Indonesia vs Thailand
Indonesia is ahead on safety. Thailand is ahead on taxes, money & crypto, cost of living, healthcare. Full criterion-by-criterion data below.
VerifiedUpdated
Scoreboard
The key numbers head-to-head — the stronger side is marked. The overall score stays decoration; what matters is which facts fit you.
Headline result
Thailand leads on 4 of 6
Indonesia
1
Thailand
4
01Cost of living (single, excl. rent)
Indonesia
$700/mo
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Mar 31, 2024
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- BPS March-2024 average per-capita monthly expenditure is Rp 1,500,556 nationally (urban Rp 1,737,427), split food/non-food — but that is a rural-weighted per-capita floor far below a foreign remote worker's outlay. Curated single-person, non-rent urban (Jakarta-level) basket — groceries, eating out, transport/ride-hailing, utilities, mobile+home internet, modest leisure — sits around USD 650–750/month; recorded midpoint USD 700. NEEDS MANUAL REVIEW: this is a modelled basket anchored on BPS composition, not a single official basket figure; refine with itemised BPS urban non-food lines and current retail prices next cycle.
Thailandstronger
$560/mo
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Mar 31, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- NSO average monthly household expenditure ≈ 21,027 THB (March 2025). Removing about half of the 24.65% housing-&-utilities line as rent/imputed rent gives a household non-rent basket of ≈ 18,435 THB ≈ $553 at 33.32 THB/USD (37.976 THB/EUR ÷ 1.1399 USD/EUR, ECB 2026-07-02); used as a proxy for a single-person non-rent basket (a solo resident's non-rent spend roughly matches a small household's). Rounded to $560.
- Notes
- Whole-kingdom national average — Bangkok and expat-style living run higher (commonly ~$650–750/month excluding rent in market estimates). Non-rent basket: food, utilities, transport & communications, health, recreation, clothing (see cost-breakdown).
02Freelancer tax burden
Indonesia
9.1%
SettleMetric tax engine over official DJP rules (pajak.go.id: NPPN + PPh Pasal 17 + PTKP)
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jan 1, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Best cleanly-eligible scheme id-nppn-freelancer at €60,000 = 1,232,521,200 IDR (ECB 20,542.02 IDR/EUR). NPPN professional-services norm 50% → net income 616,260,600; minus PTKP TK/0 54,000,000 → PKP 562,260,600; progressive PPh (5/15/25/30%) = 112,678,180 IDR → 9.14% ≈ 9.1%. The 0.5% MSME final tax would give ~0.3% but its 7-year window and professional-services exclusion make it unreliable for a newly-registered foreign IT freelancer, so NPPN is the recorded best. Single filer; NPPN KLU-62 norm pending manual confirmation (50% vs 62.5% — see scheme notes).
Thailandstronger
3.7%
SettleMetric tax engine over official Thai Revenue Department rules (rd.go.th)
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jan 1, 2024
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Best eligible scheme th-pit-40-8-business at €60,000 = 2,278,560 THB (ECB 37.976 THB/EUR): 60% Section 40(8) standard deduction → PIT base 911,424; less 60,000 personal allowance → taxable 851,424; progressive PIT (5% to 20% bands) = 85,284.80 THB → 3.74%. Social security is voluntary for the self-employed and excluded. Assumes the income is assessable in Thailand (remitted in-year); a non-remitting resident can owe 0% under the remittance rule.
03Homicide rate
Indonesiastronger
0.3/100k
UNODC via World Bank (Intentional homicides per 100,000 people, Indonesia)
Open data
- Data as of
- Dec 31, 2022
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Latest available UNODC-sourced value is 0.30 per 100,000 for 2022 (World Bank series VC.IHR.PSRC.P5, sourced from the UNODC Data Portal). Indonesia's recorded intentional-homicide rate is very low by global standards; reporting has gaps between years.
Thailand
1.84/100k
UNODC via World Bank (Intentional homicides, VC.IHR.PSRC.P5) — republished by Our World in Data
Open data
- Data as of
- Dec 31, 2021
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- 1.84 per 100,000 is the last firm UNODC data point (2021). UNODC/World Bank have not published a Thailand value for 2022–2024 (Thailand reports offences, not victims, and recent national figures were not submitted to the official series). Third-party aggregators quote rising unofficial figures (~1.9 in 2022, ~2.2 in 2023, ~2.6 in 2024) but these are not in the UNODC/World Bank published series and are not recorded here. To be re-verified when UNODC releases a newer Thailand figure.
04Internet speed
Indonesia
10 Mbps
M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Indonesia (2023)
Open data
- Data as of
- Dec 31, 2023
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Median download ≈ 9.3–9.8 Mbps across the 2023 daily country medians (~4.3M tests) from M-Lab's public NDT statistics API; recorded midpoint 9.5 Mbps. 2024/2026 aggregate files were not retrievable at the time of check.
- Notes
- M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads far below Ookla-style figures (Ookla put Indonesia fixed broadband ~28–41 Mbps in 2024–2025) — comparable only within this criterion, never mixed with Ookla.
Thailandstronger
16 Mbps
M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Thailand (2024)
Open data
- Data as of
- Dec 31, 2024
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads well below Ookla-style figures (Ookla's Speedtest Index put Thailand fixed-broadband median ≈ 237 Mbps in 2025) — the two are not comparable and must not be mixed within this criterion. Thailand's real-world fixed broadband (fibre) is among the fastest/cheapest in the region; the low M-Lab number reflects test methodology, not typical line speed. Value is the median of 2024 daily country medians from M-Lab's public stats API.
05English proficiency
Indonesia
Low
EF EPI 2025 — Indonesia rank 80/123, score 471 (Low Proficiency band)
Research
- Data as of
- Nov 1, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Own band informed by EF EPI 2025 (attribution: EF Education First): Indonesia scores 471 (Low band) nationally, though Jakarta scores 523 (Moderate). Bahasa Indonesia is the sole official language; English is workable in tourist/expat zones (Bali, South Jakarta) and among younger professionals, but limited in government offices and everyday services nationwide → 'low'.
