Expat Exchange
Free MembershipSign In
Bali, Indonesia

What do people like (and dislike) about Indonesia?

Answer this Question

Allianz Care
Allianz Care
Allianz Care
Allianz Care

When we asked expats and global nomads what they like and dislike about living in Indonesia, they replied...

"Housing costs are very reasonable. I can easily get everything I need delivered to my door, and pay with bank transfer directly. The terms of rentals is sketchy, as it is generally month to month, with no real requirement to give notice, but which also makes it hard to move from one rental to the next when day of occupancy is usually NOW. Means you might lose money to move, if you have to move out early. Many rentals prefer tourists to long term, which puts pressure on long term rentals to locate something in an increasingly competitive market for long term rentals. There is no real niche being developed in the tourism profile for long term renters per se, as it is assumed that short term tourist turn overs can be much more lucrative. There is no long term planning in Bali for accommodating the capacity of the country to sustain the level of tourism that the country is experiencing going forward. Government is considering different kinds of visas for people who are like digital nomads. Visas are expensive. . My retirement visa costs $600 a year, and I use an agent. It is less expensive if you do it yourself, but also the Immigration Beaurocracy can be tricky. Important to get clear about what can and cannot be imported into the country. I bought a renewed phone from the United States and it is still sitting in Customs after over 10 weeks, and since they won't let me have it because it's used, I am subject to the whims of a beaurocracy that does not seem to want to return it but to run out the clock and confiscate it. On health issues, I have decided that I am no longer wanting to live in the tropics as my immune system is not strong enough to handle the level of exposure to parasites that I encounter. I as given inatravenous antibiotics during a nominal procedure at a hospital, and now my gut micro biome is destroyed and I have a horrible case of worms that no one seems to know what to do about. There is no one in Bali who can do a comprehensive stool test, and they cost $500 to be sent to Jakarta and back which takes over a month. The response to protocols for Covid is a huge issue, as Balinese don't understand social distancing, do not bother to use masks much of the time, etc. Despite the rules issued by the government. Being in a third world country during a pandemic, is dicey, and the government struggled a long time to frame a response and also rushed to acquire vaccines way too early in the phase of evaluating the vaccine's success rate. Also, the plan for how to vaccinate westerners is still vague and undeveloped and changing as Westerners will not be able to get the vaccines available from the government for Indonesians, and how and who and whether private companies can purchase vaccines that are not earmarked for Indonesians has still not been worked out," said a member in Bali, Indonesia.

Traveling MailboxTraveling Mailbox
Connect

Traveling Mailbox serves thousands of travelers, expats, digital nomads, businesses, individuals and others in over 47 Countries by scanning their postal mail so they can view it online anywhere in the world. They provide customer service 7 days a week so if you need assistance, it is just a phone call away. Traveling Mailbox works with Evernote, Bill.com and Dropbox. And, there are Traveling Mailbox apps available for iOS and Android devices.

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

Traveling MailboxTraveling Mailbox

Traveling Mailbox serves thousands of travelers, expats, digital nomads, businesses, individuals and others in over 47 Countries by scanning their postal mail so they can view it online anywhere in the world. They provide customer service 7 days a week so if you need assistance, it is just a phone call away. Traveling Mailbox works with Evernote, Bill.com and Dropbox. And, there are Traveling Mailbox apps available for iOS and Android devices.
Connect

Click connect to have our partner contact you via e-mail and/or phone.

"Expats and digital nomads often appreciate the low cost of living in Indonesia, as well as the friendly and welcoming people. They also enjoy the diverse culture, the beautiful beaches, and the delicious food. On the other hand, some expats and digital nomads may find the traffic and pollution in some cities to be overwhelming, and the bureaucracy and paperwork associated with visas and permits to be tedious. Additionally, the language barrier can be a challenge for some," remarked another expat who made the move to Indonesia.

Other Questions:

What do people like (and dislike) about Indonesia?

If you live in Indonesia, newcomers to Indonesia would love to hear your answer to this question:

If your answer relates to a specific city or town in Indonesia, please include the name of the city/town below:


About the Author

Joshua Wood Joshua Wood, LPC joined Expat Exchange in 2000 and serves as one of its Co-Presidents. He is also one of the Founders of Digital Nomad Exchange. Prior to Expat Exchange, Joshua worked for NBC Cable (MSNBC and CNBC Primetime). Joshua has a BA from Syracuse and a Master's in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Mr. Wood is also a licensed counselor and psychotherapist.

Some of Joshua's articles include Pros and Cons of Living in Portugal, 10 Best Places to Live in Ireland and Pros and Cons of Living in Uruguay. Connect with Joshua on LinkedIn.

Bali, Indonesia

GeoBlue
GeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

GeoBlueGeoBlue

Top-quality coverage for people who live, work, study and travel internationally.
Get Quote

Contribute to Indonesia Network Contribute
Help others in Indonesia by answering questions about the challenges and adventures of living in Indonesia.

Allianz Care
Allianz Care

Copyright 1997-2024 Burlingame Interactive, Inc.

Privacy Policy Legal