Indonesia vs Thailand
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Indonesia is approximately 49% less expensive than Thailand based on cost of living including rent. This makes Indonesia a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Indonesia has a FIRE Score of 100/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement.
The country's safety index is 53.8, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Indonesia is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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Best in rowJakarta
Indonesia
Bangkok
Thailand
Country-level averages. N/A or Not enough data means no figure is published for that country. * Women's inclusion scores are unverified.
About these countries
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.
Indonesia costs roughly 49% less than Thailand, though Thailand scores higher on both safety and healthcare. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Indonesia is approximately 49% less expensive than Thailand based on cost of living including rent. This makes Indonesia a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Indonesia has a FIRE Score of 100/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement.
The country's safety index is 53.8, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Indonesia is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
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.
$2,259/mo
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
About Thailand
Thailand is best for retirees seeking low costs, with a Retirement Visa requiring only a $30,000 foreign exchange deposit or monthly income. Living costs are a third of US norms: a single person spends $603/month excluding rent, and a 1-bedroom in a city center is $475. However, the main trade-off is no clear pathway to citizenship, and political stability is weak perceptions remain weak.
$1,922/mo
Not sure which Thailand visa you qualify for?
Answer 11 questions and get a personalized match in under 2 minutes.
Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
Battle of Lifestyles
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| Metric | Indonesia | Thailand |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 2: Increased Caution | Level 2: Increased Caution |
| Quality of Life Index | 90.4 | 106.2 +15.8 |
| Healthcare Index | 61.8 | 77.6 +15.8 |
| Safety Index | 53.8 | 63.6 +9.8 |
| Cost of Living Index | 24.6 +12.0 | 36.6 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $429.7 +173.4 | $603.1 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $1,529 +673.6 | $2,202.6 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $311.05 +163.78 | $474.83 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $177.94 +104.36 | $282.3 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $835.58 +436.77 | $1,272.35 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $479.89 +198.11 | $678 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 52.62 Mbps | 303.68 Mbps +251.1 |
| Ballpark effective tax rate ($80,000) | 21.0% | 21.0% |
| Top income tax rate | 35.0% | 35.0% |
| Capital gains tax rate | 35.0% | 35.0% |
| Dividend tax rate | 20.0% | 10.0% +10.0pt |
Rights & Inclusion
Published indices. Legal protection and public attitudes are kept separate, and neither is folded into a single score.
Same-sex relations
Criminalized
Indonesia
Same-sex relations
Not criminalized
Thailand
LGBTQ+ legal protection score
Attitudes
Scores run from 0 to 100. Women's inclusion scores come from the Georgetown WPS Index and are currently unverified. Sources: Equaldex, ILGA-Europe Rainbow Map, Spartacus Gay Travel Index and Georgetown's Women, Peace and Security Index. See the full inclusion ranking.
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Income thresholds, fees, processing time and residency paths for Indonesia and Thailand, side by side.
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