Kalimantan vs Ende: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
Ende scores higher for long-term retiree livability. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Ende is approximately 43% less expensive than Kalimantan based on cost of living including rent. This makes Ende a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Ende has a FIRE Score of N/A/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 55, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Ende is best suited for digital nomads who prioritize experience over savings.
About Kalimantan
Kalimantan is a cheap place to live, with a 1-bedroom city center apartment at $350/mo and a single adult budget tier of $800/mo, but the poor healthcare quality and limited English proficiency are real drawbacks. The retiree score of 42/100 and safety index of 50/100 should give retirees pause, even though the FIRE score of 73/100 is strong. Digital nomads get a 60/100 and 50 Mbps internet, which is workable but not exceptional. Come for the low costs and the $2 restaurant meals, not for the infrastructure.
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.
$1,500/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Ende
Ende is cheap, and that is the whole pitch: a city-center one-bedroom runs $245/mo, a three-bedroom just $147/mo, and a single adult can scrape by on a budget tier of $131/mo. The catch is that the average local net salary is only $177/mo, so unless you arrive with foreign income you are not living here, you are surviving here. English is limited, internet crawls at 18 Mbps, and the digital nomad score of 42/100 tells you this is not a remote-work town. Come for the dry-season climate and the 3 km hop to the airport, stay if you can stomach a retiree score of 53/100 and fair healthcare.
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.
$2,799/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Kalimantan | Ende |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $350 | $244.85 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $250 | $174.9 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $700 | $147.36 |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $500 | N/A |
| Safety Index | 50 | 55 |
| Internet Speed | 50Mbps | 18Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
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Kalimantan vs Ende -- Frequently Asked Questions
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