Indonesia for Americans: visa, cost of living and safety

Getting in on a US passport

Americans get a 30-day visa on arrival (about IDR 500,000, roughly $35), bought online beforehand as an e-VOA or at the airport; it can be extended once for 30 more days, in person at an immigration office. Since October 2025 you also need the free All Indonesia arrival card, filled in at allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id within 72 hours before you arrive (it combines the immigration, customs and health declarations in one QR code). Bali charges a separate IDR 150,000 tourist levy.

Staying longer

The E33G remote worker visa gives 1 year for people earning at least $60,000 a year from foreign sources. Retirees can use the E33F retirement KITAS (age 55+, about $1,500 a month income) or the 5-year E33E 'silver hair' visa (age 60+, $3,000 a month plus a $50,000 deposit in an Indonesian state bank).

What a month costs

Lean: about $700 a month. Comfortable: about $870 a month. One person, rent included.

Jakarta. Numbeo (updated 3 Sep 2026): single-person costs $500 excl. rent + 1-bed outside centre $204 (low) or city centre $371 (comfortable). Bali rents run much higher (1-bed outside centre about $594).

Where to base yourself

Bali (Canggu / Ubud / Sanur)

Largest foreign-resident community in the country with its own international airport, but rents are the highest here (1-bed outside the centre about $594 on Numbeo).

Jakarta

The capital and business hub where the US Embassy is; rents are low for a big city (1-bed outside the centre about $204 on Numbeo), but traffic is heavy.

Yogyakarta

University city in central Java with low costs, its own international airport and Borobudur and Prambanan temples nearby.

Heads up

Leave CBD, marijuana and ADHD medication at home: they are illegal in Indonesia and drug charges can carry long sentences or the death penalty. Overstays cost 1,000,000 rupiah per day and can lead to detention, deportation or a re-entry ban.

Emergency numbers

Police: 110
Ambulance: 118 or 119
Anti-trafficking: SAPA 129 (Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection; WhatsApp 08111-129-129) / 110 police
US Embassy: +62 21 5083 1000

Level 2 – Exercise increased caution (issued 7 July 2026) due to terrorism, unrest and natural disasters. Do not travel to Central Papua or Highland Papua.

Practical

Currency: Indonesian rupiah (IDR)
Plugs: C, F
Nonstop flight from the US: No
Typical door-to-door from LAX: about 21 hours

18+ only. If you see anyone who looks underage, or anyone being forced to work, call the anti-trafficking number above or the police. Rules change: check the embassy and immigration sites before you book.