Semarang vs Ende: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Semarang ranks meaningfully higher on safety. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Semarang is approximately 7% less expensive than Ende based on cost of living including rent. This makes Semarang a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Semarang has a FIRE Score of 80/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 68, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Semarang is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Semarang
Semarang is a bargain hunter's paradise: a 1-bedroom in the city center runs $228/mo, an inexpensive restaurant meal costs $1, and a monthly public transport pass is $14/mo. The catch is that the average local net salary is $190/mo, so anyone relying on local wages will find even these prices punishing. The city scores 80/100 for FIRE and 74/100 for digital nomads, but its retiree score of 54/100 and air quality index of 85 mean it is not the easiest sell for everyone. Come for the low overhead and 75 Mbps internet, stay if you can tolerate the heat, humidity, and consistent rain.
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.
$2,626/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 | Semarang | Ende |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $227.99 | $244.85 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $139.7 | $174.9 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $493.6 | $147.36 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $381.84 | N/A |
| Safety Index | 68 | 55 |
| Internet Speed | 75Mbps | 18Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Semarang | Ende |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $387/mo | N/A |
| Excluding rent | $247/mo | N/A |
| Rent | $140/mo | N/A |
| Groceries | $70.00/mo | N/A |
| Dining out | $14.00/mo | N/A |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $40.00/mo | N/A |
| Utilities & connectivity | $109/mo | N/A |
| Transport | $14.00/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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Semarang vs Ende -- Frequently Asked Questions
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