Banjarmasin vs Tongling
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Banjarmasin is approximately 14% less expensive than Tongling based on cost of living including rent. This makes Banjarmasin a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Banjarmasin has a FIRE Score of 81/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 73.53, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Banjarmasin is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Best in rowIndonesia
Banjarmasin
China
Tongling
Estimates from published local prices. N/A means no figure is published for that city.
About these cities
About Tongling
Tongling is a cheap, low-key Yangtze River city where a city-centre one-bedroom runs $250/mo and a single adult can live on $650/mo, making it a standout for FIRE-minded savers who score it 92/100. The catch is the air quality index of 78, which is poor enough to matter for anyone with lungs or long-term plans. With a small expat community, limited English, and a retiree score of 72/100, it suits self-sufficient remote workers far more than those needing hand-holding. Treat it as a base for saving money, not a place to be entertained.
About China
China works for remote workers and business expats fluent in navigating bureaucracy, not retirees seeking an easy landing. Rent outside the city center averages just $238.5/mo, backing the low COL index of 30.7. But with no retirement visa, no digital nomad visa, and an advisory level of 2, getting legal footing here is the real obstacle, not the budget.
Tongling costs roughly 8.1x less than Banjarmasin. Banjarmasin leads on digital nomad infrastructure. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Banjarmasin is approximately 14% less expensive than Tongling based on cost of living including rent. This makes Banjarmasin a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Banjarmasin has a FIRE Score of 81/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 73.53, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Banjarmasin is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Banjarmasin
Banjarmasin is a cheap place to live, with a 1-bedroom in the center at $220/mo and a single person spending about $380/mo excluding rent, but the average local net salary of $212/mo means you need remote income to make it work. The catch is that the Indonesia Remote Worker Visa (E33G) and the Indonesia Retirement Visa (KITAS) both require $2,000/mo in income, which is steep for a city this inexpensive. Add an air quality index of 65, a very small expat community, and a retiree score of 54/100, and Banjarmasin suits budget-focused digital nomads who want a quiet, low-cost base rather than a polished expat hub.
About Indonesia
Skip this if you need English-speaking doctors or a fast path to citizenship, both weak here. But budget retirees can live well on $429.70/mo excl. rent plus sub-$320 rent, and the $2,000/mo Retirement KITAS is achievable. Best suited for low-cost-focused retirees, not remote workers facing the $387/mo nomad visa threshold.
$1,800/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Tongling
Tongling is a cheap, low-key Yangtze River city where a city-centre one-bedroom runs $250/mo and a single adult can live on $650/mo, making it a standout for FIRE-minded savers who score it 92/100. The catch is the air quality index of 78, which is poor enough to matter for anyone with lungs or long-term plans. With a small expat community, limited English, and a retiree score of 72/100, it suits self-sufficient remote workers far more than those needing hand-holding. Treat it as a base for saving money, not a place to be entertained.
About China
China works for remote workers and business expats fluent in navigating bureaucracy, not retirees seeking an easy landing. Rent outside the city center averages just $238.5/mo, backing the low COL index of 30.7. But with no retirement visa, no digital nomad visa, and an advisory level of 2, getting legal footing here is the real obstacle, not the budget.
$1,900/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
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| Metric | Banjarmasin | Tongling |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $220 | $250 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $150 | $180 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $450 | $500 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $300 | $350 |
| Safety Index | 73.53 | 71 |
| Internet Speed | 35Mbps | 69Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Banjarmasin | Tongling |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $387/mo | N/A |
| Excluding rent | $237/mo | N/A |
| Rent | $150/mo | N/A |
| Groceries | $79.00/mo | N/A |
| Dining out | $11.00/mo | N/A |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $70.00/mo | N/A |
| Utilities & connectivity | $60.00/mo | N/A |
| Transport | $17.00/mo | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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