Surabaya
Indonesia
1/6
Budget$570
Internet25 Mbps
Vibe7/10
Side-by-side city decision
Surabaya vs Lisbon.
A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit.
SurabayaIndonesia1
VS
LisbonPortugal5
$570Surabaya monthly budget
$1,850Lisbon monthly budget
25 MbpsSurabaya internet
200 MbpsLisbon internet
Decision summary
Lisbon
Lisbon leads on more of the six headline signals.
Cost
Best budget
Surabaya
Speed
Fastest internet
Lisbon
Vibe
Best nomad vibe
Lisbon
Safety
Highest safety
Lisbon
Air
Cleanest air
Lisbon
Walk
Most walkable
Lisbon
Quick read
Two cities at a glance
The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison.
Lisbon
Portugal
5/6
Budget$1,850
Internet200 Mbps
Vibe8/10
Full comparison
Compare what matters
Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner.
Monthly budget and costs
7 signalsTotal estimated budget
$570
$1,850
1-bed center rent
$250
$1,200
Coworking desk
$60
$220
Local meal
$2.5
$12
Cappuccino
$1.8
$2.5
Gym membership
$25
$40
Transport budget
$20
$50
Work and infrastructure
2 signalsInternet speed
25 Mbps
200 Mbps
Nomad vibe
7/10
8/10
Quality of life
5 signalsSafety index
65/100
75/100
Air quality
55/100
60/100
Walkability
6/10
9/10
Female safety
6/10
7/10
LGBTQ+ friendly
4/10
8/10
Culture and climate
4 signalsHealthcare quality
Average
Good
English proficiency
Basic
Good
Climate type
Tropical monsoon
Mediterranean
Best time to visit
Apr - Oct
Mar - May
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.
Surabaya
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)
Lisbon
Portugal
Strengths
- Excellent walkability and public transport
- Vibrant digital nomad and expat community
- Mild climate with plenty of sunshine
- Rich cultural scene and historic neighborhoods
- High-quality coworking spaces and cafes
- Relatively safe with good healthcare
Trade-offs
- Rising rents, especially in central areas
- Salaries are low compared to cost of living
- Tourist crowds in popular districts
- Bureaucracy can be slow and complicated
- Noise levels in nightlife-heavy zones
- Bumpy cobblestone streets hurt walking comfort
Common visa routes
- D7 Passive Income Visa
- Digital Nomad Visa (D8)
- Student 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.