Indonesia
A solid all-round choice. Ranked 24 of 40, strongest on affordability, softest on retiree visa.
Key facts
Visa & residency
The E33F Retirement KITAS requires proof of monthly pension or passive income of at least USD 3,000; the E33E Silver Hair route requires the same income plus a deposit. Applicants are typically 55 to 60 years or older depending on classification.
A separate Second Home Visa (E33) grants 5 to 10 years of residency but requires an IDR 2 billion (about USD 130,000) deposit in a state-owned bank or a USD 1 million property, per the official eVisa portal.
Healthcare
Public BPJS Kesehatan care is very affordable but mostly in Bahasa Indonesia with long waits, so most expats use private hospitals in Bali (such as Bali International Hospital) that offer multilingual staff and international-standard care.
International private health insurance is strongly recommended for expats to access private facilities and evacuation, as out-of-pocket private hospital stays can run USD 100 to 1,000 or more per night.
Cost of living
Estimated monthly costs for a single person in Denpasar (Bali) are about Rp7.2 million (roughly USD 450) excluding rent.
A one-bedroom apartment in central Denpasar averages about Rp6.8 million per month, and about Rp2.8 million per month outside the centre.
Safety & climate
Indonesia ranks 69th of 163 countries on the Global Peace Index with a score of 1.918, placing it mid-table for peacefulness.
Indonesia has a hot, humid tropical climate with a wet season roughly November to April and a drier season May to October.
Community & language
Bali is Indonesia's main expat hub, with tourist and expat-facing services (including multilingual private hospitals) widely available, though English fluency drops outside those areas.
Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) is the official national language, serving as the unifying tongue across the archipelago.
Taxes
Indonesian tax residents (present more than 183 days) are generally taxed on worldwide income at progressive rates of 5 to 35 percent, so foreign pensions may be taxable, subject to relief under applicable double-tax treaties.
Indonesia has around 80 double-taxation treaty partners, including the US, UK, Germany, France, Japan, China and Australia, and grants a credit for foreign tax paid on foreign income.
Compare Indonesia with its closest rivals
The three countries whose RetireScore sits nearest.
