Expat guide
Cost of living in 🇮🇩 Indonesia for expats
One person living on a normal local lease spends about €1,095 a month in Indonesia, rent included. Below: what the first month really costs, how to keep the monthly number down, and the per-city numbers behind the average.
Monthly budget, one person
€1,095
Average rent (1-bed)
€700
Cheapest city
🇮🇩 Canggu, Bali
Month-one setup
from €3,760
What the first month costs in Canggu, Bali
Modelled on Canggu, Bali rent of €700. Scale it up if you're heading straight for Canggu, Bali.
| Upfront cost | Amount | How to cut it |
|---|---|---|
| Security deposit | €1,400 | Two months' rent is the common ceiling for long-term unfurnished leases. |
| First month's rent | €700 | Paid upfront alongside the deposit in almost every market. |
| Agency or finder fee | €560 | Skip this by renting direct from owners or taking a mid-term sublet first. |
| Furnishing & kitchen basics | €385 | Second-hand marketplaces cut this figure roughly in half. |
| Admin: residency, translations, ID | €320 | Registration, certified translations and photos. Varies by nationality. |
| First-month living buffer | €395 | Groceries, transport, bills and eating out while you settle in. |
| Total to land safely | €3,760 | Before your first local paycheck arrives. |
Budgeting tips that actually move the number
- Furnished, bills-included apartments are the norm, which makes month-one setup far cheaper than in Europe.
- Private health insurance is effectively mandatory for expats — price it before you compare cities on rent alone.
- Street food and local markets keep food costs low; imported groceries are where budgets quietly break.
Pre-move checklist
- 1Confirm the visa or residence permit that fits your income source before you sign a lease.
- 2Arrive with three to four months of full budget in cash — deposits and admin land before your first payday.
- 3Take a one-to-three month furnished rental first, then sign long-term once you know the neighbourhoods.
- 4Open a local or EU/regional account early: many Indonesia landlords and utilities won't accept foreign cards or transfers.
- 5Sort health coverage before arrival; several residence permits require proof of it.
- 6Check tax residency rules for your case — days spent in-country and where your income lands both matter.
Indonesia city by city, cheapest first
| # | City | Monthly budget | Rent (1-bed) | Groceries | Tech pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇮🇩 Canggu, BaliIndonesia | €1,095 | €700 | €220 | €1,100 |
Full breakdowns: cost of living in Canggu, Bali
Country overview: cost of living in Indonesia · cheapest city here is Canggu, Bali at €1,095/month.
Expat guides for other countries
🇦🇷 Argentina🇦🇹 Austria🇧🇬 Bulgaria🇨🇦 Canada🇨🇴 Colombia🇭🇷 Croatia🇨🇿 Czechia🇩🇰 Denmark🇫🇷 France🇬🇪 Georgia🇩🇪 Germany🇬🇷 Greece🇭🇺 Hungary🇮🇪 Ireland🇮🇹 Italy🇯🇵 Japan🇲🇾 Malaysia🇲🇽 Mexico🇳🇱 Netherlands🇵🇱 Poland🇵🇹 Portugal🇷🇴 Romania🇸🇬 Singapore🇿🇦 South Africa🇰🇷 South Korea🇪🇸 Spain🇸🇪 Sweden🇨🇭 Switzerland🇹🇭 Thailand🇹🇷 Türkiye🇦🇪 UAE🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇺🇸 United States🇻🇳 Vietnam