Side-by-side city decision # Palma de Mallorca vs Surabaya. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link Palma de MallorcaSpain5/6 VS SurabayaIndonesia1/6 $2,355Palma de Mallorca monthly budget $585Surabaya monthly budget 246 MbpsPalma de Mallorca internet 55 MbpsSurabaya internet Decision summary Palma de Mallorca Palma de Mallorca leads on more of the six headline signals. Cost Best budget Surabaya Speed Fastest internet Palma de Mallorca Vibe Best nomad vibe Palma de Mallorca Safety Highest safety Palma de Mallorca Air Cleanest air Palma de Mallorca Walk Most walkable Palma de Mallorca Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [Palma de Mallorca](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/spain/palma-de-mallorca.md) Spain 5/6 Budget$2,355 Internet246 Mbps Vibe8/10 [Surabaya](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/indonesia/surabaya.md) Indonesia 1/6 Budget$585 Internet55 Mbps Vibe6/10 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 MetricPalma de MallorcaSurabaya Total estimated budget $2,355 $585 1-bed center rent $1,550 $260 Coworking desk $250 $95 Local meal $16.5 $1.8 Cappuccino $2.4 $2.2 Gym membership $55 $28 Transport budget $45 $45 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals MetricPalma de MallorcaSurabaya Internet speed 246 Mbps 55 Mbps Nomad vibe 8/10 6/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals MetricPalma de MallorcaSurabaya Safety index 72/100 62/100 Air quality 82/100 58/100 Walkability 8/10 4/10 Female safety 8/10 6/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 9/10 4/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals MetricPalma de MallorcaSurabaya Healthcare quality Excellent Good English proficiency Good Basic Climate type Mediterranean Tropical monsoon Best time to visit Apr - Jun May - Sep 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. [Palma de Mallorca](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/spain/palma-de-mallorca.md) Spain → ### Strengths * Exceptional Mediterranean weather for much of the year * Fast fiber internet and strong mobile coverage * Highly walkable historic center and waterfront * Large international and remote-worker community * Safe city with excellent public healthcare access * Easy airport connections to mainland Europe ### Trade-offs * Housing costs are high and rising quickly * Summer crowds and short-term rental pressure are intense * Island flights add cost and time to mainland trips * Winter can feel quiet outside the central neighborhoods * Spanish bureaucracy can be slow and document-heavy * Tourist areas can be noisy and overpriced ### Common visa routes * Spain Digital Nomad Visa * Schengen short-stay visa waiver or tourist visa * Spanish self-employment residence permit [Surabaya](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/indonesia/surabaya.md) Indonesia → ### Strengths * Very affordable everyday costs * Excellent East Javanese food scene * Reliable mobile data and growing fiber coverage * Major hospitals and modern shopping centers * Convenient base for exploring East Java * Less tourist-saturated than Bali ### Trade-offs * Heavy traffic and limited pedestrian infrastructure * Hot, humid weather year-round * English is not widely spoken outside modern districts * Air quality can worsen during the dry season * Smaller international nomad community than Bali or Jakarta * Tap water is not safe to drink ### Common visa routes * Visa on Arrival * B211A Visit Visa * E33G Remote Worker Visa 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.