Guilin vs Denpasar: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Guilin costs roughly 8.9x less than Denpasar. Denpasar leads on digital nomad infrastructure. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Guilin is approximately 59% less expensive than Denpasar based on cost of living including rent. This makes Guilin a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Guilin has a FIRE Score of 89/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 75, which is relatively safe.
Recommended profile: Guilin is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Guilin
Guilin is a budget expat haven where a single adult can live comfortably for around $445/mo, but the local average salary of $487/mo means you'll stretch every yuan. The city is safe (crime index 25/100) and cheap, with a restaurant meal at $2 and a cappuccino at $2, but the air quality index of 68 and fair healthcare are real drawbacks. English is common only in tourist areas, so you'll need Mandarin for daily life outside the expat bubble. If you're chasing FIRE, this is a top pick; if you want Western comforts, look elsewhere.
About China
China works for remote workers and business expats fluent in navigating bureaucracy, not retirees seeking an easy landing. Rent outside the city center averages just $238.5/mo, backing the low COL index of 30.7. But with no retirement visa, no digital nomad visa, and an advisory level of 2, getting legal footing here is the real obstacle, not the budget.
$2,665/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
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City Details
About Denpasar
Denpasar is a bargain hunter's paradise with a catch: a city center one-bedroom runs $357/mo while the same place outside the center drops to $155/mo, and a single adult can scrape by on a $270/mo budget tier. The catch is the average local net salary of $279/mo, which means most newcomers are living on foreign income, not local wages. With an overall expat score of 85/100 and a FIRE score of 87/100, it rewards remote workers and early retirees who bring their own money, though the retiree score of 71/100 and $2,000/mo income requirements for both the retirement and remote worker visas keep the door narrow. Come for the $2 restaurant meals and $11/mo transport pass, stay if your paycheck is wired from somewhere else.
About Indonesia
Skip this if you need English-speaking doctors or a fast path to citizenship, both weak here. But budget retirees can live well on $429.70/mo excl. rent plus sub-$320 rent, and the $2,000/mo Retirement KITAS is achievable. Best suited for low-cost-focused retirees, not remote workers facing the $387/mo nomad visa threshold.
$2,618/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
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Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Guilin | Denpasar |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $223.78 | $356.83 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $149.19 | $155.23 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $522.16 | $523.03 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $372.97 | $391.9 |
| Safety Index | 75 | 66 |
| Internet Speed | 70.2Mbps | 60Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Guilin | Denpasar |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $365/mo | $398/mo |
| Excluding rent | $216/mo | $243/mo |
| Rent | $149/mo | $155/mo |
| Groceries | $84.00/mo | $95.00/mo |
| Dining out | $22.00/mo | $20.00/mo |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $73.00/mo | $46.00/mo |
| Utilities & connectivity | $37.00/mo | $71.00/mo |
| Transport | N/A | $11.00/mo |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Guilin vs Denpasar -- Frequently Asked Questions
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