Side-by-side city decision # Surakarta vs Sihanoukville. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link SurakartaIndonesia5 VS SihanoukvilleCambodia1 $425Surakarta monthly budget $950Sihanoukville monthly budget 25 MbpsSurakarta internet 20 MbpsSihanoukville internet Decision summary Surakarta Surakarta leads on more of the six headline signals. Cost Best budget Surakarta Speed Fastest internet Surakarta Vibe Best nomad vibe Surakarta Safety Highest safety Surakarta Air Cleanest air Sihanoukville Walk Most walkable Surakarta Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [Surakarta](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/indonesia/surakarta.md) Indonesia 5/6 Budget$425 Internet25 Mbps Vibe7/10 [Sihanoukville](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/cambodia/sihanoukville.md) Cambodia 1/6 Budget$950 Internet20 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 Total estimated budget $425 $950 1-bed center rent $200 $400 Coworking desk $70 $100 Local meal $2.5 $3 Cappuccino $1.5 $1.5 Gym membership $25 $30 Transport budget $25 $50 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals Internet speed 25 Mbps 20 Mbps Nomad vibe 7/10 6/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals Safety index 65/100 60/100 Air quality 55/100 70/100 Walkability 6/10 5/10 Female safety 6/10 6/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 4/10 5/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals Healthcare quality Average Average English proficiency Basic Basic Climate type Tropical monsoon Tropical monsoon Best time to visit Apr - Oct Nov - Mar 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. [Surakarta](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/indonesia/surakarta.md) Indonesia → ### Strengths * Extremely low cost of living * Rich Javanese culture and heritage * Friendly and welcoming locals * Delicious and affordable street food * Less touristy than Yogyakarta or Bali * Great base for exploring Central Java ### Trade-offs * Limited English spoken outside tourist zones * Air quality can be poor due to traffic and burning * Limited nightlife and Western entertainment options * Frequent power outages in some areas * Public transportation is sparse and unreliable * Heat and humidity can be intense year-round ### Common visa routes * Visa on Arrival (30 days) * Social Budaya Visa (60 days, extendable) * B211A Remote Worker Visa (6 months) [Sihanoukville](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/cambodia/sihanoukville.md) Cambodia → ### Strengths * Affordable cost of living * Beautiful beaches and islands nearby * Warm tropical weather year-round * Growing digital nomad community * Cheap and delicious local street food * Low rent prices compared to other SE Asian cities ### Trade-offs * Heavy construction and development noise * Scams and touts targeting tourists * Poor infrastructure and frequent power cuts * Limited coworking spaces with unreliable internet * Litter and trash on some beaches * Visa runs required every 30 days ### Common visa routes * e-Visa * Tourist Visa * Business 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.