Thailand
Low
EF EPI 2025 — Thailand (rank 116/123, score 402, 'Very Low' band)
Research
- Data as of
- Nov 1, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Own band informed by EF EPI (attribution: EF Education First / Signum International AG). EF places Thailand nationally in the 'Very Low' band (score 402, rank 116/123), but English is markedly more workable for a resident in Bangkok (EF city score 467), tourist/expat hubs (Pattaya 474, Phuket 431, Chiang Mai 453) and the hospitality/service sector than the national score implies — hence 'low' rather than 'very-low' for day-to-day usability. Government offices and rural areas remain Thai-only in practice.
06Private healthcare cost
Indonesia
$3,600/yr
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jul 4, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Comprehensive (outpatient + inpatient, ~USD 1m+ annual limit, small deductible) international/IPMI plans for a healthy 35-year-old resident foreigner in Indonesia are commonly quoted around USD 200–500/month; a mid-tier comprehensive plan midpoint ≈ USD 300/month ≈ USD 3,600/year. Premiums are quoted on request (age/coverage/evacuation dependent), so this is a curated market midpoint, not a public engine quote. Local BPJS Kesehatan (mandatory public scheme for KITAS holders) is far cheaper but not a comprehensive private-cover equivalent.
Thailandstronger
$1,300/yr
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jul 4, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Comprehensive (inpatient + outpatient) private medical insurance for a healthy 35-year-old resident foreigner: international/expat plans with solid inpatient cover run ≈ 25,000–65,000 THB/year; a healthy-35 midpoint ≈ 40,000–45,000 THB ≈ $1,200–1,350 at 33.32 THB/USD. Recorded midpoint ≈ $1,300. Local Thai policies are cheaper (12,000–35,000 THB) but carry more exclusions/territorial limits. Premiums are quoted on request, so this is a curated market midpoint, not a single public engine quote.
- Notes
- Thailand has no universal coverage for foreigners; residents typically buy private cover or pay out of pocket at Thailand's (relatively low-cost, high-quality) private hospitals. Long-stay visas (e.g. some retirement/LTR conditions) require minimum inpatient/outpatient coverage. Medical inflation ~5–8%/yr. Range ≈ $750–1,950.
Verdict
Each lens weighs only the facts that matter to that plan, and names the side it favours.
Remote IT / freelancer
Contract or freelance in tech, billing clients abroad.
Thailand fits better — 3 of 5
01Freelancer tax burden
Indonesia
9.1%
SettleMetric tax engine over official DJP rules (pajak.go.id: NPPN + PPh Pasal 17 + PTKP)
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jan 1, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Best cleanly-eligible scheme id-nppn-freelancer at €60,000 = 1,232,521,200 IDR (ECB 20,542.02 IDR/EUR). NPPN professional-services norm 50% → net income 616,260,600; minus PTKP TK/0 54,000,000 → PKP 562,260,600; progressive PPh (5/15/25/30%) = 112,678,180 IDR → 9.14% ≈ 9.1%. The 0.5% MSME final tax would give ~0.3% but its 7-year window and professional-services exclusion make it unreliable for a newly-registered foreign IT freelancer, so NPPN is the recorded best. Single filer; NPPN KLU-62 norm pending manual confirmation (50% vs 62.5% — see scheme notes).
Thailandstronger
3.7%
SettleMetric tax engine over official Thai Revenue Department rules (rd.go.th)
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jan 1, 2024
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Best eligible scheme th-pit-40-8-business at €60,000 = 2,278,560 THB (ECB 37.976 THB/EUR): 60% Section 40(8) standard deduction → PIT base 911,424; less 60,000 personal allowance → taxable 851,424; progressive PIT (5% to 20% bands) = 85,284.80 THB → 3.74%. Social security is voluntary for the self-employed and excluded. Assumes the income is assessable in Thailand (remitted in-year); a non-remitting resident can owe 0% under the remittance rule.
02Internet speed
Indonesia
10 Mbps
M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Indonesia (2023)
Open data
- Data as of
- Dec 31, 2023
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Median download ≈ 9.3–9.8 Mbps across the 2023 daily country medians (~4.3M tests) from M-Lab's public NDT statistics API; recorded midpoint 9.5 Mbps. 2024/2026 aggregate files were not retrievable at the time of check.
- Notes
- M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads far below Ookla-style figures (Ookla put Indonesia fixed broadband ~28–41 Mbps in 2024–2025) — comparable only within this criterion, never mixed with Ookla.
Thailandstronger
16 Mbps
M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Thailand (2024)
Open data
- Data as of
- Dec 31, 2024
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads well below Ookla-style figures (Ookla's Speedtest Index put Thailand fixed-broadband median ≈ 237 Mbps in 2025) — the two are not comparable and must not be mixed within this criterion. Thailand's real-world fixed broadband (fibre) is among the fastest/cheapest in the region; the low M-Lab number reflects test methodology, not typical line speed. Value is the median of 2024 daily country medians from M-Lab's public stats API.
03English proficiency
Indonesia
Low
EF EPI 2025 — Indonesia rank 80/123, score 471 (Low Proficiency band)
Research
- Data as of
- Nov 1, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Own band informed by EF EPI 2025 (attribution: EF Education First): Indonesia scores 471 (Low band) nationally, though Jakarta scores 523 (Moderate). Bahasa Indonesia is the sole official language; English is workable in tourist/expat zones (Bali, South Jakarta) and among younger professionals, but limited in government offices and everyday services nationwide → 'low'.
Thailand
Low
EF EPI 2025 — Thailand (rank 116/123, score 402, 'Very Low' band)
Research
- Data as of
- Nov 1, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Own band informed by EF EPI (attribution: EF Education First / Signum International AG). EF places Thailand nationally in the 'Very Low' band (score 402, rank 116/123), but English is markedly more workable for a resident in Bangkok (EF city score 467), tourist/expat hubs (Pattaya 474, Phuket 431, Chiang Mai 453) and the hospitality/service sector than the national score implies — hence 'low' rather than 'very-low' for day-to-day usability. Government offices and rural areas remain Thai-only in practice.
