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Everything you need to know before buying real estate is included in our Indonesia Property Pack
Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city and offers expats a modern urban lifestyle at a fraction of Jakarta's cost.
This guide covers everything from monthly budgets and neighborhoods to visas and property ownership rules for foreigners moving to Surabaya in 2026.
We constantly update this blog post to reflect the latest data, regulations, and on-the-ground realities.
And if you're planning to buy a property in this place, you may want to download our pack covering the real estate market in Surabaya.
Is Surabaya a good place to live in 2026?
Is quality of life getting better or worse in Surabaya in 2026?
As of early 2026, quality of life in Surabaya is on a slightly improving trajectory, with inflation relatively contained and urban development continuing at a steady pace.
The most notable improvement over the past two to three years has been the expansion of West Surabaya, where new housing clusters, shopping malls, and international schools have made daily life significantly more convenient for expats.
However, traffic congestion remains Surabaya's most persistent challenge, and while it is not as severe as Jakarta, cross-town commutes during rush hours can still eat up a lot of your time, which makes choosing the right neighborhood more important than many newcomers expect.
Are hospitals good in Surabaya in 2026?
As of early 2026, Surabaya's hospital quality is among the best in Indonesia outside of Jakarta, with major referral hospitals, large private healthcare groups, and reputable medical universities serving the city.
Expats in Surabaya most commonly recommend Siloam Hospitals Surabaya for its expat-friendly service, National Hospital Surabaya for its modern facilities, and RS Premier Surabaya for its predictable and reliable care.
A standard doctor consultation in Surabaya typically costs between IDR 250,000 and IDR 600,000 (roughly USD 15 to 40, or EUR 14 to 35) for a general practitioner, while specialist visits can range from IDR 400,000 to IDR 1.2 million (USD 25 to 75, or EUR 23 to 70).
Private health insurance is strongly recommended for expats living in Surabaya because it provides shorter wait times, English-speaking staff, and easier cashless payments, even though the national BPJS Kesehatan system can serve as a useful backup for non-urgent care.
Are there any good international schools in Surabaya in 2026?
As of early 2026, Surabaya has a small but solid selection of international and international-curriculum schools, making it one of the few Indonesian cities outside Jakarta where expat families can access quality global education without relocating.
The most reputable options among expat families include Sekolah Ciputra (known for IB programs), Surabaya Intercultural School (a long-established international-style school), and Singapore Intercultural School Surabaya (offering a Singapore-based curriculum).
Annual tuition fees at international schools in Surabaya typically range from IDR 60 million to IDR 250 million per child (approximately USD 3,750 to 15,600, or EUR 3,400 to 14,300), with one-time enrollment fees often adding another IDR 20 million to IDR 150 million.
Waitlists at popular Surabaya international schools are usually manageable compared to Jakarta, but in-demand grades like early years and key exam years can fill up quickly, so families planning an August or September intake should start the application process several months in advance, while public schools are rarely chosen by expats due to the Bahasa Indonesia instruction language.
Is Surabaya a dangerous place in 2026?
As of early 2026, Surabaya is generally not considered a dangerous city by global standards, and most expats live there without major safety incidents.
The most common safety concerns in Surabaya are petty theft (especially phone and bag snatching in crowded areas), road safety risks from the heavy motorbike traffic, and occasional scams involving rental agents or informal service providers.
Expats in Surabaya tend to feel safest in well-developed residential areas like Citraland, Pakuwon Indah, and Wiyung in West Surabaya, as well as established central neighborhoods like Darmo and Diponegoro, where secure apartment buildings and gated housing clusters are common.
Women can generally live alone safely in Surabaya, especially in modern apartment complexes with good security and in neighborhoods with reliable transportation options, though standard precautions like avoiding poorly lit areas late at night and using reputable ride-hailing apps are still recommended.
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How much does everyday life cost in Surabaya in 2026?
What monthly budget do I need to live well in Surabaya in 2026?
