# Surabaya vs Cali

Detailed side-by-side comparison of living costs, infrastructure, safety, and nomad lifestyle.

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🔥 Top Nomad Vibe

### [Thailand](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/thailand.md) [Indonesia](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/indonesia.md) [Spain](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/spain.md) [Portugal](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/portugal.md) [Mexico](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/mexico.md) [Vietnam](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/vietnam.md) [Colombia](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/colombia.md) [Argentina](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/argentina.md) [Malaysia](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/malaysia.md) [Philippines](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/philippines.md) [Türkiye](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/turkey.md) [Croatia](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/croatia.md) [Georgia](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/georgia.md)

## 🏆 Who Wins?

💰
Best Budget
Surabaya

🌐
Fastest Internet
Cali

🔥
Best Vibe
Cali

🛡️
Safest City
Surabaya

🌿
Cleanest Air
Cali

🚶
Most Walkable
🤝 Tie

🏆 Overall Winner: Cali

Show differences only

Metric

[Surabaya](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/indonesia/surabaya.md)

[Indonesia](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/indonesia.md)

[Cali](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/colombia/cali.md)

[Colombia](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/colombia.md)

💰 Monthly Budget & Costs

Total Est. Budget
$570
$810

1-Bed Center Rent
$250
$420

Coworking Desk
$60
$120

Local Meal
$2.5
$4.5

Cappuccino
$1.8
$1.5

Gym Membership
$25
$35

Transport Budget
$20
$40

💻 Workspace & Infrastructure

Internet Speed
25 Mbps
40 Mbps

Nomad Vibe
7/10
8/10

🌿 Quality of Life & Culture

Safety Index
65/100
42/100

Healthcare Quality
Average
Average

English Proficiency
Basic
Basic

Climate Type
Tropical monsoon
Tropical monsoon

Best Time to Visit
Apr - Oct
Dec - Mar

## [Surabaya](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/indonesia/surabaya.md)

### 👍 Pros

✅ 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

### 👎 Cons

* ❌ 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

### 🛂 Nomad Visas

* ▪ Visa on Arrival (30 days, extendable)
* ▪ B211A Social-Business Visa (60 days)
* ▪ B211B Digital Nomad Visa (6 months)

## [Cali](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/colombia/cali.md)

### 👍 Pros

* ✅ Very affordable cost of living
* ✅ Warm, year-round tropical climate
* ✅ World-class salsa dancing and music scene
* ✅ Friendly and welcoming locals
* ✅ Delicious local cuisine (bandeja paisa, sancocho)
* ✅ Close to beaches, mountains, and coffee region

### 👎 Cons

* ❌ High crime rates, especially theft and muggings
* ❌ Limited English proficiency outside tourist areas
* ❌ Tap water is not safe to drink
* ❌ Traffic congestion during peak hours
* ❌ Occasional power outages in some areas
* ❌ Visa runs required after 90 days without a digital nomad visa

### 🛂 Nomad Visas

* ▪ Tourist visa (90 days)
* ▪ Digital nomad visa (1 year)
* ▪ Extension possible via border runs