In Indonesia, we recommend you consider the small tropical island of Bali as a place to call home. Bali, dubbed the “Enchanted Land,” packs in everything you expect of paradise, from coral reefs to the jungle-clad slopes of mighty mountains complete with tribes of naughty monkeys. Here, amid the most gracious and hospitable of peoples, you can live for as little as US$1,500 a month.

Indonesia is a poor country, and Bali—although better off than most of Indonesia—is no exception. Although most roads on the island are paved, they tend to be busy and poorly maintained outside of tourist areas. Power outages are common, while air conditioning is not. Bali is making progress on its infrastructure, but in the meantime we recommend other locales if reliable internet is a necessity.

One of the most popular areas that foreigners choose to live is Sanur, which is on the west coast of southern Bali. Quiet and low-key, it’s attractive to older expats and others who choose not to live near the nightlife of other areas. Rents around Sanur tend to be quite reasonable.

The resort town of Kuta is famous for its wide, sandy beaches and raucous nightlife. Nearby Legian, Sanur and Seminyak also boast fine beaches and attract many foreign retirees from all over the world. Most of Bali’s population lives in this general region.

More isolated but still very accessible is laid-back Lovina. Located on a lovely stretch of black-sand beach on the north side of the island, about 100,000 people live in this general vicinity, which actually consists of several small villages strung out along the coast. Dense jungles, remote waterfalls, and a large resident dolphin population draw thousands of visitors to this area every year.

Unfortunately, foreigners are not permitted to buy property in Bali. It is possible buy a place with a long-term lease, but even this can be fraught with difficulties and redtape. Unlike some other foreign countries, such as Thailand, it is even difficult to buy a condominium in Bali. Some legal loopholes do exist that may make it possible for foreigners to own land, such as buying it in the name of a corporation or having it put into the name of an Indonesian citizen. However, we do not recommend property ownership in Indonesia at this time.

Climate in Indonesia

Climate in Indonesia is predominantly tropical with a dry season from June to October and a rainy season between November to March.  Monsoon season is in the months of January and February.  The temperature in Indonesia does not vary much but higher elevations do have a cooler temperature.

Fun Facts

Indonesia is in the top five list of most biodiverse countries in the world even though it only occupies 1.3% of the earth’s land mass.  Indonesia has more than 2,500 distinct flowering plants and a long list of endemic animals, including the komodo dragon.

Speaking of animals…Indonesia exports several thousand tons of frog legs to France every year.