Cost of Living

A comfortable but not extravagant lifestyle in Canggu or Seminyak costs $800–$1,500/month. This covers a decent 1-BR villa or apartment ($500–$900), local and cafe dining ($150–$300), scooter transport ($50–$80), utilities and internet ($80–$150), and coworking or entertainment. If you eat exclusively at warungs, live in a simpler place, and avoid Bali's many luxury temptations, $600–$800/month is genuinely achievable.

Wise (formerly TransferWise) is the gold standard — transfers typically arrive in 1–2 business days at rates within 0.5% of the mid-market rate with a small flat fee. For regular monthly transfers, set up a recurring Wise transfer to your Indonesian bank account (BCA or Mandiri). Alternatively, withdraw IDR from ATMs using a low-fee card like Wise Debit or Revolut — costs Rp 25,000–75,000 ($1.60–$4.75) per withdrawal at fair exchange rates.

Officially, no — a KITAS is required to open a standard current or savings account. However, Second Home Visa holders can open accounts at state banks (BNI, BRI, Mandiri). Some BCA branches have been known to open accounts for Social Visa holders with sufficient documentation, but this is not guaranteed. Most expats without KITAS use their home country account plus Wise plus ATM withdrawals for the duration of their stay.

If you stay fewer than 183 days in Indonesia in a 12-month period, you are generally not a tax resident and Indonesian taxes do not apply to your foreign income. If you exceed 183 days, you become a tax resident and your worldwide income is theoretically taxable in Indonesia. In practice, enforcement against foreign remote workers is very limited, but the legal position matters — particularly if your home country also taxes you and you need to invoke a Double Taxation Agreement.

Not freehold (Hak Milik — full ownership) — that is restricted to Indonesian citizens. However, KITAS, KITAP, and Second Home Visa holders can hold Hak Pakai (Right to Use) on non-agricultural land in their own name for 30-year terms, renewable. The most common approach in Bali is a long-term leasehold: paying a lump sum upfront for a 10–25 year lease. A 10-year Canggu villa lease typically costs $50,000–$120,000 — equivalent to $5,000–$12,000/year, far cheaper than monthly rates.