04Cost of living (single, excl. rent)
Indonesia
$700/mo
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Mar 31, 2024
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- BPS March-2024 average per-capita monthly expenditure is Rp 1,500,556 nationally (urban Rp 1,737,427), split food/non-food — but that is a rural-weighted per-capita floor far below a foreign remote worker's outlay. Curated single-person, non-rent urban (Jakarta-level) basket — groceries, eating out, transport/ride-hailing, utilities, mobile+home internet, modest leisure — sits around USD 650–750/month; recorded midpoint USD 700. NEEDS MANUAL REVIEW: this is a modelled basket anchored on BPS composition, not a single official basket figure; refine with itemised BPS urban non-food lines and current retail prices next cycle.
Thailandstronger
$560/mo
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Mar 31, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- NSO average monthly household expenditure ≈ 21,027 THB (March 2025). Removing about half of the 24.65% housing-&-utilities line as rent/imputed rent gives a household non-rent basket of ≈ 18,435 THB ≈ $553 at 33.32 THB/USD (37.976 THB/EUR ÷ 1.1399 USD/EUR, ECB 2026-07-02); used as a proxy for a single-person non-rent basket (a solo resident's non-rent spend roughly matches a small household's). Rounded to $560.
- Notes
- Whole-kingdom national average — Bangkok and expat-style living run higher (commonly ~$650–750/month excluding rent in market estimates). Non-rent basket: food, utilities, transport & communications, health, recreation, clothing (see cost-breakdown).
05Domestic delivery quality
Indonesia
Good
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jul 4, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Dense, competitive parcel market: Pos Indonesia (national operator) plus JNE, J&T Express, SiCepat, Ninja Xpress and on-demand couriers (GoSend, GrabExpress) give 1–3 day delivery in Java and major cities and same-day intra-city; tracking is standard. Reach to remote islands is slower and address quality is uneven, so 'good' rather than 'excellent'. Parcel-locker networks are limited vs Europe.
Thailand
Good
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jul 4, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Dense, competitive parcel market: Thailand Post (nationwide, ~5,000 outlets), plus private carriers Flash Express, Kerry Express, J&T Express, and platform logistics (Lazada, Shopee). 1–3 day delivery is the norm in and between cities; next-day common within Bangkok and major metros. Cash-on-delivery is widespread. Rated 'good' rather than 'excellent': coverage and tracking are strong in cities but rural/remote delivery is slower and parcel-locker networks are far less pervasive than in top-tier markets.
Family
Relocating with a partner and school-age children.
A close call for this plan
01Homicide rate
Indonesiastronger
0.3/100k
UNODC via World Bank (Intentional homicides per 100,000 people, Indonesia)
Open data
- Data as of
- Dec 31, 2022
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Latest available UNODC-sourced value is 0.30 per 100,000 for 2022 (World Bank series VC.IHR.PSRC.P5, sourced from the UNODC Data Portal). Indonesia's recorded intentional-homicide rate is very low by global standards; reporting has gaps between years.
Thailand
1.84/100k
UNODC via World Bank (Intentional homicides, VC.IHR.PSRC.P5) — republished by Our World in Data
Open data
- Data as of
- Dec 31, 2021
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- 1.84 per 100,000 is the last firm UNODC data point (2021). UNODC/World Bank have not published a Thailand value for 2022–2024 (Thailand reports offences, not victims, and recent national figures were not submitted to the official series). Third-party aggregators quote rising unofficial figures (~1.9 in 2022, ~2.2 in 2023, ~2.6 in 2024) but these are not in the UNODC/World Bank published series and are not recorded here. To be re-verified when UNODC releases a newer Thailand figure.
02Private healthcare cost
Indonesia
$3,600/yr
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jul 4, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Comprehensive (outpatient + inpatient, ~USD 1m+ annual limit, small deductible) international/IPMI plans for a healthy 35-year-old resident foreigner in Indonesia are commonly quoted around USD 200–500/month; a mid-tier comprehensive plan midpoint ≈ USD 300/month ≈ USD 3,600/year. Premiums are quoted on request (age/coverage/evacuation dependent), so this is a curated market midpoint, not a public engine quote. Local BPJS Kesehatan (mandatory public scheme for KITAS holders) is far cheaper but not a comprehensive private-cover equivalent.
Thailandstronger
$1,300/yr
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jul 4, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Comprehensive (inpatient + outpatient) private medical insurance for a healthy 35-year-old resident foreigner: international/expat plans with solid inpatient cover run ≈ 25,000–65,000 THB/year; a healthy-35 midpoint ≈ 40,000–45,000 THB ≈ $1,200–1,350 at 33.32 THB/USD. Recorded midpoint ≈ $1,300. Local Thai policies are cheaper (12,000–35,000 THB) but carry more exclusions/territorial limits. Premiums are quoted on request, so this is a curated market midpoint, not a single public engine quote.
- Notes
- Thailand has no universal coverage for foreigners; residents typically buy private cover or pay out of pocket at Thailand's (relatively low-cost, high-quality) private hospitals. Long-stay visas (e.g. some retirement/LTR conditions) require minimum inpatient/outpatient coverage. Medical inflation ~5–8%/yr. Range ≈ $750–1,950.
03English proficiency
Indonesia
Low
EF EPI 2025 — Indonesia rank 80/123, score 471 (Low Proficiency band)
Research
- Data as of
- Nov 1, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Own band informed by EF EPI 2025 (attribution: EF Education First): Indonesia scores 471 (Low band) nationally, though Jakarta scores 523 (Moderate). Bahasa Indonesia is the sole official language; English is workable in tourist/expat zones (Bali, South Jakarta) and among younger professionals, but limited in government offices and everyday services nationwide → 'low'.
