Indonesia vs Vietnam
Single · Comfortable · $3,000/mo
Indonesia is approximately 9% less expensive than Vietnam 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.
Side by side
Best in rowJakarta
Indonesia
Hanoi
Vietnam
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 9% less than Vietnam, though Vietnam has significantly faster internet infrastructure. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Indonesia is approximately 9% less expensive than Vietnam 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
Not sure which Indonesia visa you qualify for?
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Living Costs (excl. rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness Scores
About Vietnam
A 1BR near central Hanoi or Saigon runs $400.6, less than half typical US suburban rent, while monthly costs excluding rent sit near $430.8, meaning a couple can live comfortably around this budget level. Fast internet at 343.05 Mbps supports remote work, and safety metrics beat most Southeast Asian peers. The dealbreaker: a digital nomad visa exists (minimum $600/month remote-work-allowed income), but no retirement visa, so long-term legal residency stays messy regardless of your budget.
$2,169/mo
Not sure which Vietnam 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 | Vietnam |
|---|---|---|
| Travel Advisory | Level 2: Increased Caution | Level 1: Normal Precautions |
| Quality of Life Index | 90.4 +1.0 | 89.4 |
| Healthcare Index | 61.8 | 62.8 +1.0 |
| Safety Index | 53.8 | 60.2 +6.4 |
| Cost of Living Index | 24.6 +2.3 | 26.9 |
| Living Costs (Single, excl. rent) | $429.7 +1.1 | $430.8 |
| Living Costs (Family, excl. rent) | $1,529 +25.9 | $1,554.9 |
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $311.05 +89.55 | $400.6 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $177.94 +85.61 | $263.55 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $835.58 +11.02 | $846.6 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $479.89 +67.2 | $547.09 |
| Avg Internet Speed | 52.62 Mbps | 297.64 Mbps +245.0 |
| Ballpark effective tax rate ($80,000) | 21.0% | 21.0% |
| Top income tax rate | 35.0% | 35.0% |
| Capital gains tax rate | 35.0% | 20.0% +15.0pt |
| Dividend tax rate | 20.0% | 5.0% +15.0pt |
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
Vietnam
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 Vietnam, side by side.
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