Jakarta vs Surabaya
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Jakarta leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Surabaya where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Surabaya's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Jakarta | Surabaya |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 55 | 55 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 40 | 42 |
| Climate | 81 | 78 |
| Safety | 48 | 49 |
| Summer °C | 27.8 | 28.5 |
| Winter °C | 26.6 | 26.5 |
| Top disaster risk | earthquake | storms (hurricane/cyclone) |
Jakarta vs Surabaya: the short answer
Surabaya comes out ahead on overall livability (55/100), only marginally above Jakarta (55/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Surabaya is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Jakarta 40 vs Surabaya 42, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Surabaya runs warmer in summer (about 28.5°C peak vs 27.8°C in Jakarta), while winter lows sit near 26.6°C in Jakarta and 26.5°C in Surabaya. On natural-disaster exposure Surabaya is the safer choice (safety 49/100); the dominant modelled hazard is earthquake for Jakarta and storms (hurricane/cyclone) for Surabaya.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Surabaya — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Surabaya — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Surabaya — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Surabaya — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Jakarta or Surabaya better to live in?
Surabaya scores higher overall — 55 vs 55 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Jakarta or Surabaya?
Surabaya has the lower cost of living (cost index 42 vs 40; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Jakarta or Surabaya?
Surabaya — summer highs reach about 28.5°C versus 27.8°C in Jakarta.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Jakarta or Surabaya?
Surabaya (disaster-safety 49/100). Main hazard: earthquake in Jakarta, storms (hurricane/cyclone) in Surabaya.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Jakarta?
earthquake is the dominant modelled hazard for Jakarta on our risk index.
How is the Jakarta vs Surabaya comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.