As of early 2026, a single expat can live comfortably in Surabaya on a monthly budget of around IDR 18 million to IDR 28 million (approximately USD 1,100 to 1,750, or EUR 1,000 to 1,600), covering a modern apartment, regular dining out, transportation, and leisure activities.
For a more modest but still decent lifestyle in Surabaya, a single person can manage on roughly IDR 12 million to IDR 18 million per month (about USD 750 to 1,100, or EUR 690 to 1,000), though this means a simpler apartment and fewer extras.
Expats seeking a more upscale lifestyle in Surabaya, with a newer building, frequent travel, private health insurance, and premium dining, should budget around IDR 30 million to IDR 45 million per month (approximately USD 1,900 to 2,800, or EUR 1,700 to 2,600).
Housing typically takes the largest share of an expat's monthly budget in Surabaya, with rent for a modern one-bedroom apartment in a good building ranging from IDR 6 million to IDR 12 million, followed by food and transportation costs that vary significantly depending on how often you eat out and whether you rely on ride-hailing services or have your own vehicle.
What is the average income tax rate in Surabaya in 2026?
As of early 2026, a typical middle-income earner in Surabaya (earning around IDR 20 million per month gross) can expect an effective income tax rate of roughly 6% to 10%, since Indonesia uses a national progressive tax system that applies the same brackets everywhere in the country.
Indonesia's income tax brackets range from 5% on the first IDR 60 million of annual taxable income up to 35% on income exceeding IDR 5 billion, with most expat salaries falling into the middle brackets that result in effective rates between 12% and 25% depending on total earnings and applicable deductions.
We did some research and made this infographic to help you quickly compare rental yields of the major cities in Indonesia versus those in neighboring countries. It provides a clear view of how this country positions itself as a real estate investment destination, which might interest you if you’re planning to invest there.
What kind of foreigners actually live in Surabaya in 2026?
Where do most expats come from in Surabaya in 2026?
As of early 2026, the largest groups of expats in Surabaya tend to come from East Asian countries (particularly China, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan) and Southeast Asian nations, reflecting the city's strong manufacturing, trading, and logistics connections.
The total number of foreign residents in Surabaya is relatively small compared to Jakarta or Bali, representing a tiny fraction of the city's roughly 3 million population, though precise city-level figures are not publicly published in detail.
Most expats from these origin countries are drawn to Surabaya by business opportunities in manufacturing, industrial supply chains, and regional trade, rather than lifestyle or retirement reasons.
The expat population in Surabaya is predominantly working professionals and their families, with far fewer retirees or digital nomads compared to destinations like Bali, as the city's appeal is more about industry and commerce than beaches and cafes.
Where do most expats live in Surabaya in 2026?
As of early 2026, expats in Surabaya tend to cluster in West Surabaya neighborhoods like Citraland, Pakuwon Indah, Wiyung, and Lakarsantri, as well as established central areas such as Darmo and Diponegoro.
These neighborhoods attract expats because they combine modern, secure housing (gated clusters and serviced apartments) with easy access to international schools, large shopping malls, and the services that make daily life convenient, all within relatively manageable commute distances.
East Surabaya areas like Sukolilo, Manyar, and Mulyorejo are emerging as up-and-coming options for expats, particularly families connected to universities or those seeking newer residential developments at slightly lower price points than the established West Surabaya belt.
Are expats moving in or leaving Surabaya in 2026?
As of early 2026, the expat migration trend in Surabaya appears to be stable with a modest net inflow, as the city continues to attract foreign workers tied to manufacturing and industrial operations without experiencing dramatic growth or decline.
The main factor drawing expats to Surabaya right now is the combination of strong employment opportunities in Indonesia's industrial heartland with a significantly lower cost of living compared to Jakarta, making it attractive for companies looking to station foreign staff outside the capital.
The main factor causing some expats to leave Surabaya is the city's less internationalized environment compared to Jakarta or Bali, with fewer English-friendly services, a smaller expat social scene, and limited international flight connections for frequent travelers.
