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By the Visa Indonesia Team·21 August 2025·10 min read
Bali Tips
Living in Indonesia is surprisingly affordable compared to other countries. But here's the thing: It's not as simple as just saying, "Everything's cheap."
Think about it this way: if you're planning a short visit to a small city like Yogyakarta, you might spend less than $600 monthly. That's pretty amazing, right? But a family living it up in Bali could easily hit $5,000 monthly. That's a huge difference!
What makes costs jump around so much? It comes down to three big things: which city you pick, how you want to live, and how you handle the basics like housing and getting around. Plus, currency exchange rates can make your dollars stretch further or not so much.
This guide breaks everything down for you. We'll show you quick monthly costs, then dive deep into each city.
The cost of living in Indonesia varies dramatically between major cities and smaller cities. Our living comparison data shows significant differences across regions, with the living index highlighting how location impacts your budget.
Jakarta
Single person (remote worker): 18-35 million IDR ($1,200-2,300)
Student: 8-15 million IDR ($530-990)
Couple: 25-45 million IDR ($1,650-2,970)
Family of 4: 40-70 million IDR ($2,640-4,620)
Bali (Canggu/Ubud)
Single person (remote worker): 20-40 million IDR ($1,320-2,640)
Student: 10-18 million IDR ($660-1,190)
Couple: 28-50 million IDR ($1,850-3,300)
Family of 4: 45-80 million IDR ($2,970-5,280)
Surabaya
Single person (remote worker): 15-28 million IDR ($990-1,850)
Student: 7-13 million IDR ($460-860)
Couple: 22-38 million IDR ($1,450-2,510)
Family of 4: 35-60 million IDR ($2,310-3,960)
Bandung
Single person (remote worker): 12-25 million IDR ($790-1,650)
Student: 6-12 million IDR ($400-790)
Couple: 18-35 million IDR ($1,190-2,310)
Family of 4: 30-55 million IDR ($1,980-3,630)
Yogyakarta (Small Town Charm)
Single person (remote worker): 10-22 million IDR ($660-1,450)
Student: 5-10 million IDR ($330-660)
Couple: 15-30 million IDR ($990-1,980)
Family of 4: 25-50 million IDR ($1,650-3,300)
2. How We Calculate Costs (Transparent & Reproducible)
Three Lifestyle Baskets
Bare-bones: Local lifestyle, shared accommodation, street food, public transport Comfortable: Mid-range accommodation, mix of local/Western food, private transport options Upscale: Expat-oriented areas, imported goods, private facilities, convenience services
Neighborhoods: Expat areas (Kemang, SCBD, PIK) cost 40-60% more than local areas (Depok, Bekasi)
Traffic impact: 2-3 hours daily commute can double transport costs
Flooding: Rainy season (Nov-Mar) can disrupt transport; consider location carefully
Power outages: Backup power essential in some areas; factor into rent decisions
Bali (Canggu/Ubud)
Category
Bare-bones
Comfortable
Upscale
Rent (studio/1BR)
4-8 million IDR
10-20 million IDR
25-50 million IDR
Rent (villa 3BR)
12-20 million IDR
25-45 million IDR
60-120 million IDR
Groceries/month
2.5-4M IDR
5-8M IDR
10-15M IDR
Eating out/month
2-3M IDR
4-7M IDR
10-20M IDR
Transport/month
800k-1.5M IDR
2-4M IDR
5-10M IDR
Coworking/month
1-2M IDR
2-3M IDR
4-6M IDR
Bali Reality Checks:
Seasonal pricing: Villa rates can increase 50-100% during peak season (Jul-Aug, Dec-Jan)
Villa vs kost: Villas often include pool, cleaning service; kost includes basic utilities
Water quality: Factor in 150-300k IDR/month for drinking water
Tourism tax: New 150k IDR tax per foreign visitor (started Feb 2024)
Surabaya
Category
Bare-bones
Comfortable
Upscale
Rent (studio/1BR)
2-5 million IDR
6-12 million IDR
15-30 million IDR
Groceries/month
1.8-2.5M IDR
3.5-5M IDR
7-10M IDR
Eating out/month
1-2M IDR
2.5-4M IDR
6-10M IDR
Transport/month
400-800k IDR
1-2M IDR
3-5M IDR
Surabaya Notes: More affordable than Jakarta, strong local food scene, less expat infrastructure than Bali/Jakarta. This smaller city offers excellent value with good public transportation options.
