Moving to Indonesia from Wisconsin

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Wisconsin to Indonesia — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Wisconsin to Indonesia, you would find that Indonesia is 59.3% cheaper than Wisconsin. A $75,000 salary in Wisconsin would need to be roughly IDR643,761,172 in Indonesia to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Indonesian. You’ll also switch from driving on the right to the left. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Jakarta averages 89°F vs 56°F in Madison, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Wisconsin to Indonesia.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 IDR643,761,172

To maintain the same standard of living in Indonesia

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 79.7% less

Groceries

pay 39.7% less

Transportation

pay 46.0% less

Housing

pay 73.0% less

Childcare

pay 87.4% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 62.3% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 17826.3 IDR (June 2026)

Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Wisconsin to Indonesia, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
12,697 ↑ 5% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Indonesia · UN DESA

Who's moving to Indonesia?

Top countries of origin for Indonesia's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Wisconsin to Indonesia.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

WI
37.8%
ID
6.9%

Indonesia performs significantly better than Wisconsin across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

WI
89.5%
ID
62.0%

Wisconsin performs better than Indonesia across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

WI
3.0%
ID
3.4%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

WI
$59,333
ID
$14,100

Wisconsin generally does better on employment & economy, though Indonesia leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

WI
77.7 yrs
ID
73.1 yrs

Wisconsin performs better than Indonesia across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Madison Rain: 34.5 in/yr (876 mm)
56° / 37°F

Avg. annual high / low

Jakarta Rain: 65.2 in/yr (1655 mm)
89° / 77°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Madison Jakarta
Jan–Mar 33°/17°F (1°/-8°C) 87°/76°F (31°/25°C)
Apr–Jun 68°/46°F (20°/8°C) 90°/77°F (32°/25°C)
Jul–Sep 78°/57°F (25°/14°C) 90°/77°F (32°/25°C)
Oct–Dec 44°/28°F (7°/-2°C) 90°/77°F (32°/25°C)
View all months
Month Madison Jakarta
Jan 26°/11°F (-3.1°/-11.6°C) 86°/76°F (29.9°/24.2°C)
Feb 31°/15°F (-0.5°/-9.4°C) 87°/76°F (30.3°/24.3°C)
Mar 43°/25°F (6.2°/-4.0°C) 89°/77°F (31.5°/25.2°C)
Apr 57°/36°F (14.1°/2.1°C) 90°/77°F (32.5°/25.1°C)
May 68°/46°F (20.2°/7.8°C) 90°/78°F (32.5°/25.4°C)
Jun 78°/56°F (25.5°/13.4°C) 89°/77°F (31.4°/24.8°C)
Jul 82°/61°F (27.6°/16.1°C) 90°/77°F (32.3°/25.1°C)
Aug 79°/59°F (26.3°/15.0°C) 90°/77°F (32.0°/24.9°C)
Sep 72°/50°F (22.1°/10.1°C) 91°/78°F (33.0°/25.5°C)
Oct 59°/39°F (14.9°/3.8°C) 91°/78°F (32.7°/25.5°C)
Nov 44°/28°F (6.7°/-2.1°C) 88°/77°F (31.3°/24.9°C)
Dec 30°/16°F (-1.0°/-8.9°C) 90°/77°F (32.0°/24.9°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG) Meteorological, Climatological and Geophysical Agency (BMKG)

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States and Indonesia. To live, work, or study long-term in Indonesia, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Indonesia's immigration authority.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Indonesia

Visa on Arrival
United States passport holders can obtain a visa on arrival in Indonesia.
Indonesia passport

Indonesia passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Indonesia passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to live in Indonesia than Wisconsin?

Yes — Indonesia is on average about 52% cheaper than Wisconsin. City-level variation can be significant.

How much money do I need to move to Indonesia?

Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly IDR160,940,293 in Indonesia on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Indonesia?

Usually fine from major cities in Indonesia. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Indonesia compared to Wisconsin?

Indonesia performs significantly better than Wisconsin across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Indonesia compared to Wisconsin?

The average high temperature in Jakarta is 89°F, compared to 56°F in Madison. Jakarta receives around 65.2 in of rainfall per year, while Madison gets 34.5 in.

What language do they speak in Indonesia?

The official language in Indonesia is Indonesian. In Wisconsin, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

ID
Population 5,686,986 277,329,163
Currency United States Dollar ($) Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
Languages English Indonesian
Driving side Right Left
Calling code +1 +62
Time zones 11 3
Emergency number 911 112