Explore Cities/Compare Cities/Makassar vs Surabaya

Makassar vs Surabaya

Side-by-side comparison for digital nomads

Makassar 8% cheaper N/A / Moderate

Makassar

Arief Hidayat/Unsplash

Surabaya

Rasyid Maulana/Unsplash

Nomad Cost

$839

Makassar

$909

Surabaya

Internet

Mbps

Safety

N/A

Makassar

Moderate

Surabaya

Air Quality

5/5

Makassar

5/5

Surabaya

Healthcare

N/A

Makassar

Moderate

Surabaya

Population

1.3m

Makassar

2.8m

Surabaya

Makassar and Surabaya are both in Indonesia, making this one of the most common comparisons for digital nomads planning a base in the region. This guide breaks down the key differences across cost, internet, safety, weather, and quality of life.

Cost of Living

Makassar has a modest cost advantage at $839/mo versus Surabaya's $909/mo, a 8% difference that adds up over a longer stay.

For families, Makassar costs $1800.101453918562/mo compared to Surabaya's $1469.547803865928/mo.

Internet & Infrastructure

Internet speeds are nearly identical — Makassar at 32 Mbps and Surabaya at 32 Mbps. Both handle video calls and uploads well.

Quality of Life

Both Makassar and Surabaya share the same safety rating — travelers can feel equally comfortable in either city.

Healthcare quality is rated similarly in both Makassar and Surabaya.

Monthly Weather Comparison

The best time to visit Makassar is August (around 35 degrees, 0mm rain, score 374), while Surabaya peaks in May (38 degrees, 0mm rain, score 413). Timing your stay around these months can make a big difference in your experience.

Cost of Living

MakassarSurabaya

Nomad$839/mo$909/mo

Expat$683/mo$614/mo

Local$514/mo$420/mo

Family$1,800/mo$1,470/mo

Internet & Infrastructure

MakassarSurabaya

City Speed

32 Mbps

Country Speed32 Mbps32 Mbps

Environment & Health

MakassarSurabaya

Air Quality Score5/55/5

PollutionN/AModerate

ClimateN/AModerate

Humidity8583

Quality of Life

MakassarSurabaya

SafetyN/AModerate

HealthcareN/AModerate

Monthly Weather Comparison

Makassar

Surabaya

Jan

36°

11mm87

39°

11mm218

Feb

37°

4mm210

40°

13mm253

Mar

37°

6mm179

38°

4mm330

Apr

38°

3mm282

39°

4mm261

May

38°

1mm346

38°

0mm413

Jun

36°

1mm348

37°

1mm408

Jul

35°

0mm372

35°

0mm413

Aug

35°

0mm374

36°

0mm413

Sep

37°

0mm354

38°

0mm393

Oct

37°

1mm330

39°

0mm393

Nov

37°

6mm271

40°

8mm249

Dec

33°

16mm41

38°

15mm253

Who Should Choose Makassar?

Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $839
Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
Family-friendly at $1800.101453918562/mo for families
Peak season in August — 35 degrees, score 374

Who Should Choose Surabaya?

Great for budget nomads — monthly costs around $909
Clean air with a 5/5 air quality score
Family-friendly at $1469.547803865928/mo for families
Major city energy with 2.8m residents
Peak season in May — 38 degrees, score 413

Overall Verdict

Overall, Surabaya edges ahead for most digital nomads — at $909/mo it runs 8% cheaper than Makassar's $839/mo, with 32 Mbps internet for reliable remote work.

Granular Price Comparison

Makassar Surabaya

ItemMakassarSurabayaDiff

🍽️Restaurants8 items

Meal, inexpensive restaurant$1.3$1.3

Meal for 2, mid-range (3-course)$9.72$12.96

25%

McMeal or equivalent combo$3.24$3.24

Cappuccino (regular)$1.78$1.43

20%

Domestic beer (0.5L draught)$2.07$2.48

17%

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$2.92$2.59

11%

Coke/Pepsi (0.33L)$0.5$0.49

Water (0.33L)$0.26$0.27

🛒Markets19 items

Milk (1L)$1.24$1.19

White bread (500g)$1$0.97

White rice (1kg)$0.82$0.81

Eggs (12)$1.47$1.52

Chicken fillets (1kg)$3.65$3.44

Beef round (1kg)$7.45$7.24

Local cheese (1kg)$5.94$6.15

Apples (1kg)$2.51$2.3

Bananas (1kg)$0.86$1.38

38%

Oranges (1kg)$2.28$1.83

20%

Tomatoes (1kg)$0.8$0.88

Potatoes (1kg)$1.02$1.15

11%

Onions (1kg)$1.73$1.38

20%

Lettuce (1 head)$1.04$0.6

42%

Water (1.5L bottle)$0.45$0.36

20%

Wine, mid-range bottle$12.96$19.45

33%

Domestic beer (0.5L bottle)$2.27$2.49

Imported beer (0.33L bottle)$3.52$3.07

13%

Cigarettes (pack of 20)$2.07$1.94

🚌Transport8 items

One-way local transport ticket$0.32$0.32

Monthly transport pass$9.72$9.72

Taxi start (normal tariff)$0.58$0.58

Taxi per 1km$0.45$0.32

29%

Taxi 1hr waiting$3.57$2.75

23%

Gasoline (1L)$0.81$0.79

Volkswagen Golf (new)$24,955.34$23,334.86

Toyota Corolla (new)$31,761.34$27,914.38

12%

⚡Utilities3 items

Utilities, 85m² apartment/mo$51.2$73.31

30%

Internet 60+ Mbps/mo$41.59$28.38

32%

Mobile prepaid per minute$0.18$0.1

44%

🏋️Sport & Leisure3 items

Fitness club, monthly$25.12$33.88

26%

Tennis court rent (1hr weekend)$9.18$4.79

48%

Cinema, 1 ticket$2.92$3.24

10%

👶Childcare2 items

Preschool, full-day private/mo$53.8$124.08

57%

International primary school/yr$4,861.43$6,009.65

19%

👗Clothing4 items

Jeans (Levi's 501 or similar)$45.36$48.38

Summer dress (chain store)$22.69$32.41

30%

Nike running shoes (mid-range)$75.35$75

Men's leather business shoes$47.97$58.34

18%

🏠Rent4 items

1-bedroom apartment, city centre$170.15$228.35

25%

1-bedroom apartment, outside centre$77.78$149.09

48%

3-bedroom apartment, city centre$421.32$504.54

16%

3-bedroom apartment, outside centre$162.05$353.47

54%

🏗️Buy2 items

Price per m², city centre$1,296.38$1,901.77

32%

Price per m², outside centre$421.32$900.98

53%

💰Finance2 items

Average monthly net salary$231.19$331.5

30%

Mortgage interest rate (20yr fixed)$10.67$8.69

19%

Lower is better for all cost items.

Data from Open-Meteo (weather) and global internet speed rankings. Updated monthly.

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