In Indonesia, we recommend you consider the small tropical island of Bali as a place to call home. Bali, dubbed the “Enchanted Land,” packs in everything you expect of paradise, from coral reefs to the jungle-clad slopes of mighty mountains complete with tribes of naughty monkeys. Here, amid the most gracious and hospitable of peoples, you can live for as little as US$1,500 a month. 

Indonesia is a poor country, and Bali—although better off than most of Indonesia—is no exception. Although most roads on the island are paved, they tend to be busy and poorly maintained outside of tourist areas. Power outages are common, while air conditioning is not. Bali is making progress on its infrastructure, but in the meantime, we recommend other locales if reliable internet is a necessity. 

One of the most popular areas that foreigners choose to live is Sanur, which is on the west coast of southern Bali. Quiet and low-key, it’s attractive to older expats and others who choose not to live near the nightlife of other areas. Rents around Sanur tend to be quite reasonable. 

The resort town of Kuta is famous for its wide, sandy beaches and raucous nightlife. Nearby Legian, Sanur and Seminyak also boast fine beaches and attract many foreign retirees from all over the world. Most of Bali’s population lives in this general region. 

More isolated but still very accessible is laid-back Lovina. Located on a lovely stretch of black-sand beach on the north side of the island, about 100,000 people live in this general vicinity, which actually consists of several small villages strung out along the coast. Dense jungles, remote waterfalls, and a large resident dolphin population draw thousands of visitors to this area every year.