Thailand
Low
EF EPI 2025 — Thailand (rank 116/123, score 402, 'Very Low' band)
Research
- Data as of
- Nov 1, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Own band informed by EF EPI (attribution: EF Education First / Signum International AG). EF places Thailand nationally in the 'Very Low' band (score 402, rank 116/123), but English is markedly more workable for a resident in Bangkok (EF city score 467), tourist/expat hubs (Pattaya 474, Phuket 431, Chiang Mai 453) and the hospitality/service sector than the national score implies — hence 'low' rather than 'very-low' for day-to-day usability. Government offices and rural areas remain Thai-only in practice.
Money & crypto
Optimising tax, banking and crypto rules.
Thailand fits better — 2 of 3
01Crypto regulation
Indonesia
Legal regulated
Official source
- Data as of
- Aug 1, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Crypto is legal to hold and trade as a regulated digital financial asset (supervision moved from Bappebti to OJK on 2025-01-10 under PP 49/2024; framework in POJK 27/2024 + POJK 23/2025), but is prohibited as a means of payment (only the rupiah is legal tender). Taxed: a final PPh of 0.21% on sales via domestic licensed platforms and 1% via foreign platforms (PMK 50/2025, effective 2025-08-01); VAT on the asset transfer itself was removed. Regulated, not exemption-friendly → 'legal-regulated'.
Thailandstronger
Legal friendly
Official source
- Data as of
- Sep 5, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Crypto ('digital assets') is legal and regulated: exchanges, brokers and dealers must be licensed by the Thai SEC under the 2018 Digital Asset Business Decree (AML/KYC). Classified 'legal-friendly' because of an explicit tax break — under Ministerial Regulation No. 399 (Royal Gazette 5 Sept 2025), capital gains from selling crypto/digital tokens through a Thai-licensed exchange/broker/dealer are exempt from personal income tax for income received 1 Jan 2025–31 Dec 2029. Trading via unlicensed foreign platforms is discouraged/blockable and not covered by the exemption.
02Financial control level
Indonesia
Moderate
Bank Indonesia foreign-exchange regulations + DJP crypto/reporting rules (composite)
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jul 4, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Composite: the rupiah is largely convertible and there are no hard capital controls on inbound/outbound personal transfers, but Bank Indonesia requires reporting/underlying-document evidence for FX purchases above a threshold (historically USD 25,000/month per customer without underlying documents), restricts rupiah use offshore, and mandates rupiah for domestic settlement; residents are taxed on worldwide income once tax-resident; foreigners can open local bank accounts but generally need a KITAS/KITAP and NPWP. More friction than a low-control hub, well short of strict capital controls → 'moderate'. NEEDS MANUAL REVIEW: the current exact FX-without-documents threshold should be re-verified against a live Bank Indonesia regulation page (fetch was JS-walled).
Thailand
Moderate
Official source
- Data as of
- Dec 30, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Composite: Thailand operates active exchange controls administered by the Bank of Thailand. The baht is not fully liberalized; residents may hold foreign-currency deposit (FCD) accounts and remit funds, but banks must verify supporting documents for inbound FX transactions of USD 200,000+ (BOT Circular, effective 29–30 Dec 2025) and report large non-resident transfers. Residents are taxed on worldwide income only when remitted to Thailand (Revenue Department remittance rule). Non-residents can open THB/FCD accounts with authorized banks. Foreigners can bank locally but face documentation friction; there is no FBAR-style personal foreign-asset disclosure. Neither low (like the EU) nor very-high (no hard capital lock-in) → moderate.
03Freelancer tax burden
Indonesia
9.1%
SettleMetric tax engine over official DJP rules (pajak.go.id: NPPN + PPh Pasal 17 + PTKP)
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jan 1, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Best cleanly-eligible scheme id-nppn-freelancer at €60,000 = 1,232,521,200 IDR (ECB 20,542.02 IDR/EUR). NPPN professional-services norm 50% → net income 616,260,600; minus PTKP TK/0 54,000,000 → PKP 562,260,600; progressive PPh (5/15/25/30%) = 112,678,180 IDR → 9.14% ≈ 9.1%. The 0.5% MSME final tax would give ~0.3% but its 7-year window and professional-services exclusion make it unreliable for a newly-registered foreign IT freelancer, so NPPN is the recorded best. Single filer; NPPN KLU-62 norm pending manual confirmation (50% vs 62.5% — see scheme notes).
Thailandstronger
3.7%
SettleMetric tax engine over official Thai Revenue Department rules (rd.go.th)
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jan 1, 2024
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Best eligible scheme th-pit-40-8-business at €60,000 = 2,278,560 THB (ECB 37.976 THB/EUR): 60% Section 40(8) standard deduction → PIT base 911,424; less 60,000 personal allowance → taxable 851,424; progressive PIT (5% to 20% bands) = 85,284.80 THB → 3.74%. Social security is voluntary for the self-employed and excluded. Assumes the income is assessable in Thailand (remitted in-year); a non-remitting resident can owe 0% under the remittance rule.
Calm lifestyle
Prioritising safety, air, and an easy daily life.
A close call for this plan
01Homicide rate
Indonesiastronger
0.3/100k
UNODC via World Bank (Intentional homicides per 100,000 people, Indonesia)
Open data
- Data as of
- Dec 31, 2022
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Latest available UNODC-sourced value is 0.30 per 100,000 for 2022 (World Bank series VC.IHR.PSRC.P5, sourced from the UNODC Data Portal). Indonesia's recorded intentional-homicide rate is very low by global standards; reporting has gaps between years.
Thailand
1.84/100k
UNODC via World Bank (Intentional homicides, VC.IHR.PSRC.P5) — republished by Our World in Data
Open data
- Data as of
- Dec 31, 2021
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- 1.84 per 100,000 is the last firm UNODC data point (2021). UNODC/World Bank have not published a Thailand value for 2022–2024 (Thailand reports offences, not victims, and recent national figures were not submitted to the official series). Third-party aggregators quote rising unofficial figures (~1.9 in 2022, ~2.2 in 2023, ~2.6 in 2024) but these are not in the UNODC/World Bank published series and are not recorded here. To be re-verified when UNODC releases a newer Thailand figure.
