Madiun vs Ende: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
The two cities are closely matched — lifestyle preference and visa options are likely the deciding factors. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Ende is approximately 39% less expensive than Madiun based on cost of living including rent. This makes Ende a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Ende has a FIRE Score of N/A/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 55, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Ende is best suited for digital nomads who prioritize experience over savings.
About Madiun
Madiun is cheap enough to be almost absurd: a one-bedroom outside the center runs $234/mo, an inexpensive restaurant meal costs $1, and a monthly transport pass is $13. The catch is that local net salaries average $135/mo, so anyone relying on local wages will find even these prices punishing, while remote workers earning abroad can live comfortably on a mid-range budget of $491/mo. Internet averages 19 Mbps and English proficiency is limited, which keeps the digital nomad score at 46/100 and makes daily life harder without Bahasa Indonesia. It suits frugal long-stayers who want a quiet, safe (safety index 61/100) inland base with decent air quality (52) and a short 9 km hop to SOC, not anyone chasing big-city amenities or a strong expat scene.
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.
$2,509/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Ende
Ende is cheap, and that is the whole pitch: a city-center one-bedroom runs $245/mo, a three-bedroom just $147/mo, and a single adult can scrape by on a budget tier of $131/mo. The catch is that the average local net salary is only $177/mo, so unless you arrive with foreign income you are not living here, you are surviving here. English is limited, internet crawls at 18 Mbps, and the digital nomad score of 42/100 tells you this is not a remote-work town. Come for the dry-season climate and the 3 km hop to the airport, stay if you can stomach a retiree score of 53/100 and fair healthcare.
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.
$2,799/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Madiun | Ende |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $340.02 | $244.85 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $233.76 | $174.9 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | N/A | $147.36 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | N/A | N/A |
| Safety Index | 61 | 55 |
| Internet Speed | 19.4Mbps | 18Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Madiun | Ende |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $418/mo | N/A |
| Excluding rent | $184/mo | N/A |
| Rent | $234/mo | N/A |
| Groceries | $77.00/mo | N/A |
| Dining out | $11.00/mo | N/A |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $36.00/mo | N/A |
| Utilities & connectivity | $47.00/mo | N/A |
| Transport | $13.00/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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Madiun vs Ende -- Frequently Asked Questions
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