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Indonesia Knowledge
Expat & relocation

Moving to Indonesia — the practical reference

Visas, cost of living, where to live, healthcare, banking, schools, retirement, business setup. Written for people seriously considering or actively making the move, not for casual research.

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This page covers visa, tax, legal and health. Conditions change. Confirm details with imigrasi.go.id, your embassy, and qualified Indonesian professionals before relying on it.

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Moving to Indonesia

Decisions, timeline, what to ship vs buy, first-week setup.

Where to live

Bali vs Jakarta vs Yogyakarta vs Lombok — by use case.

Cost of living

Monthly budget ranges across all major expat cities.

Visas & residency

VOA, B211A, KITAS, KITAP, Digital Nomad, Second Home, Retirement.

Healthcare

Quality, insurance, hospitals, when to evacuate to Singapore.

Banking

Indonesian bank accounts, international transfers, QRIS, cards.

Tax residency

183-day rule, foreign income, treaty relief, the realities.

International schools

JIS, AIS, BIS, fees, wait lists, what to consider.

Retirement

Retirement visa, where retirees actually settle, monthly budgets.

Digital nomads

Visa options, internet, coworking, community, cost reality.

Family life

Schools, healthcare, kids' activities, helpers, what works.

Business setup

PT PMA, foreign ownership, legal advisors, common mistakes.

How much does it cost to live in Indonesia?

Use the Cost of Living Estimator — adjust for city, lifestyle, household and school fees in 30 seconds.

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Major expat cities

The Indonesian cities expats actually choose, with monthly budget ranges and what each is best (and worst) for.

Bali (Canggu / Ubud / Sanur cluster)

Bali

Best for:

Digital nomads · Wellness/yoga community · Early-retirees (under-55 long-stay)

Single (low)
$1,500/mo
Single (comf.)
$3,000/mo
Family (comf.)
$6,000/mo

Jakarta

Jakarta

Best for:

Corporate/professional expats · Multinational executives · Families with school-age children

Single (low)
$1,800/mo
Single (comf.)
$4,500/mo
Family (comf.)
$10,000/mo

Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta

Best for:

Budget-conscious long-stayers · Cultural enthusiasts · University students

Single (low)
$800/mo
Single (comf.)
$1,500/mo
Family (comf.)
$3,000/mo

Lombok (Kuta / Senggigi)

West Nusa Tenggara

Best for:

Surfers · Adventurous early-retirees · Bali alternative seekers

Single (low)
$1,000/mo
Single (comf.)
$2,000/mo
Family (comf.)
$4,500/mo

Bandung

West Java

Best for:

Remote workers wanting cool climate · Coffee and food enthusiasts · Smaller-city lifestyle seekers

Single (low)
$700/mo
Single (comf.)
$1,500/mo
Family (comf.)
$3,500/mo

Surabaya

East Java

Best for:

Industrial/manufacturing expats · Anyone with East Java business interests · Korean and Japanese corporate communities

Single (low)
$1,200/mo
Single (comf.)
$2,800/mo
Family (comf.)
$6,500/mo

Medan

North Sumatra

Best for:

Plantation/agribusiness expats · Singapore-Malaysia connection roles · Multi-ethnic community lovers

Single (low)
$900/mo
Single (comf.)
$2,000/mo
Family (comf.)
$4,500/mo

Visa options at a glance

The main visas foreigners use to stay long-term. Rules change — verify with imigrasi.go.id before applying.

Visa on Arrival (e-VOA)

VOA

30 days, extendable once for 30 more

Approx cost: $32–$50 · Complexity: simple

Visit Visa for Tourism (B211A)

B211A

60 days initial, extendable twice up to 180 days total

Approx cost: $320–$600 · Complexity: moderate

Digital Nomad Visa (E33G)

E33G

Up to 5 years

Approx cost: $2,500–$5,000 · Complexity: complex

Second Home Visa (E33D)

E33D

5 or 10 years

Approx cost: $2,500–$4,000 · Complexity: complex

Retirement Visa (E33F)

E33F

1 year initial, renewable up to 5 years; KITAP eligibility after 5 years

Approx cost: $1,500–$2,500 · Complexity: moderate

Work KITAS (E28A / E28B)

KITAS

1-2 years, renewable

Approx cost: $2,500–$4,000 · Complexity: complex

Spouse / Family KITAS (E31)

E31

1-2 years initially, KITAP eligibility after 2+ years of marriage

Approx cost: $1,200–$2,500 · Complexity: moderate

Investor KITAS (E28C)

E28C

1-2 years, renewable

Approx cost: $2,000–$4,500 · Complexity: complex

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