Bandung
Category
Bare-bones
Comfortable
Upscale
Rent (studio/1BR)
1.5-4M IDR
5-10M IDR
12-25M IDR
Groceries/month
1.5-2.2M IDR
3-4.5M IDR
6-9M IDR
Eating out/month
800k-1.5M IDR
2-3.5M IDR
5-8M IDR
Transport/month
300-600k IDR
800k-1.5M IDR
2.5-4M IDR
Public transportation
150-300k IDR
300-500k IDR
N/A
Bandung Notes: 20% cheaper than Jakarta overall, cooler climate, strong student population, excellent local food. A perfect example of smaller cities offering great value.
Yogyakarta (Small Town Living)
Category
Bare-bones
Comfortable
Upscale
Rent (studio/1BR)
1-3M IDR
3-7M IDR
8-18M IDR
Groceries/month
1.2-2M IDR
2.5-4M IDR
5-8M IDR
Eating out/month
600k-1.2M IDR
1.5-3M IDR
4-7M IDR
Transport/month
250-500k IDR
600k-1.2M IDR
2-3.5M IDR
Public transportation
100-250k IDR
200-400k IDR
N/A
Yogyakarta Notes: Most affordable major city, rich cultural scene, student-friendly, excellent value for cultural immersion. This small town offers the lowest cost of living while maintaining urban amenities.
4. Rent & Housing: What Drives the Spread
Lease Structures
Typical terms: 12-month contracts standard; some require full year upfront payment
Deposits: 1-3 months rent plus utilities deposit (500k-2M IDR)
Agent fees: 1 month rent (if using agent)
What's included: Most furnished rentals include basic furniture, some include utilities
GP consultation: 200-500k IDR (private clinic), 50-150k IDR (public)
Dental cleaning: 300-800k IDR
Emergency room visit: 1-5M IDR (private hospital)
Common prescriptions: 50-300k IDR
Annual health check: 1-3M IDR
Health Insurance Premiums (Monthly)
Local health insurance (single person): 500k-2M IDR
International health insurance (single person): 2-8M IDR
Family coverage (4 people): 3-15M IDR
Maternity coverage addition: 1-4M IDR
Cost Spike Scenarios
Private hospital birth: 20-80M IDR total
Emergency surgery: 50-200M IDR
Specialist consultations: 800k-2M IDR per visit
7. Visas & Legal Stay Costs
Staying in Indonesia comes with a few visa options, and each has its own cost. A short visit is the most affordable, with a 30-day Visa on Arrival costing about 500,000 IDR. If you plan to stay longer, a one-year temporary stay permit called KITAS is around 4.5 million IDR, while a five-year permanent stay permit, known as KITAP, is about 11 million IDR. These fees were last updated in December 2024.
When you spread the cost across the months, it gives you a clearer idea of what to expect in your budget. For example, extending a tourist visa works out to about 300,000 IDR per month, while a social or cultural visa is closer to 500,000 IDR per month. For KITAS holders, the monthly cost, including renewals, usually falls between 600,000 and 800,000 IDR.
Visa rules are updated from time to time, and requirements can be tricky if you’re not familiar with the system. To save yourself from guesswork and possible delays, it helps to have a reliable source of guidance. At visa-indonesia.com, we make it easier to understand your options and handle the paperwork so you can focus on enjoying your stay.
Indonesia's inflation has remained relatively low (2-4% annually), making budget projections more reliable. The rupiah has been relatively stable against the USD in 2024-2025, trading in the 14,800-15,400 range.
PPP Adjustment: Indonesia's cost of living is approximately 60-70% lower than the US for equivalent goods and services, though imported items show minimal PPP advantage.
10. Bali vs "The Rest of Indonesia"
Why Bali Costs More
You need around 62.9M IDR in Bali to maintain the same standard of life that costs 41M IDR in Jakarta - a 53% premium largely due to:
Tourism inflation: Popular areas inflated by tourist spending power
Import dependency: Many Western goods imported through Jakarta, then shipped to Bali
Infrastructure costs: Water, electricity, waste management more expensive on island
Expat services premium: International schools, Western healthcare, English-speaking services
Living Comparison: Side-by-Side Estimated Monthly Costs (Comfortable lifestyle)
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