Can an American live in Bali?
Yes, with the right visa, and not forever on a tourist stamp. Indonesia does not have a simple residence permit you get by showing up. Every option is tied to a purpose.
| Option | Length | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Visa on arrival | 30 days, extendable once to 60 | A first trip to look around |
| C1 visit visa | 60 days, extendable twice to 180 | A stay of three to six months |
| Remote worker stay permit, E33G | 1 year | Employees and owners of foreign companies earning about $60,000 a year |
| Retirement stay permit, E33F | 1 year, renewable | People of retirement age with a pension or steady income |
| Investor stay permit | 1 to 2 years | People who set up a company in Indonesia |
| Second home visa | 5 or 10 years | People who can place about $130,000 in an Indonesian bank or in property |
US citizens are eligible for the visa on arrival, at Rp 500,000, about $30. It can be bought online before the flight.
None of the visit visas allow work for Indonesian clients or employers. The remote worker permit allows work for a foreign employer only. The guide to long stay visas for Bali goes through each one, with costs.
What it costs compared with the US
Rent is where the gap is largest. The median asking rent in our listings is Rp 30M a month, about $1,680, and most of those homes are villas with a private pool. A two bedroom villa is around $1,680 a month. That is the price of a one bedroom apartment in a mid-size American city, without the pool or the cleaner.
- Room or studio
- 8M
- 1 bedroom
- 17M
- 2 bedrooms
- 30M
- 3 bedrooms
- 45M
| Bali | Typical US city | |
|---|---|---|
| Two bedroom home | About $1,680, villa with pool | $1,800 to $3,000, apartment |
| Lunch | $2 in a warung, $8 to $12 in a cafe | $15 to $20 |
| Transport | $70 to $90 a month for a scooter | $700 or more to own a car |
| House cleaning | Often included in the rent | $120 or more per visit |
| Health insurance | $100 to $300 a month, international plan | $400 or more without an employer |
| Phone plan | $7 to $10 a month | $40 to $80 |
Some things cost more than at home: imported food, wine, electronics, a car, and international school.
A single American lives comfortably on $2,000 to $2,500 a month. A couple spends around $3,500. The cost of living in Bali guide has the detailed budget.
Getting there and staying in touch
There is no direct flight from the US to Bali. Expect 22 to 30 hours with one or two stops, usually through Tokyo, Taipei, Seoul, Singapore or Doha. Round trips from the west coast are cheapest outside July, August and December.
Bali is 12 hours ahead of New York in summer and 13 in winter, and 15 to 16 hours ahead of Los Angeles. If you work for a US company, a 9am Eastern meeting is 9pm or 10pm in Bali. Plenty of Americans here work evenings and surf mornings. It suits some people and wears others down within a few months.
Power is 230 volts with round two-pin plugs. Laptops and phone chargers handle it with a plug adapter. Hair dryers and kitchen appliances from the US do not.
US taxes do not stop
The US taxes its citizens wherever they live, so you keep filing a federal return every year.
- The foreign earned income exclusion lets you exclude a little over $130,000 of earned income if you pass the physical presence test, which means 330 full days outside the US in a 12 month period. It does not cover pensions, dividends or rental income.
- If your foreign bank accounts total more than $10,000 at any point in the year, you file an FBAR.
- Your state may still consider you a resident. California, New York and Virginia are known for holding on. Sort this out before you leave.
- Self-employed Americans still owe self-employment tax. The US and Indonesia have no Social Security agreement.
On the Indonesian side, you become a tax resident once you spend more than 183 days in the country within 12 months, and guidance issued in 2025 also looks at where your life is centred. The US and Indonesia have a tax treaty that limits double taxation. This is the one part of the move where paying an accountant who knows both systems is money well spent.
Healthcare and insurance
Medicare does not pay for care outside the United States. Most US employer plans do not either, beyond emergencies.
Clinics in Bali are good for everyday problems and cheap by American standards. A doctor’s visit in an international clinic is $30 to $60. For surgery or anything complex, people fly to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok.
So Americans here buy one of two things. Travel medical insurance works for stays of a few months. An international health plan with evacuation cover is the choice for a year or more, at $100 to $300 a month depending on age and deductible. Bring a supply of any prescription you depend on, and check that it is legal in Indonesia. Some ADHD and pain medications are restricted.
Banking and money
Opening an Indonesian bank account requires a stay permit, so on a visit visa you live off your US accounts.
- Use a debit card that refunds foreign ATM fees. ATM withdrawals are capped at Rp 2.5M to Rp 3M each.
- A multi-currency account lets you pay landlords by local transfer in rupiah, which most of them prefer.
- Tell your bank you are abroad, and keep a US phone number alive for two-factor codes. A cheap prepaid plan or a number-parking service does the job.
- Rent is quoted in rupiah, and sometimes in dollars for expensive villas. At Rp 17,900 to the dollar, a strong dollar has been on your side.
Social Security retirement benefits can be paid to you while you live in Indonesia.
Where Americans live
Americans are a minority among foreigners in Bali, behind Australians, Russians and Europeans. There is no American neighbourhood. Where you land depends on what you do.
- Remote workers and founders go to Canggu, Berawa and Pererenan.
- Yoga teachers, writers and people after quiet go to Ubud.
- Retirees and families often choose Sanur.
- Surfers go to Uluwatu.
See where to live in Bali for the comparison.
Finding a home
Rentals in Bali are posted in Facebook groups by owners and agents, not on a Zillow-style site. A few habits will feel strange coming from the US.
- There is no credit check and no application. The owner wants to know how long you stay and when you pay.
- Yearly rent is paid in advance, often the whole year at once.
- Contracts are short and tenant protection is thin, so what is written matters.
- Prices are asking prices. Negotiating is expected.
Start with a monthly rental in Bali for the first one to three months. Move to a long term rental once you know the area, because the price per month drops a lot on a yearly contract.
Practical points
- Driving. Get an international driving permit from AAA before you leave, with the motorcycle endorsement if you plan to ride a scooter. Without it your insurance will not pay after an accident.
- Embassy. The US embassy is in Jakarta, with a consulate in Surabaya and a consular agency in Bali for emergencies and passport services. Enrol in STEP so they can reach you.
- Mail. Use a virtual mailbox in the US for bank letters and tax forms.
- Voting. You can vote absentee from abroad with the federal post card application.
- Guns, drugs and vapes with THC. Indonesian drug laws are severe, cannabis included. Do not bring anything.
Is it a good idea?
For an American with a remote income, Bali gives a standard of living that would cost three times as much at home. The trade-offs are distance from family, night-time meetings, healthcare you would not rely on for something serious, and a legal status that needs renewing.
Most people test it first. Three months on a visit visa and a monthly rental tells you more than any guide. If it works, the moving to Bali guide lists what to do next.