Compared to other Indonesian destinations, Surabaya's expat population is more stable and work-driven than Bali (which sees more volatile lifestyle migration) but grows more slowly than Jakarta, positioning Surabaya as a steady "second city" choice rather than a boom-or-bust destination.
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What paperwork do I need to move to Surabaya in 2026?
What visa options are popular in Surabaya in 2026?
As of early 2026, the three most popular visa pathways for expats moving to Surabaya are employer-sponsored work visas (the most common for corporate roles), spouse-sponsored visas (for those married to Indonesian citizens), and student visas (for those enrolled at recognized institutions).
The employer-sponsored work visa requires a sponsoring Indonesian company, verified professional credentials, and documents proving the role genuinely requires foreign expertise, with the employer handling most of the permit application process through Indonesia's immigration system.
Indonesia does not currently offer a dedicated digital nomad visa, but alternatives like the Second Home Visa (requiring proof of significant savings or investment) and the Golden Visa (for high-net-worth individuals or major investors) exist for those who qualify, though these are not the typical route for working professionals in Surabaya.
Most work-related visas in Surabaya are initially issued for one year and can be renewed annually, with the possibility of converting to a permanent stay permit (KITAP) after several consecutive years of legal residence and meeting specific requirements.
How long does it take to get residency in Surabaya in 2026?
As of early 2026, obtaining a temporary stay permit (KITAS/ITAS) in Surabaya typically takes around 4 to 10 weeks for employer-sponsored routes and 6 to 12 weeks for spouse-sponsored routes, assuming all documents are complete and the sponsor is experienced with the process.
Common factors that can delay the residency process include incomplete documentation, errors in the sponsor's application, slow responses from the relevant ministries, or complications with credential verification, while having an experienced HR team or immigration agent can significantly speed things up.
To become eligible for permanent residency (KITAP) in Indonesia, an expat must typically hold a temporary permit for at least four to five consecutive years and meet additional requirements, while Indonesian citizenship remains extremely difficult to obtain and requires renouncing your original nationality.
We created this infographic to give you a simple idea of how much it costs to buy property in different parts of Indonesia. As you can see, it breaks down price ranges and property types for popular cities in the country. We hope this makes it easier to explore your options and understand the market.
How hard is it to find a job in Surabaya in 2026?
Which industries are hiring the most in Surabaya in 2026?
As of early 2026, the industries hiring the most in Surabaya are manufacturing and industrial supply chains, logistics and distribution, and education, with growing demand also in healthcare services as private providers expand their operations in the city.
Getting hired in Surabaya without speaking Bahasa Indonesia is realistic for senior or specialist roles in multinational companies where English is the working language, but significantly harder for mid-level positions in locally focused businesses, making language skills a genuine advantage compared to more internationalized cities like Jakarta.
The types of roles most accessible to foreign job seekers in Surabaya include senior management positions, specialist engineering and technical roles in manufacturing, and teaching positions at international schools or universities, as Indonesian regulations require companies to demonstrate that the role cannot easily be filled by a local candidate.
What salary ranges are common for expats in Surabaya in 2026?
As of early 2026, typical expat salaries in Surabaya range from around IDR 25 million to IDR 90 million per month gross (approximately USD 1,600 to 5,600, or EUR 1,400 to 5,100), depending on the role seniority and industry.
Entry-level or mid-level expat positions in Surabaya typically pay between IDR 25 million and IDR 45 million per month gross (roughly USD 1,600 to 2,800, or EUR 1,400 to 2,600), which is enough for a comfortable lifestyle but not extravagant by Western standards.
Senior specialists, managers, and regional leadership roles in Surabaya can command salaries ranging from IDR 45 million to IDR 180 million or more per month gross (approximately USD 2,800 to 11,200, or EUR 2,600 to 10,300), with the highest packages typically reserved for executives with significant regional responsibilities.
