Side-by-side city decision # Surabaya vs Lisbon. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link 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. [Surabaya](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/indonesia/surabaya.md) Indonesia 1/6 Budget$570 Internet25 Mbps Vibe7/10 [Lisbon](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/portugal/lisbon.md) 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. Differences only ### Monthly budget and costs 7 signals Total 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 signals Internet speed 25 Mbps 200 Mbps Nomad vibe 7/10 8/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals Safety 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 signals Healthcare 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](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) [Lisbon](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/portugal/lisbon.md) 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.