⚖️ City comparison

Denpasar vs Jakarta

Two cities in Indonesia, compared on what matters when you move from the US: cost, weather, safety, internet and how easy it is to stay.

The short version

Denpasar is 5% cheaper: $787 vs $827 a month all-in for one person.
Rent is lower in Jakarta: $353 vs $380 for a 1-bedroom in the centre.
Neither has a pleasant month: both are hot or humid all year.
Jakarta is warmer: highs average 5°F more across the year (coldest-month high 87°F vs 81°F in Denpasar; hottest 93°F vs 87°F).
Residents rate Denpasar safer: a safety index of 73 vs 47 out of 100 (Numbeo survey).
The air is cleaner in Denpasar: PM2.5 of 22.2 vs 34.1 µg/m³ a year.
Same country, same visa and tax rules: the E33G Remote Worker KITAS covers both.

Measure	🇮🇩 Denpasar	🇮🇩 Jakarta
⭐ Fit score (default weights)	69	58
💰 All-in / month	$787	$827
🏠 1BR rent, centre	$380	$353
🛒 Living costs, no rent	$407	$473
☀️ Pleasant months	0	0
🌡️ Highs, coldest–hottest month	81–87°F	87–93°F
🛡️ Safety	73/100 (residents)	47/100 (residents)
📶 Internet, median download	122 Mbps	108 Mbps
🌬️ Air, PM2.5 per year	22.2 µg/m³	34.1 µg/m³
🗣️ English	Low (EF)	Low (EF)
🏥 Healthcare access (WHO)	Moderate	Moderate
👩 Women's safety & rights	Moderate	Moderate
🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ equality	Very low	Very low
✈️ Flight to the US (est.)	~16.5h to Seattle	~16.5h to Seattle
🕘 US work-hour overlap	0 h	0 h
🗓️ Visa-free stay (US passport)	30 days	30 days
🛂 Nomad visa	E33G Remote Worker KITAS	E33G Remote Worker KITAS
🧾 Tax if resident	🟡 Moderate · Local income only, top 35%	🟡 Moderate · Local income only, top 35%

🇮🇩 Denpasar

8 best months

🇮🇩 Jakarta

3 best months

Colour is each month's typical temperature; ticked months are the most comfortable. Full detail: Denpasar climate · Jakarta climate.

Data last updated September 7, 2026 · Source: Numbeo cost data, measured climate history, Ookla, UNODC/Numbeo safety and curated visa research