Established companies in Surabaya that genuinely need foreign expertise do sponsor work visas, but they expect clean credentials, relevant experience, and will be careful about compliance, so the process is most straightforward when joining a multinational or well-organized local company.
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What's daily life really like for expats in Surabaya right now?
What do expats love most about living in Surabaya right now?
Expats in Surabaya most commonly praise the excellent value for money, the convenience of modern mall-centered neighborhoods, and the city's position as a gateway to East Java destinations like Malang, Batu, and the Bromo volcano region for weekend trips.
The lifestyle benefit expats appreciate most is being able to afford a higher quality of living than they could in Jakarta, with modern apartments, good dining options, and access to private healthcare, all without the capital's price tags or traffic stress.
On the practical side, expats love that Surabaya's large shopping malls bundle everything they need (groceries, dining, banking, pharmacies, and even coworking-style cafes) into one air-conditioned location, making daily errands surprisingly efficient.
Socially, many expats enjoy the more genuine local interactions in Surabaya compared to tourist-heavy destinations, finding that the city's "business-first" character means fewer transactional relationships and a chance to experience a more authentic Indonesian urban culture.
What do expats dislike most about life in Surabaya right now?
The most common complaints from expats in Surabaya are the tropical heat and humidity combined with occasional dusty air, the traffic friction that builds up during rush hours, and the fact that English is less universally spoken compared to Jakarta or Bali.
The daily inconvenience that frustrates expats most is navigating tasks that require relationship-based problem-solving, such as dealing with building management, rental agents, or service providers who may not communicate directly or work on the same timeline expectations as Western professionals.
Bureaucratic headaches in Surabaya often stem from the inconsistent quality of service providers and the need to rely on personal connections or experienced agents to get things done smoothly, whether it is setting up utilities, handling immigration paperwork, or resolving lease issues.
Most expats find these frustrations manageable rather than deal-breakers, especially once they build a network of reliable contacts and learn to budget extra time for administrative tasks.
What are the biggest culture shocks in Surabaya right now?
The biggest culture shocks for expats moving to Surabaya include the importance of relationship-based navigation for getting things done, the indirect communication style where "yes" often means "I heard you" rather than agreement, and the noticeable variability in service quality between seemingly similar establishments.
The social norm that surprises newcomers most is how much personal relationships and patience matter in everyday transactions, from negotiating with landlords to working with government offices, where building trust and rapport often matters more than following written procedures.
The aspect of daily routines that takes longest to adjust to is the city's rhythm of activity, where midday heat often slows things down, evening traffic can make simple trips unpredictable, and business hours at smaller establishments may not follow the patterns that expats from Western countries expect.
We made this infographic to show you how property prices in Indonesia compare to other big cities across the region. It breaks down the average price per square meter in city centers, so you can see how cities stack up. It’s an easy way to spot where you might get the best value for your money. We hope you like it.
Can I buy a home as a foreigner in Surabaya in 2026?
Can foreigners legally own property in Surabaya in 2026?
As of early 2026, foreigners can legally access residential property in Surabaya, but not through full freehold ownership like Indonesian citizens; instead, foreigners typically hold property through rights like Hak Pakai (Right to Use) or regulated strata title arrangements for apartments.
Specific restrictions apply to foreigners buying property in Surabaya, including minimum price thresholds that vary by region (meaning many lower-priced listings will be off-limits), requirements for valid residency status, and limitations on the duration and renewability of property rights.
Foreigners in Surabaya can generally purchase apartments and condominiums under strata title arrangements, and can hold Hak Pakai rights over houses, but direct ownership of land (Hak Milik) is not permitted for non-citizens.
By the way, we've written a blog article detailing the whole property buying process for foreigners in Surabaya.
What is the average price per m² in Surabaya in 2026?
As of early 2026, average residential property prices in Surabaya range from approximately IDR 18 million to IDR 35 million per square meter (roughly USD 1,100 to 2,200, or EUR 1,000 to 2,000) for mainstream apartments and condominiums, while prime locations and newer integrated developments can reach IDR 30 million to IDR 55 million or more per square meter.
