Side-by-side city decision # Surabaya vs Rennes. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link SurabayaIndonesia1 VS RennesFrance4 $570Surabaya monthly budget $1,405Rennes monthly budget 25 MbpsSurabaya internet 200 MbpsRennes internet Decision summary Rennes Rennes leads on more of the six headline signals. Cost Best budget Surabaya Speed Fastest internet Rennes Vibe Best nomad vibe Tie Safety Highest safety Rennes Air Cleanest air Rennes Walk Most walkable Rennes 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 [Rennes](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/france/rennes.md) France 4/6 Budget$1,405 Internet200 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 $570 $1,405 1-bed center rent $250 $750 Coworking desk $60 $180 Local meal $2.5 $16 Cappuccino $1.8 $3.5 Gym membership $25 $35 Transport budget $20 $55 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals Internet speed 25 Mbps 200 Mbps Nomad vibe 7/10 7/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals Safety index 65/100 70/100 Air quality 55/100 75/100 Walkability 6/10 8/10 Female safety 6/10 8/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 4/10 7/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals Healthcare quality Average Good English proficiency Basic Average Climate type Tropical monsoon Oceanic Best time to visit Apr - Oct 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. [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) [Rennes](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/france/rennes.md) France → ### Strengths * Affordable compared to Paris * Rich medieval architecture and culture * Excellent gastronomy with Breton specialties * Good public transport and walkability * Vibrant student life and many young people * Proximity to beaches and countryside ### Trade-offs * French bureaucracy can be slow * Limited English fluency among locals * Grey and rainy weather in winter * Few direct international flight connections * Smaller coworking scene than major hubs * Rents rising in central areas ### Common visa routes * Long-stay visa (VLS-TS) * Talent Passport * 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.