Costa Rica vs Indonesia: which nomad visa wins?
Costa Rica is easier to qualify for, and Indonesiais cheaper day to day. Here's the full breakdown — then model it with your own income.
Updated June 2026 · figures in USD for a single applicant.
| Metric | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 🇮🇩 Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| Income needed (single) | $3,000/mo | $5,000/mo |
| Tax on foreign income | 0% | 0% |
| Special tax regime | — | — |
| Path to citizenship | No residency path | No residency path |
| Comfortable budget (solo) | $1,904/mo | $1,568/mo |
| Visa length | 1 year | 1 year |
| Safety index | 60/100 | 65/100 |
| Internet | 80 Mbps | 60 Mbps |
| English | Moderate | Moderate |
| Region | Americas | Asia-Pacific |
See it with your numbers
Set your household, how you earn and your income — both countries recompute live.
Optional — unlocks age- and savings-gated visas (retirement, youth-mobility, golden visas).
Live — adjust who's going, how you earn and your income above and both columns update.
Effective tax at different incomes
Approximate all-in rate for a solo employee who becomes tax-resident.
| Monthly income | 🇨🇷 Costa Rica | 🇮🇩 Indonesia |
|---|---|---|
| $3,000/mo | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| $6,000/mo | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| $12,000/mo | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Choose 🇨🇷 Costa Rica if…
Pura vida with a tax exemption: stable, safe and stunning, Costa Rica trades rock-bottom prices for nature, calm and zero tax on what you earn abroad.
- Foreign income is fully tax-exempt.
- Duty-free import of your work gear.
- Stable, peaceful and famously green.
Choose 🇮🇩 Indonesia if…
Bali finally has a real one-year visa — and it makes your foreign income tax-free, cementing the island's place at the centre of the nomad world.
- Foreign income explicitly exempt from tax.
- Bali's Canggu/Ubud are iconic nomad hubs.
- Low costs and a vast community.
Want the numbers for your income and family, with more countries?
Costa Rica vs Indonesia: FAQ
Is Costa Rica or Indonesia better for digital nomads?
Costa Rica has the lower income bar, tax treatment is similar, and Indonesia is cheaper to live in. Neither nomad visa leads directly to citizenship.
How much income do you need for Costa Rica vs Indonesia?
Costa Rica requires about $3,000/mo for a single applicant; Indonesia requires about $5,000/mo.
Do digital nomads pay tax in Costa Rica or Indonesia?
Costa Rica: The DNV grants a clean exemption on foreign-earned income plus duty-free import of work equipment. — Indonesia: The E33G is marketed as exempting foreign-earned income, but staying 183+ days makes you an Indonesian tax resident — full exemption beyond that can need a separate expertise-based application, so treat 0% as best-case.
Figures are 2026 planning estimates in USD for a single applicant. Confirm details on each country's official source before applying.