Indonesia vs Spain: which nomad visa wins?
Spain is easier to qualify for, Indonesia is lighter on tax, and Indonesiais 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 | 🇪🇸 Spain |
|---|---|---|
| Income needed (single) | $5,000/mo | $3,248/mo |
| Tax on foreign income | 0% | Up to 24% |
| Special tax regime | — | Beckham Law |
| Path to citizenship | No residency path | Citizenship in 10y |
| Comfortable budget (solo) | $1,568/mo | $2,266/mo |
| Visa length | 1 year | 1 year |
| Safety index | 65/100 | 75/100 |
| Internet | 60 Mbps | 210 Mbps |
| English | Moderate | Moderate |
| Region | Asia-Pacific | Europe |
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 | 🇪🇸 Spain |
|---|---|---|
| $3,000/mo | 0.0% | 24.0% |
| $6,000/mo | 0.0% | 24.0% |
| $12,000/mo | 0.0% | 24.0% |
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 🇪🇸 Spain if…
Sun, healthcare and a genuinely attractive 24% flat tax for remote employees make Spain a heavyweight — provided you can navigate the Beckham eligibility rules.
- Flat 24% tax for up to six years via the Beckham regime.
- Excellent healthcare and lifestyle for the cost.
- 3-year residence track renewable to five.
Want the numbers for your income and family, with more countries?
Indonesia vs Spain: FAQ
Is Indonesia or Spain better for digital nomads?
Spain has the lower income bar, Indonesia taxes foreign income more lightly, and Indonesia is cheaper to live in. Spain offers the faster route to citizenship.
How much income do you need for Indonesia vs Spain?
Indonesia requires about $5,000/mo for a single applicant; Spain requires about $3,248/mo.
Do digital nomads pay tax in Indonesia or Spain?
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. — Spain: Without the Beckham election, residents pay progressive IRPF up to ~47%.
Figures are 2026 planning estimates in USD for a single applicant. Confirm details on each country's official source before applying.