02Cost of living (single, excl. rent)
Indonesia
$700/mo
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Mar 31, 2024
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- BPS March-2024 average per-capita monthly expenditure is Rp 1,500,556 nationally (urban Rp 1,737,427), split food/non-food — but that is a rural-weighted per-capita floor far below a foreign remote worker's outlay. Curated single-person, non-rent urban (Jakarta-level) basket — groceries, eating out, transport/ride-hailing, utilities, mobile+home internet, modest leisure — sits around USD 650–750/month; recorded midpoint USD 700. NEEDS MANUAL REVIEW: this is a modelled basket anchored on BPS composition, not a single official basket figure; refine with itemised BPS urban non-food lines and current retail prices next cycle.
Thailandstronger
$560/mo
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Mar 31, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- NSO average monthly household expenditure ≈ 21,027 THB (March 2025). Removing about half of the 24.65% housing-&-utilities line as rent/imputed rent gives a household non-rent basket of ≈ 18,435 THB ≈ $553 at 33.32 THB/USD (37.976 THB/EUR ÷ 1.1399 USD/EUR, ECB 2026-07-02); used as a proxy for a single-person non-rent basket (a solo resident's non-rent spend roughly matches a small household's). Rounded to $560.
- Notes
- Whole-kingdom national average — Bangkok and expat-style living run higher (commonly ~$650–750/month excluding rent in market estimates). Non-rent basket: food, utilities, transport & communications, health, recreation, clothing (see cost-breakdown).
Details
Taxes
CriterionIndonesiaThailand
01+−Freelancer tax burden% effective burden at €60k/year self-employed profileIndonesia9.1Thailandstronger3.7
What this measures
Effective total burden (income tax + mandatory social and health contributions) for a solo IT freelancer with €60,000/year revenue and 10% deductible expenses, using the most favourable eligible scheme in the country's tax-schemes data. Computed by the SettleMetric tax engine; recorded as a curated value with the winning scheme id in method.
Lower is better· % effective burden at €60k/year self-employed profile· re-verified every 365 days
Indonesia
SettleMetric tax engine over official DJP rules (pajak.go.id: NPPN + PPh Pasal 17 + PTKP)
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jan 1, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Best cleanly-eligible scheme id-nppn-freelancer at €60,000 = 1,232,521,200 IDR (ECB 20,542.02 IDR/EUR). NPPN professional-services norm 50% → net income 616,260,600; minus PTKP TK/0 54,000,000 → PKP 562,260,600; progressive PPh (5/15/25/30%) = 112,678,180 IDR → 9.14% ≈ 9.1%. The 0.5% MSME final tax would give ~0.3% but its 7-year window and professional-services exclusion make it unreliable for a newly-registered foreign IT freelancer, so NPPN is the recorded best. Single filer; NPPN KLU-62 norm pending manual confirmation (50% vs 62.5% — see scheme notes).
Thailand
SettleMetric tax engine over official Thai Revenue Department rules (rd.go.th)
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jan 1, 2024
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Best eligible scheme th-pit-40-8-business at €60,000 = 2,278,560 THB (ECB 37.976 THB/EUR): 60% Section 40(8) standard deduction → PIT base 911,424; less 60,000 personal allowance → taxable 851,424; progressive PIT (5% to 20% bands) = 85,284.80 THB → 3.74%. Social security is voluntary for the self-employed and excluded. Assumes the income is assessable in Thailand (remitted in-year); a non-remitting resident can owe 0% under the remittance rule.
Legalization
CriterionIndonesiaThailand
01+−Remote-work legalization easeIndonesiaDedicated nomad visaThailandDedicated nomad visa
What this measures
Best available legalization route for a location-independent earner with a median (non-EU, non-US) passport, classified from this country's legalization-paths data: dedicated digital-nomad visa; general freelance/self-employment permit; realistic long-stay path (e.g. renewable temporary residence); only short visa-free/tourist stays; effectively none.
Rated by category· re-verified every 180 days
Indonesia
Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi — E33G Visa Rumah Kedua Pekerja Jarak Jauh (remote worker)
Official source
- Data as of
- Apr 1, 2024
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Indonesia has a dedicated remote-worker permit: the E33G Remote Worker KITAS (live since April 2024) grants a 1-year, renewable limited stay to foreigners employed by a company established outside Indonesia, requiring USD 60,000/year foreign income and a USD 2,000 bank balance. Self-employed/sole traders and anyone with Indonesian-source income are excluded — a genuine gap for pure freelancers, who instead use the Second Home (E33) or Investor (E28A) KITAS.
Thailand
Royal Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) checklist
Official source
- Data as of
- Jul 15, 2024
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Thailand has a dedicated digital-nomad visa: the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), a 5-year multiple-entry visa (180 days/entry, extendable +180) for remote workers/freelancers, launched 15 July 2024, open to all nationalities with 500,000 THB of funds. The 10-year LTR 'Work-from-Thailand Professional' visa is an additional high-income remote-worker route with a foreign-income tax exemption.
Cost of living
CriterionIndonesiaThailand
01+−Cost of living (single, excl. rent)USD/month, single person, excluding rentIndonesia700Thailandstronger560
What this measures
Monthly cost of a defined single-person basket (food, transport, utilities, mobile+internet, modest leisure) excluding rent, curated from national statistics office price data and large local retailers' published prices, converted to USD at the ECB rate recorded in fx-rates. The method field of each value itemizes the basket inputs.
