Surabaya is the second-largest city in Indonesia and is widely considered an industrial city with diversified culture and history. The city is also called the “city of heroes” because of its prominent role in Indonesian independence. In addition, it is the home of many great universities. With these unique characteristics, many students perceive the metropolitan city as a great place to study and an excellent place to further propel their careers. Furthermore, with around 2.8 million residents, the city keeps alluring visitors or newcomers because of the rich culture and exciting opportunities the metropolis offers.
Housing
UPN “Veteran” Jawa Timur has a student dormitory with effortless access to campus. However, the students don’t need to stay at the dormitory. Instead, they are welcomed to choose to reside in an apartment or boarding house in the nearby area. The cost of a flat rate varies depending on the type of service. The price ranges from Rp 400.000,00 to Rp 2.000.000,00 per month depending on the facilities and location.
Transport
People mainly use their own private transport to get around the city, such as bikes, motorcycles, cars (a driving license is required). Online-based transportation is also a favorable choice as it is easily accessible and the least expensive. For this, you may book a motorcycle or a car via Gojek or Grab (two local Uber in Indonesia). Some of the drivers are bilingual, so it is pretty easy to communicate. Surabaya also has several city Buses with trash for tickets. With three big bottles, five medium bottles, or ten plastic cups, you will have a pass for an hour-long bus trip with unlimited stops.
Access
Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jawa Timur is located in Rungkut area, a subdistrict in East Surabaya. The university offers easy access to important routes and transportation terminals. The following is a list of nearby access points.
3 minutes access to the Middle East Ring Road (MERR)
8 minutes access to the Waru – Sidoarjo toll gate,
15 minutes to Juanda International Airport (via toll route)
18 minutes to Wonokromo Train Station
18 minutes dari Terminal Bungurasih (melalui jalan tol)
25 minutes to Gubeng Train Station
Disclaimer: the estimated time might vary depending on the traffic and busy hour.
Living cost
As a well-known industrial city and the central of East Java region, the living price in Surabaya might be a bit higher than other cities in the province. However, being the second largest city, the living costs are way cheaper than Jakarta, which ranked as the largest in Indonesia.
| Estimated expenses | Estimated cost in IDR | Estimated cost in USD |
| Housing | Rp 500.000 – 2.000.000/months | 35 – 140 USD |
| Meals | Rp 1.000.000 – 2.500.000/months | 70 – 175 USD |
| Communication | Rp 50.000 – 250.000 | 3,5 – 17,5 USD |
| Books, Supplies, Photocopies | Rp 100.000 – 300.000 | 7 – 21 USD |
| Personal Daily Needs | Rp 100.000 – 300.000 | 7 – 21 USD |
| Incidentals | Rp 100.000 – 300.000 | 7 – 21 USD |
Disclaimer: The information above is an approximate guide only. The costs may vary depending on your personal needs and lifestyle