Cost of living in Indonesia in 2026

8 min read · Published 6 October 2026 · Updated 7 October 2026

A remote worker in Bali needs about $1,200-2,000 a month, a family from $2,500. Rent in Jakarta is cheaper, and Bali has long stopped being a cheap island.

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Key facts	2026
Single person in Bali	$1,200-2,000 a month
Couple	$1,800-2,800 a month
Family with a child	from $2,500 a month
One-bedroom villa in Canggu	$750-1,100
Jakarta minimum wage, 2026	5.73 million rupiah, ~$330
Visa on arrival	30 days, extendable by another 30

Data checked: 06.10.2026

Indonesia is a big country, and the cost of living depends on the island. Foreigners most often choose Bali: villas with pools, coworkings, surfing and a large remote work community. Business life is concentrated in Jakarta, where rent is cheaper and salaries higher, but with traffic, heat and dirty air in the dry season.

Bali has long stopped being a cheap island. Rents in popular areas grow 10-25% a year, rent is almost everywhere demanded 6 or 12 months in advance or with at least two months' deposit, and monthly lets cost about a fifth more. But food in local cafés, scooter transport and household help are still inexpensive.

Who Indonesia suits on budget: remote workers with income from abroad of $1,500-2,000 a month or more, families ready to pay for an international school, and entrepreneurs building a business in Southeast Asia. Working on a tourist visa is not allowed, and immigration checks have become regular.

Amounts below are in US dollars at the rate of 6 October 2026, about 17,900 rupiah per dollar, rounded up.

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Prices in 2026: rent, groceries, transport

Monthly item	Bali	Jakarta
One-bedroom flat in the centre	$750-1,100	$400-600
One-bedroom flat in a cheaper district	$370-620	-
Utilities	$90-190	-
Groceries per person	$190-370	-
Public transport	scooter rental $60-95	-
Lunch in an inexpensive café	$2-3	-
Private doctor visit	$30-95	-

Rent figures are for one-bedroom villas and flats on long leases. Canggu, Berawa and Seminyak are the most expensive, cheaper are Ubud, where a villa costs $500-870, and Sanur or Denpasar, where housing costs $370-620. A room in a local house costs $190-370.

Utilities with internet are $90-190 a month, mostly electricity for air conditioning. Lunch in a local café costs $2-3, in a Western-style café $6-12, and a coworking $90-190 a month.

Monthly budget: single, couple, family with a child

Household	Per month
Single person	$1,200-2,000
Couple	$1,800-2,800
Family with a child	from $2,500

The single budget assumes a one-bedroom villa or flat in Bali, groceries, utilities with internet, scooter rental and cafés. In Jakarta a one-bedroom flat in a good residential complex costs from $400-600, and without rent a single person needs about $600 a month, a family of four about $1,500. For a family with an international school we calculate the total in the chat.

A Bali budget is eaten by rent in advance and work without status

In Bali money is lost at the start: rent is demanded six months or a year in advance, insurance without medical evacuation is bought to save money, and working on a tourist visa ends in deportation. We choose a status for your income - the one-year remote worker permit, the second home visa or investor status through a company - prepare the documents and help check the lease before payment.

The cost of support depends on the status and your family; a manager will calculate it in the chat.

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What to pay in the first month

Rent 6 or 12 months in advance, or a deposit of at least two months.
Insurance with medical evacuation for the whole stay.
A visa on arrival or the remote worker permit, plus the Bali tourist levy of 150,000 rupiah on entry.
Scooter rental and a category A licence, without which insurance will not pay.
A local SIM card and an e-wallet for QR payments.

With six months' rent in advance, insurance and living costs for the first three months, a single person in Bali needs from $6,500.

Where to live: comparing cities

Bali is an island for remote work and life: Canggu and Berawa mean coworkings and cafés, Ubud greenery and rice fields without the sea, Sanur a calm area with pavements and hospitals, Bukit surfing and views, but you cannot manage there without a scooter.

Jakarta is the business capital with a metro, shopping malls and strong international schools. Foreigners live in Kemang, Pondok Indah, Menteng and residential complexes of the business district. The city suits business, not leisure.

Many live in Bali and fly to Jakarta on business: the flight takes about two hours. Districts and prices are covered in detail in the Bali and Jakarta guides.

Districts and prices in detail: Bali, Jakarta.

Healthcare and insurance

Bali has private international clinics where a visit costs $30-95, but complex treatment and surgery are usually done in Singapore. So insurance with medical evacuation is not a luxury but a required part of the budget.

International health insurance is mandatory for the one-year remote worker permit. Scooters remain the main cause of injuries among foreigners, and without a category A licence insurance does not cover such cases.

Schools and nurseries

Bali and Jakarta have international schools with British, American and international curricula, as well as small private schools popular with remote workers' families. Costs vary greatly by school.

State schools teach in Indonesian, so foreign families almost always choose private schools and nurseries.

Salaries and taxes

The average wage of employees in Indonesia in February 2026, according to Statistics Indonesia, was 3.29 million rupiah, about $190. Jakarta's minimum wage for 2026 is 5.73 million rupiah, about $330. The local job market is limited for foreigners, so people in Indonesia live on outside income.

A person becomes an Indonesian tax resident after 183 days in the country within 12 months: a resident pays income tax at rates from 5 to 35% on worldwide income. The one-year remote worker permit expressly prohibits working for Indonesian clients.

How to cut costs

Rent in Sanur, Denpasar or Ubud rather than Canggu: rent there is a third lower or more.
Agree a one-year lease: monthly lets cost about 20% more.
Eat in local cafés where lunch costs $2-3 rather than in Western-style cafés.
Rent a scooter for a month rather than taking taxis.
Do not skimp on insurance with medical evacuation: without it a serious case costs tens of thousands of dollars.

The main saving is the area and the lease term. The difference between a villa in Canggu and a similar one in Sanur easily reaches $300-500 a month.

This topic in other countries

Cost of living in other countries:

FAQ

How much money do you need to live in Bali?

A remote worker needs about $1,200-2,000 a month, a couple $1,800-2,800, a family from $2,500. Rent is usually paid six months or a year in advance.

How much does it cost to rent a villa in Bali?

A one-bedroom villa in Canggu is about $750-1,100 a month, in Ubud $500-870, in Sanur or Denpasar $370-620.

How much does it cost to live in Jakarta?

A one-bedroom flat in a good residential complex costs from $400-600 a month, and expenses without rent are about $600 for one person and about $1,500 for a family of four.

What are wages in Indonesia in 2026?

The average employee wage in February 2026 was 3.29 million rupiah, about $190, and Jakarta's minimum wage is 5.73 million rupiah, about $330.

Do Russians need a visa for Indonesia?

Russian citizens can get a visa on arrival for 30 days, extendable by another 30. Living long-term requires a residence permit, such as the one-year permit for remote workers.

Can you work remotely from Bali?

Yes, on the one-year remote worker permit: you need a contract with a company outside Indonesia and income of about $60,000 a year. Working on a tourist visa is prohibited.

How much do groceries cost in Bali?

Groceries for one are about $190-370 a month. Local fruit and vegetables are cheap, imported products noticeably more expensive.

What tax does an Indonesian resident pay?

Income tax at rates from 5 to 35% on worldwide income. Residence arises after 183 days in the country within 12 months.

Do you need insurance in Bali?

Yes, preferably with medical evacuation: serious cases are flown from Bali to Singapore, and without insurance that costs tens of thousands of dollars.

How much money do you need to move to Bali?

With six months' rent in advance, insurance and living costs for the first three months, a single person needs from $6,500.

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