Lower is better· USD/month, single person, excluding rent· re-verified every 365 days
Indonesia
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Mar 31, 2024
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- BPS March-2024 average per-capita monthly expenditure is Rp 1,500,556 nationally (urban Rp 1,737,427), split food/non-food — but that is a rural-weighted per-capita floor far below a foreign remote worker's outlay. Curated single-person, non-rent urban (Jakarta-level) basket — groceries, eating out, transport/ride-hailing, utilities, mobile+home internet, modest leisure — sits around USD 650–750/month; recorded midpoint USD 700. NEEDS MANUAL REVIEW: this is a modelled basket anchored on BPS composition, not a single official basket figure; refine with itemised BPS urban non-food lines and current retail prices next cycle.
Thailand
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Mar 31, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- NSO average monthly household expenditure ≈ 21,027 THB (March 2025). Removing about half of the 24.65% housing-&-utilities line as rent/imputed rent gives a household non-rent basket of ≈ 18,435 THB ≈ $553 at 33.32 THB/USD (37.976 THB/EUR ÷ 1.1399 USD/EUR, ECB 2026-07-02); used as a proxy for a single-person non-rent basket (a solo resident's non-rent spend roughly matches a small household's). Rounded to $560.
- Notes
- Whole-kingdom national average — Bangkok and expat-style living run higher (commonly ~$650–750/month excluding rent in market estimates). Non-rent basket: food, utilities, transport & communications, health, recreation, clothing (see cost-breakdown).
Monthly spending by category (excl. rent)
Indonesia
Thailand
BPS Household consumption composition (Maret 2024), curated into a single urban-resident basket
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Mar 31, 2024
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Category split follows the BPS food/non-food consumption structure, sized to the ~USD 700/mo single-person non-rent aggregate for an urban (Jakarta-level) resident. Illustrative allocation, not an official line-item table — see the NEEDS MANUAL REVIEW note on cost-of-living-single.
Thai National Statistical Office (NSO) Household Socio-Economic Survey (category shares), via TPSO
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Mar 31, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- NSO household expenditure by category (March 2025, 21,027 THB/household): food & non-alcoholic 39.13%, transport & communications 22.50%, housing & utilities 24.65% (utilities-only shown, rent excluded ≈ half), health 6.35%, recreation & education 4.03%, clothing 2.10%, alcohol & tobacco 1.24%. Converted at 33.32 THB/USD. Line items sum to ≈ $553, matching the ~$560 cost-of-living aggregate. National average — city living runs higher.
01Food & non-alcoholic beverages
Indonesia
—
Thailand
$247
02Food & groceries
Indonesia
$220
Thailand
—
03Utilities (electricity, water, gas)
Indonesiacheaper
$70
Thailand
$78
04Transport & communications
Indonesia
—
Thailand
$142
05Restaurants & eating out
Indonesia
$120
Thailand
—
06Transport (ride-hailing + public)
Indonesia
$90
Thailand
—
07Recreation & culture
Indonesia
$90
Thailand
—
08Household & personal goods
Indonesia
$70
Thailand
—
09Mobile + home internet
Indonesia
$40
Thailand
—
10Health & personal care
Indonesia
—
Thailand
$40
11Recreation & education
Indonesia
—
Thailand
$25
12Clothing & footwear
Indonesia
—
Thailand
$13
13Alcohol & tobacco
Indonesia
—
Thailand
$8
Total (excl. rent)
Indonesia$700/mo
Thailand$553/mo
Housing
Rent by apartment type
Asking rent, central price with outside-centre in parentheses ($/mo).
Indonesia
Thailand
SettleMetric — population-weighted average of covered cities (Bali, Jakarta)
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jun 30, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Population-weighted mean of the rent-breakdown matrices of Bali, Jakarta; each cell averages the cities that report it. See each city page for its exact local matrix.
SettleMetric — population-weighted average of covered cities (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket)
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jun 30, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Population-weighted mean of the rent-breakdown matrices of Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket; each cell averages the cities that report it. See each city page for its exact local matrix.
01Studio
Indonesia
$644$245 outside
Thailandcheaper
$516$310 outside
021-bedroom
Indonesia
$883$410 outside
Thailandcheaper
$797$479 outside
032-bedroom
Indonesiacheaper
$1,351$656 outside
Thailand
$1,355$859 outside
043-bedroom
Indonesiacheaper
$1,794$872 outside
Thailand
$1,842$1,179 outside
Safety
CriterionIndonesiaThailand
01+−Homicide rateintentional homicides per 100,000/yearIndonesiastronger0.3Thailand1.8
What this measures
Intentional homicide victims per 100,000 population, latest available year. Country level: UNODC national series. City level: official municipal/police statistics where published; otherwise null (country value shown as country-level).
Lower is better· intentional homicides per 100,000/year· re-verified every 730 days
Indonesia
UNODC via World Bank (Intentional homicides per 100,000 people, Indonesia)
Open data
- Data as of
- Dec 31, 2022
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Latest available UNODC-sourced value is 0.30 per 100,000 for 2022 (World Bank series VC.IHR.PSRC.P5, sourced from the UNODC Data Portal). Indonesia's recorded intentional-homicide rate is very low by global standards; reporting has gaps between years.
Thailand
UNODC via World Bank (Intentional homicides, VC.IHR.PSRC.P5) — republished by Our World in Data
Open data
- Data as of
- Dec 31, 2021
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- 1.84 per 100,000 is the last firm UNODC data point (2021). UNODC/World Bank have not published a Thailand value for 2022–2024 (Thailand reports offences, not victims, and recent national figures were not submitted to the official series). Third-party aggregators quote rising unofficial figures (~1.9 in 2022, ~2.2 in 2023, ~2.6 in 2024) but these are not in the UNODC/World Bank published series and are not recorded here. To be re-verified when UNODC releases a newer Thailand figure.
Healthcare
CriterionIndonesiaThailand
01+−Private healthcare costUSD/year, comprehensive private insurance premium, healthy 35-year-oldIndonesia3,600Thailandstronger1,300
What this measures
Median of at least three publicly quoted annual premiums for comprehensive private medical insurance (outpatient + inpatient, ~$100k coverage, small deductible) for a healthy 35-year-old resident foreigner, from local and international insurers. Method field lists the insurers quoted.
