly budget 85 MbpsBudapest internet 25 MbpsSurabaya internet Decision summary Budapest Budapest leads on more of the six headline signals. Cost Best budget Surabaya Speed Fastest internet Budapest Vibe Best nomad vibe Budapest Safety Highest safety Budapest Air Cleanest air Budapest Walk Most walkable Budapest Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [Budapest](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/hungary/budapest.md) Hungary 5/6 Budget$1,390 Internet85 Mbps Vibe8/10 [Surabaya](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/indonesia/surabaya.md) Indonesia 1/6 Budget$570 Internet25 Mbps Vibe7/10 Full comparison ## Compare what matters Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner. Differences only ### Monthly budget and costs 7 signals Total estimated budget $1,390 $570 1-bed center rent $650 $250 Coworking desk $150 $60 Local meal $9 $2.5 Cappuccino $2.2 $1.8 Gym membership $45 $25 Transport budget $30 $20 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals Internet speed 85 Mbps 25 Mbps Nomad vibe 8/10 7/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals Safety index 75/100 65/100 Air quality 60/100 55/100 Walkability 9/10 6/10 Female safety 8/10 6/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 7/10 4/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals Healthcare quality Good Average English proficiency Good Basic Climate type Humid continental Tropical monsoon Best time to visit May - Sep Apr - Oct Beyond the numbers ## What each city asks you to trade Costs and scores help narrow the choice. These practical strengths and limitations finish the picture. [Budapest](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/hungary/budapest.md) Hungary → ### Strengths * Affordable cost of living compared to Western Europe * Beautiful architecture and rich history * Vibrant nightlife with famous ruin bars * Central location for European travel * Excellent public transportation * Growing expat and nomad community ### Trade-offs * Limited English proficiency among older generations * Bureaucratic hurdles for visa and residency * Cold winters with limited daylight * Currency fluctuations (Hungarian Forint) * Tourist crowds in summer months * Air pollution occasionally spikes in winter ### Common visa routes * Schengen visa (90/180 days) * Hungary White Card (digital nomad) * Long-term residence permit [Surabaya](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/indonesia/surabaya.md) Indonesia → ### Strengths * Extremely low cost of living, especially for housing and food * Excellent street food scene with diverse local cuisine * Friendly and welcoming local community * Good base for exploring East Java (Mount Bromo, Malang) * Reliable 4G/LTE coverage across the city * Less touristy than Bali, offering authentic Indonesian culture ### Trade-offs * Limited English proficiency outside business areas * Heavy traffic congestion during peak hours * High humidity and frequent rain in wet season * Public transportation is limited; motorbike or ride-hailing essential * Air quality can be poor due to vehicle emissions * Tap water is not drinkable; rely on bottled water ### Common visa routes * Visa on Arrival (30 days, extendable) * B211A Social-Business Visa (60 days) * B211B Digital Nomad Visa (6 months) Reading the result ## Use this as a planning benchmark The headline score compares six directional signals. It does not weight personal priorities, visa eligibility, household size or individual lifestyle choices. Costs are monthly estimates, not guaranteed prices. Higher is better for quality scores and connectivity. Lower is better for budgets and individual expenses.