🇮🇩 Indonesia
A 24-hour field dispatch ~ what Bali costs, what it pays, and what it feels like to wake up here.
Compare Bali →Move Score
8.4/10
Cost, salary, visa, quality of life combined.
Population
4,200,000
Asia/Makassar · Indonesian
One-bedroom, central Bali: Rp14,000,000 / month. Outside the centre, 25 min by transit: Rp8,000,000 / month. Utilities: Rp2,000,000.
High rain, high salaries. The locals stopped noticing either.
Rent · 1BR centre
Rp14,000,000/mo
Within 15 min of city centre
Rent · outside
Rp8,000,000/mo
25–35 min transit to centre
Utilities
Rp2,000,000/mo
Power, water, internet ~ 1BR
Unlimited metro, bus, tram Rp1,200,000 / month. Walkability: 5.0 / 10. Safety: 7.8 / 10.
Transit · monthly
Rp1,200,000/mo
Unlimited metro + bus + tram
Walkability
5.0/10
Safety
7.8/10
Low violent crime. Petty theft in tourist zones.
Zero income tax. What you earn, you keep. Take-home: Rp12,000,000 / month.
Cost of living in Bali is high. The no-tax trade-off is real — run the numbers.
E33G Remote Worker Visa (2023): 5-year renewable, requires proof of work for foreign employer and $2,000/mo income. Visa on Arrival (30 days) available for 100+ nationalities. B211A social/cultural visa popular for medium stays.
freelance developer · gross
Rp144,000,000/yr
Income tax
0%
Foreign-sourced income not taxed in Indonesia under E33G. If working for Indonesian companies, progressive 5–35% applies.
Take-home · monthly
Rp12,000,000avg
After tax · before rent
Groceries for one, cooking most nights: Rp4,500,000 / month. A restaurant meal for two, mid-range: Rp500,000.
Healthcare: private plans common. Internet speed: 7.2 / 10. Reliable enough.
Groceries · monthly
Rp4,500,000/mo
Single, cooking most nights
Dinner for two
Rp500,000avg
Mid-range, with wine
Internet
7.2/10
Fibre widely available
Canggu
Surf, cafés, digital nomads
1BR rent: Rp16,000,000 · Good for: remote workers, surfers, nightlife
Ubud
Jungle, wellness, yoga retreat
1BR rent: Rp10,000,000 · Good for: wellness seekers, creatives, families
Seminyak
Upscale beach, restaurants, spas
1BR rent: Rp18,000,000 · Good for: high-earners, beach life, dining
Sanur
Quiet, family-friendly, calm beach
1BR rent: Rp8,000,000 · Good for: families, retirees, long-term stays
Expat-friendly
9.4/10
Nightlife
8.6/10
Quality of life
7.8/10
Tropical. Warm and humid year-round (27–32°C). Dry season Apr–Oct is prime time; rainy season Nov–Mar can see daily downpours but still liveable.
JAN
32°
0d
FEB
32°
2d
MAR
31°
8d
APR
30°
16d
MAY
28°
24d
JUN
27°
30d
JUL
27°
33d
AUG
27°
30d
SEP
28°
24d
OCT
30°
16d
NOV
31°
8d
DEC
32°
2d
Top: avg daily high °C. Bottom: rainy days that month.
Summer high
32°C
Winter high
27°C
Rain days / year
195days
Nightlife score: 8.6 / 10 — among the highest. Coworking: Rp3,500,000 / month. Gym: Rp500,000 / month.
Coworking
Rp3,500,000/mo
Hot desk · standard
Gym
Rp500,000/mo
Standard chain membership
E33G Remote Worker Visa (2023): 5-year renewable, requires proof of work for foreign employer and $2,000/mo income. Visa on Arrival (30 days) available for 100+ nationalities. B211A social/cultural visa popular for medium stays.
Healthcare
5.8/10
Public for residents
→ Who this city is for
Finance / high-earner (€120k+)
Zero income tax. At €120k gross that's €30–40k more in pocket versus a European capital.
Party / nightlife seeker
Nightlife 8.6/10. Bali earns its reputation after dark.
Remote worker on €50–80k
Internet is strong but costs eat into remote salaries at this rent level.
Family relocation
Safety score 7.8/10 is a concern. Not the first choice for families.
Retiree / lifestyle mover
Good climate but rent at IDR 14,000,000/mo eats into fixed income.
→ Nearby cities
Every number in this dispatch, in one place. Verified May 2026. Sources: local cost surveys Bali May 2026; Expatistan Q1 2026; Imigrasi Indonesia; InterNations Expat Insider 2025; NomadList Bali 2025.
Rent · 1BR centre
Rp14,000,000/mo
Rent · 1BR outside
Rp8,000,000/mo
Utilities
Rp2,000,000/mo
Groceries
Rp4,500,000/mo
Transit
Rp1,200,000/mo
Coworking
Rp3,500,000/mo
Gym
Rp500,000/mo
Est. total · single
Rp19,700,000/mo
Software engineer
Rp180,000,000/yr
Income tax
0%
Move score
Rp8.4/10
Safety
7.8/10
Walkability
5.0/10
Quality of life
7.8/10
Healthcare
5.8/10
Expat-friendly
9.4/10
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