Thailand vs Indonesia: which to choose in 2026

7 min read · Published 7 October 2026

Thailand grants a 5-year visa with savings from 500,000 baht, about $15,000, and taxes foreign income only when it is brought in. Indonesia for newcomers is mostly Bali: life is cheaper and the second home visa lasts up to 10 years. We compare visas, taxes, costs and life.

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Key facts	Verdict
Remote worker visa	Thailand - 5 years, Indonesia - one year
Long-stay visa for the well-off	Thailand - 10 years, Indonesia - 5-10 years
Cheaper to live	Bali: $1,200-2,000 versus $1,300-2,200 in Bangkok
Foreign income	Thailand - taxed when brought in, Indonesia - all income
Land for foreigners	cannot be bought in either
Healthcare	stronger in Thailand

Data checked: 07.10.2026

In short: who each country suits

Thailand - for those who want city life with strong healthcare and a 5-year visa on modest savings.
Indonesia, or rather Bali, - for those who want to live by the ocean among remote workers and spend less.
For the well-off with passive income - Thailand: a 10-year visa and tax on foreign income only when it is brought into the country.

Thailand and Indonesia are Southeast Asia's main destinations for remote workers and those tired of winter. Both have launched long-stay visas, and neither sells land to foreigners. But Thailand means the megacity of Bangkok, islands and strong private healthcare, while Indonesia for newcomers is above all Bali with its villas, the ocean and a freelancer community.

Below is a 15-row table and five key differences: visas and residence, the path to citizenship, taxes, cost of living and everyday life. Amounts are in US dollars on the check date.

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Key facts in one table

Parameter	Thailand	Indonesia
Remote worker visa	for 5 years, 180 days per entry, savings from 500,000 baht, ~$15,000	for a year, income from $60,000 a year
Long-term residence for the well-off	for 10 years with income from $80,000 a year	second home visa for 5-10 years with 2 billion rupiah, ~$120,000, on deposit
Residence through business	work with a permit or own company	a foreign-owned company with capital from 2.5 billion rupiah, ~$140,000
Buying a home as a foreigner	a flat in freehold within the 49% foreign quota, land - no	long-term lease or right of use, land - no
Citizenship	only after permanent residence under a quota, a handful in practice	5 continuous or 10 non-continuous years, giving up your current one
Who is a tax resident	180 days or more in a calendar year	more than 183 days in any 12 months
Income tax	0-35%, foreign income when brought into the country	5-35% on worldwide income, 4 years on local income only for incoming professionals
Single person budget with rent	$1,300-2,200 a month (Bangkok)	$1,200-2,000 a month (Bali)
One-bedroom flat in the centre	$650-950 (Bangkok)	$750-1,100 (Bali)
Family with a child	from $3,300 a month	from $2,500 a month
Country's passport: visa-free travel	citizenship almost unavailable to foreigners	a Schengen visa is required
Currency	Thai baht	Indonesian rupiah
Healthcare	strong private clinics in Bangkok and Phuket	private clinics in Bali, complex treatment abroad
Climate	tropical, rainy season in summer and autumn	tropical, rainy season in Bali from November to March

Thailand and Indonesia are chosen by the visa for long-term life and the tax on income brought in

Both countries are popular with remote workers, but long-stay visas work differently, and a foreigner cannot buy land in either. The usual mistakes: living for years on tourist visas and risking refusal at the border, bringing foreign income into Thailand without working out the tax, buying a villa in Bali through a nominee owner. We choose the visa for your income, check the property purchase structure, work out the tax and handle the application.

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

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Visas and residence: where it is easier

Thailand issues a 5-year visa for remote workers and people coming for courses or treatment: 180 days per entry, extendable by another 180. It requires savings from 500,000 baht, about $15,000, held for at least three months. The well-off with income from $80,000 a year can get a 10-year visa.

Indonesia issues a one-year remote worker visa with income from $60,000 a year and a 5-10-year second home visa with 2 billion rupiah, about $120,000, on deposit in an Indonesian bank. Work and business require a foreign-owned company with paid-up capital from 2.5 billion rupiah.

Citizenship: where it is faster

In Thailand the path to citizenship runs through permanent residence granted under a quota, so in practice only a handful get a passport. For most newcomers Thailand is a country of long visas, not a second passport.

Indonesia grants citizenship after 5 continuous years or 10 years with breaks but requires giving up your current one: the law does not allow dual citizenship for adults.

Taxes: where they are lower

In Thailand you become a tax resident after 180 days in a year. Since 2024 a resident's foreign income is taxed on a 0-35% scale when transferred into the country, while money kept abroad is not taxed.

In Indonesia you become resident after 183 days in 12 months and pay 5% to 35% on worldwide income. Incoming professionals can pay tax only on Indonesian income for the first 4 years.

Cost of living: where it is cheaper

A single person in Bangkok needs $1,300-2,200 a month including rent, in Bali $1,200-2,000. A one-bedroom flat in central Bangkok costs $650-950, a one-bedroom villa in Canggu $750-1,100.

A family with a child needs from $3,300 a month in Thailand and from $2,500 in Indonesia. In Bali Canggu and Uluwatu are the most expensive, Ubud and the east of the island cheaper, while in Thailand life outside Bangkok and Phuket is much cheaper.

Everyday life: healthcare, climate, schools

Thailand offers big cities, developed transport in Bangkok and some of Asia's best private clinics. There are many international schools, especially in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai.

Bali is a tropical island with a rainy season from November to March and life on a scooter. There are international schools, but for complex treatment islanders fly to Singapore or Bangkok.

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FAQ

Which is better to move to: Thailand or Indonesia?

Thailand for a big city, strong healthcare and a 5-year visa on modest savings; Indonesia for cheaper life in Bali and the second home visa.

Where is it easier to get a remote work visa?

In Thailand the 5-year visa requires savings from 500,000 baht, about $15,000. In Indonesia the one-year visa requires income from $60,000 a year.

Is foreign income taxed?

In Thailand, when it is brought into the country. In Indonesia a resident pays tax on worldwide income, but incoming professionals pay only on local income for the first 4 years.

Where is it cheaper to live: Thailand or Bali?

A single person needs $1,200-2,000 a month in Bali and $1,300-2,200 in Bangkok.

Can a foreigner buy a home?

In Thailand, a flat in freehold within the 49% foreign quota. In Indonesia, a long-term lease or right of use. Land cannot be bought in either.

Can I get citizenship?

In Thailand it is almost impossible in practice. In Indonesia, after 5-10 years of residence, giving up your current citizenship.

Is there a long-stay visa for the well-off?

In Thailand, for 10 years with income from $80,000 a year. In Indonesia, a second home visa for 5-10 years with 2 billion rupiah on deposit.

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