Lower is better· USD/year, comprehensive private insurance premium, healthy 35-year-old· re-verified every 365 days
Indonesia
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jul 4, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Comprehensive (outpatient + inpatient, ~USD 1m+ annual limit, small deductible) international/IPMI plans for a healthy 35-year-old resident foreigner in Indonesia are commonly quoted around USD 200–500/month; a mid-tier comprehensive plan midpoint ≈ USD 300/month ≈ USD 3,600/year. Premiums are quoted on request (age/coverage/evacuation dependent), so this is a curated market midpoint, not a public engine quote. Local BPJS Kesehatan (mandatory public scheme for KITAS holders) is far cheaper but not a comprehensive private-cover equivalent.
Thailand
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jul 4, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Comprehensive (inpatient + outpatient) private medical insurance for a healthy 35-year-old resident foreigner: international/expat plans with solid inpatient cover run ≈ 25,000–65,000 THB/year; a healthy-35 midpoint ≈ 40,000–45,000 THB ≈ $1,200–1,350 at 33.32 THB/USD. Recorded midpoint ≈ $1,300. Local Thai policies are cheaper (12,000–35,000 THB) but carry more exclusions/territorial limits. Premiums are quoted on request, so this is a curated market midpoint, not a single public engine quote.
- Notes
- Thailand has no universal coverage for foreigners; residents typically buy private cover or pay out of pocket at Thailand's (relatively low-cost, high-quality) private hospitals. Long-stay visas (e.g. some retirement/LTR conditions) require minimum inpatient/outpatient coverage. Medical inflation ~5–8%/yr. Range ≈ $750–1,950.
Money & crypto
CriterionIndonesiaThailand
01+−Crypto regulationIndonesiaLegal regulatedThailandstrongerLegal friendly
What this measures
Own classification of the legal status of holding, trading and cashing out cryptocurrency for individuals: legal-friendly (legal with clear, favourable rules or explicit tax exemptions), legal-regulated (legal under standard licensing/AML and taxation), restricted (partial bans: payments or banking access prohibited), banned (holding/trading prohibited). Classified from national regulators' and central banks' official positions.
Rated by category· re-verified every 180 days
Indonesia
Official source
- Data as of
- Aug 1, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Crypto is legal to hold and trade as a regulated digital financial asset (supervision moved from Bappebti to OJK on 2025-01-10 under PP 49/2024; framework in POJK 27/2024 + POJK 23/2025), but is prohibited as a means of payment (only the rupiah is legal tender). Taxed: a final PPh of 0.21% on sales via domestic licensed platforms and 1% via foreign platforms (PMK 50/2025, effective 2025-08-01); VAT on the asset transfer itself was removed. Regulated, not exemption-friendly → 'legal-regulated'.
Thailand
Official source
- Data as of
- Sep 5, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Crypto ('digital assets') is legal and regulated: exchanges, brokers and dealers must be licensed by the Thai SEC under the 2018 Digital Asset Business Decree (AML/KYC). Classified 'legal-friendly' because of an explicit tax break — under Ministerial Regulation No. 399 (Royal Gazette 5 Sept 2025), capital gains from selling crypto/digital tokens through a Thai-licensed exchange/broker/dealer are exempt from personal income tax for income received 1 Jan 2025–31 Dec 2029. Trading via unlicensed foreign platforms is discouraged/blockable and not covered by the exemption.
02+−Financial control levelIndonesiaModerateThailandModerate
What this measures
Own composite of state control over personal money flows: currency/capital controls (IMF AREAER), restrictions on foreign accounts and transfers, mandatory income declaration scope for residents, cash payment limits, banking access for foreigners. Low = free movement of personal funds and easy non-resident banking; very-high = strict capital controls and pervasive reporting. Method field on each value lists the inputs used.
Rated by category· re-verified every 365 days
Indonesia
Bank Indonesia foreign-exchange regulations + DJP crypto/reporting rules (composite)
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jul 4, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Composite: the rupiah is largely convertible and there are no hard capital controls on inbound/outbound personal transfers, but Bank Indonesia requires reporting/underlying-document evidence for FX purchases above a threshold (historically USD 25,000/month per customer without underlying documents), restricts rupiah use offshore, and mandates rupiah for domestic settlement; residents are taxed on worldwide income once tax-resident; foreigners can open local bank accounts but generally need a KITAS/KITAP and NPWP. More friction than a low-control hub, well short of strict capital controls → 'moderate'. NEEDS MANUAL REVIEW: the current exact FX-without-documents threshold should be re-verified against a live Bank Indonesia regulation page (fetch was JS-walled).
Thailand
Official source
- Data as of
- Dec 30, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Composite: Thailand operates active exchange controls administered by the Bank of Thailand. The baht is not fully liberalized; residents may hold foreign-currency deposit (FCD) accounts and remit funds, but banks must verify supporting documents for inbound FX transactions of USD 200,000+ (BOT Circular, effective 29–30 Dec 2025) and report large non-resident transfers. Residents are taxed on worldwide income only when remitted to Thailand (Revenue Department remittance rule). Non-residents can open THB/FCD accounts with authorized banks. Foreigners can bank locally but face documentation friction; there is no FBAR-style personal foreign-asset disclosure. Neither low (like the EU) nor very-high (no hard capital lock-in) → moderate.
Infrastructure
CriterionIndonesiaThailand
01+−Domestic delivery qualityIndonesiaGoodThailandGood
What this measures
Quality of in-country parcel delivery. excellent = nationwide next-day widely available, dense parcel-locker network, real-time tracking standard; good = 1–3 day delivery, lockers in major cities; basic = reliable but slow (3–7 days), mostly to-door or post-office pickup; poor = unreliable delivery, street addresses often unusable, informal workarounds common. Classified from official service/coverage data of the national postal operator and the two largest private carriers; inputs itemized in each value's method field.
