Move to Indonesia
Everything a future Indonesia settler needs to know. Residency, money, safety — the stuff the tourism board won't put on a poster.
Indonesia at a Glance
1BR rent / mo
Democracy index
Path to PR
Homicides / 100k
English level
How to actually stay
Visas, residency, and the paperwork mountain between you and a lease
5 years
to permanent residency
10 years
to citizenship
⚠️ Requires Bahasa Indonesia proficiency and renouncing all other citizenships.
Can your partner work?
Because 'trailing spouse' shouldn't mean 'trailing income'
Dependents may reside but are not permitted to work under the Second Home Visa.
Source: official guidance
Where to land in Indonesia
One city, no paradox of choice
What it costs to exist
Real monthly numbers, not what the expat blog says
$1,082
priciest 1BR / mo
Rent + food + transport + utilities, averaged across 1 cities. No gym membership, no brunch budget.
How rich is everyone, really
GDP, taxes, and other numbers politicians argue about
$16,448
GDP per capita (PPP)
22%
Corporate tax
3.2%
Unemployment
2.2%
Inflation
Moderate inequality — some neighborhoods will feel like different countries.
Will the government leave you alone?
Democracy, press freedom, and whether you should use a VPN
6.44/10
🏚️ Flawed democracy
56
/100Freedom House score
#49 of 163
Global Peace Index
#127
Press freedom rank
Do they want you here?
How the locals feel about people who moved in — public sentiment, not immigration law
3.9
/9Gallup Migrant Acceptance Index — #106 of 140. Last asked in 2016.
Is Indonesia safe?
Homicide rates and the stats that matter for sleeping at night
Boringly safe. Your biggest danger is cycling accidents.
Can you order coffee?
The language situation, no sugarcoating
Indonesian
Primary language
Low
English proficiency (#80 globally)
English won't carry you far here. Learning Indonesian isn't optional — it's the price of admission.
❓ Moving to Indonesia — Common Questions
What is the best city to move to in Indonesia?▾
Based on our Livability Score, Bali ranks #1 in Indonesia with a score of 63/100. City-centre rent starts around $1082/month.
How much does it cost to live in Indonesia?▾
City-centre 1-bedroom rent ranges from $1082 to $1082/month across our 1 tracked cities. Average monthly solo expenses are around $2,210.
How do I get permanent residency in Indonesia?▾
The path to permanent residency in Indonesia typically takes 5 years. Citizenship is possible after 10 years. Note: Requires Bahasa Indonesia proficiency and renouncing all other citizenships.
Is Indonesia a democracy?▾
Indonesia scores 6.44/10 on the EIU Democracy Index and is classified as a "Flawed democracy." It ranks #49 of 163 on the Global Peace Index.
Is Indonesia safe to live in?▾
The average homicide rate across our tracked cities in Indonesia is 0.3 per 100,000 people. That's quite safe by global standards.