Indonesia vs Philippines: which nomad visa wins?
Philippines is easier to qualify for, Philippines is lighter on tax, and Philippinesis cheaper day to day. Here's the full breakdown — then model it with your own income.
Updated November 2026 · figures in USD for a single applicant.
| Metric | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 🇵🇭 Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Income needed (single) | $5,000/mo | Flexible |
| Tax on foreign income | 0% | 0% |
| Special tax regime | — | — |
| Path to citizenship | No residency path | No residency path |
| Comfortable budget (solo) | $1,568/mo | $1,327/mo |
| Visa length | 1 year | 1 year |
| Safety index | 65/100 | 55/100 |
| Internet | 60 Mbps | 95 Mbps |
| English | Moderate | Very high |
| Region | Asia-Pacific | 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 | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 🇵🇭 Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| $3,000/mo | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| $6,000/mo | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| $12,000/mo | 0.0% | 0.0% |
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.
Choose 🇵🇭 Philippines if…
A brand-new 2025 visa for the English-speaking, island-hopping nomad: potentially tax-light and ultra-affordable — but still rolling out, so confirm it's live and what it requires before you plan around it.
- English is near-universal — almost no friction.
- Possible 0% on foreign income (unconfirmed) and very low costs.
- Thousands of islands and a warm culture.
Want the numbers for your income and family, with more countries?
Indonesia vs Philippines: FAQ
Is Indonesia or Philippines better for digital nomads?
Philippines has the lower income bar, Philippines taxes foreign income more lightly, and Philippines is cheaper to live in. Neither nomad visa leads directly to citizenship.
How much income do you need for Indonesia vs Philippines?
Indonesia requires about $5,000/mo for a single applicant; Philippines requires about $0/mo.
Do digital nomads pay tax in Indonesia or Philippines?
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 (PMK-18/PMK.03/2021), so treat 0% as best-case. DGT regulation PER-23/PJ/2025 (effective 9 Dec 2025) adds a substance-over-form 'intent to reside' test alongside the 183-day count, and Article 4(3) explicitly lists an ITAS valid over 183 days — exactly what the E33G issues — as evidence of that intent, which can trigger tax residency before day 183 under Article 3(a)(3). That's the regulation's own text, not just adviser interpretation; how aggressively DJP enforces it against ordinary E33G holders is untested. — Philippines: EO 86 grants no tax exemption (it only directs the BIR to study the matter), so treatment is unsettled. Work done while physically in the Philippines may be treated as Philippine-source income; the 0% shown is a best-case planning assumption.
Figures are 2026 planning estimates in USD for a single applicant. Confirm details on each country's official source before applying.