Rated by category· re-verified every 730 days
Indonesia
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jul 4, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Dense, competitive parcel market: Pos Indonesia (national operator) plus JNE, J&T Express, SiCepat, Ninja Xpress and on-demand couriers (GoSend, GrabExpress) give 1–3 day delivery in Java and major cities and same-day intra-city; tracking is standard. Reach to remote islands is slower and address quality is uneven, so 'good' rather than 'excellent'. Parcel-locker networks are limited vs Europe.
Thailand
Curated by SettleMetric
- Data as of
- Jul 4, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Dense, competitive parcel market: Thailand Post (nationwide, ~5,000 outlets), plus private carriers Flash Express, Kerry Express, J&T Express, and platform logistics (Lazada, Shopee). 1–3 day delivery is the norm in and between cities; next-day common within Bangkok and major metros. Cash-on-delivery is widespread. Rated 'good' rather than 'excellent': coverage and tracking are strong in cities but rural/remote delivery is slower and parcel-locker networks are far less pervasive than in top-tier markets.
02+−International delivery easeIndonesiaSignificant frictionThailandSignificant friction
What this measures
Ease of receiving goods from abroad. seamless = major international carriers deliver door-to-door, meaningful duty-free de-minimis threshold, customs clearance predictable in days; minor-friction = carriers present but low de-minimis, extra paperwork or routine delays; significant-friction = frequent customs holds, high brokerage fees, some marketplaces refuse to ship; unreliable = parcels regularly lost or blocked, informal import channels dominate. De-minimis thresholds and clearance rules from the national customs authority (official source, cite the regulation); carrier presence from carriers' official pages.
Rated by category· re-verified every 365 days
Indonesia
Indonesian Customs (Bea Cukai) / Ministry of Finance — de-minimis lowered to USD 3 FOB (PMK 4/2025)
Official source
- Data as of
- Jan 1, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Major carriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS) serve Indonesia, but the duty-free de-minimis is only USD 3 FOB per shipment (lowered from USD 75; tiered import duty 0/15/25% plus 11% VAT above that), and customs clearance on personal imports is frequently slow with brokerage fees. Low de-minimis + routine customs handling → 'significant-friction'. NEEDS MANUAL REVIEW: re-confirm the exact current PMK reference and threshold on beacukai.go.id (fetch was blocked; USD 3 figure cross-read from customs-guidance sources citing PMK 4/2025).
Thailand
Official source
- Data as of
- Jan 1, 2026
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Major international carriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS) deliver door-to-door and clearance is generally predictable in days. But friction has risen sharply: 7% import VAT applies to all parcels since July 2024, and from 1 January 2026 the 1,500 THB de-minimis duty-free threshold was abolished entirely — every imported good is now potentially subject to customs duty plus VAT, with brokerage handling fees. Combined with routine documentation requirements, this puts Thailand at 'significant-friction' for receiving goods from abroad.
03+−Internet speedMbps, median fixed downloadIndonesia9.5Thailandstronger15.9
What this measures
Median fixed-broadband download speed over the trailing 6 months from M-Lab NDT open data (CC0), aggregated at country or city level. Not comparable with Ookla figures (different test methodology) — do not mix sources within this criterion.
Higher is better· Mbps, median fixed download· re-verified every 365 days
Indonesia
M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Indonesia (2023)
Open data
- Data as of
- Dec 31, 2023
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Method
- Median download ≈ 9.3–9.8 Mbps across the 2023 daily country medians (~4.3M tests) from M-Lab's public NDT statistics API; recorded midpoint 9.5 Mbps. 2024/2026 aggregate files were not retrievable at the time of check.
- Notes
- M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads far below Ookla-style figures (Ookla put Indonesia fixed broadband ~28–41 Mbps in 2024–2025) — comparable only within this criterion, never mixed with Ookla.
Thailand
M-Lab NDT country aggregates for Thailand (2024)
Open data
- Data as of
- Dec 31, 2024
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- M-Lab NDT is single-stream and reads well below Ookla-style figures (Ookla's Speedtest Index put Thailand fixed-broadband median ≈ 237 Mbps in 2025) — the two are not comparable and must not be mixed within this criterion. Thailand's real-world fixed broadband (fibre) is among the fastest/cheapest in the region; the low M-Lab number reflects test methodology, not typical line speed. Value is the median of 2024 daily country medians from M-Lab's public stats API.
Language
CriterionIndonesiaThailand
01+−English proficiencyIndonesiaLowThailandLow
What this measures
Own banding of how far English gets a resident in daily life (government offices, healthcare, housing, services). Informed by EF EPI band (research source, cited with attribution, not republished) plus official language status and service-sector realities. Values are our bands, not EF scores.
Rated by category· re-verified every 730 days
Indonesia
EF EPI 2025 — Indonesia rank 80/123, score 471 (Low Proficiency band)
Research
- Data as of
- Nov 1, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Own band informed by EF EPI 2025 (attribution: EF Education First): Indonesia scores 471 (Low band) nationally, though Jakarta scores 523 (Moderate). Bahasa Indonesia is the sole official language; English is workable in tourist/expat zones (Bali, South Jakarta) and among younger professionals, but limited in government offices and everyday services nationwide → 'low'.
Thailand
EF EPI 2025 — Thailand (rank 116/123, score 402, 'Very Low' band)
Research
- Data as of
- Nov 1, 2025
- Verified
- Jul 4, 2026
- Notes
- Own band informed by EF EPI (attribution: EF Education First / Signum International AG). EF places Thailand nationally in the 'Very Low' band (score 402, rank 116/123), but English is markedly more workable for a resident in Bangkok (EF city score 467), tourist/expat hubs (Pattaya 474, Phuket 431, Chiang Mai 453) and the hospitality/service sector than the national score implies — hence 'low' rather than 'very-low' for day-to-day usability. Government offices and rural areas remain Thai-only in practice.
Deep dives: taxes in Indonesia ·taxes in Thailand ·net-income calculator