Property prices in Surabaya have remained relatively stable over the past two to three years, with modest appreciation in well-located new developments but limited dramatic increases, as the market has been characterized by steady supply and demand rather than speculative booms.
Also, you'll find our latest property market analysis about Surabaya here.
Do banks give mortgages to foreigners in Surabaya in 2026?
As of early 2026, mortgage availability for foreigners in Surabaya is limited rather than widespread, with most foreign buyers either financing purchases through overseas assets or navigating stricter requirements at local banks.
The Indonesian banks that sometimes offer mortgages to foreigners include Bank Central Asia (BCA), Bank Mandiri, and Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI), though each has specific requirements and not all branches actively market to foreign applicants.
Typical mortgage conditions for foreigners in Surabaya include higher down payment requirements (often 30% to 50%), interest rates ranging from about 8% to 12% annually, and maximum loan terms of 10 to 15 years, which are generally less favorable than terms offered to Indonesian citizens.
To qualify for a mortgage in Surabaya, foreigners typically need to provide proof of valid residency status (KITAS or KITAP), verified income documentation, employment or business proof, and must purchase a property that meets the minimum price threshold and eligibility rules for foreign ownership.
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What sources have we used to write this blog article?
Whether it's in our blog articles or the market analyses included in our property pack about Surabaya, we always rely on the strongest methodology we can, and we don't throw out numbers at random.
We also aim to be fully transparent, so below we've listed the authoritative sources we used, and explained how we used them and the methods behind our estimates.
| Source | Why it's authoritative | How we used it |
|---|---|---|
| BPS Kota Surabaya | Official city statistics office and primary source for local data. | We used it to anchor Surabaya-specific inflation and cost context. We treated it as baseline for cross-checking private sector estimates. |
| BPS Indonesia (national) | Indonesia's national statistics authority used by governments worldwide. | We used it to triangulate national trends with local data. We relied on it when city-level series were not published in detail. |
| Directorate General of Taxes (DJP) | Indonesia's official tax authority explaining the bracket structure. | We used it to describe how personal income tax works clearly. We estimated effective rates for typical expat salary bands. |
| Indonesia eVisa Portal | Official government portal for visa applications and requirements. | We used it to confirm current visa categories and requirements. We shaped paperwork guidance around the real application flow. |
| Directorate General of Immigration | Official immigration authority setting visa and residency rules. | We used it to ground visa pathways in official guidance. We avoided misinformation common in third-party visa blogs. |
| East Java Provincial Legal Bureau | Provincial government page summarizing the official wage decree. | We used it to confirm Surabaya's 2026 minimum wage and legal reference. We used UMK as a floor for estimating comfortable expat budgets. |
| BPK Legal Repository (ATR/BPN regulation) | Government legal portal with official land and property regulations. | We used it to anchor what foreigners can legally own. We translated Hak Pakai and strata concepts into practical buyer rules. |
| Colliers Indonesia | Top-tier global real estate consultancy with published research. | We used it to characterize Surabaya's apartment market dynamics. We combined it with listing data to estimate price ranges. |
| International Baccalaureate (IB) | Official directory of IB-authorized schools worldwide. | We used it to identify credible international curriculum options. We paired it with neighborhood guidance for school commute planning. |
| Cambridge International | Official lookup tool for Cambridge International schools. | We used it to confirm which Surabaya schools offer Cambridge programs. We built realistic school shortlists beyond obvious names. |
| United Nations Population Division | Global authority on international migration statistics. | We used it to anchor national migrant stock context. We inferred Surabaya expat trends from broader Indonesia patterns. |
We have made this infographic to give you a quick and clear snapshot of the property market in Indonesia. It highlights key facts like rental prices, yields, and property costs both in city centers and outside, so you can easily compare opportunities. We’ve done some research and also included useful insights about the country’s economy, like GDP, population, and interest rates, to help you understand the bigger picture.
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