Is Tulungagung really cheaper than Pontianak?

Based on typical 1-bedroom rent, Pontianak is approximately 72% cheaper than Tulungagung. Overall cost of living including rent follows a similar pattern.

What is the average rent in Tulungagung vs Pontianak?

In Pontianak, a 1-bedroom in the city centre costs around $168. In Tulungagung, the same costs around $288.

What is the FIRE Score for Pontianak?

Rewire Abroad gives Pontianak a FIRE Score of 81/100, meaning it offers strong FIRE potential with low costs relative to income.

Is Pontianak good for digital nomads?

Rewire Abroad gives Pontianak a Nomad Score of 55/100. Internet speeds average 25Mbps.

Is Pontianak or Tulungagung safer?

Based on the Safety Index, Tulungagung scores higher at 63 vs Pontianak's 60.

Can I retire in Indonesia as a foreigner?

Many foreigners retire in Indonesia. We recommend checking visa options and consulting an expat tax specialist.

Pontianak vs Tulungagung: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?

Pontianak leads on digital nomad suitability. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.

Household

Lifestyle

Monthly income (USD)

Schooling

Pontianak is approximately 72% less expensive than Tulungagung based on cost of living including rent. This makes Pontianak a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.

Pontianak has a FIRE Score of 81/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 60, which is relatively safe.

Recommended profile: Pontianak is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.

Overall Winner

Pontianak

Indonesia

Increased Caution

FIRE81

About Pontianak

Pontianak is a cheap place to live, with a one-bedroom in the city center at $168/mo and a single adult budget tier at $318/mo, but the local average net salary of $266/mo means most expats are living on foreign income. The catch is that this is not a soft landing: English proficiency is limited, the expat community is very few, healthcare quality is fair, and the retirement and remote worker visas both demand $2,000/mo in income. Come for the $2 restaurant meals and 25 Mbps internet if you want an equatorial city that costs almost nothing, not if you need a built-in social scene or strong medical care.

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.

MONTHLY SAVINGS

$2,591/mo

Nomad Viability

Moderate Suitability

Cost of Living (Without Rent)

Single Person$457/mo

Family of Four$1,652/mo

Rent Per Month

1 Bedroom (City Centre)

$168

1 Bedroom (Outside Centre)

$112

3 Bedroom (City Centre)

$500

3 Bedroom (Outside Centre)

$350

Attractiveness

FIRE Score

89/100

Retiree Score

50/100

Nomad Score

53/100

City Details

Tulungagung

Indonesia

Increased Caution

Retiree55

About Tulungagung

Tulungagung is a cheap small town, not a cheap city with big-city comforts: $288/mo for a one-bedroom in the center and $1 restaurant meals sound unbeatable until you see a local average net salary of $112/mo and an expat score of 53/100. The budget tier lands at $342/mo, but the $2,000/mo income floor on both the Indonesia Retirement Visa (KITAS) and the Indonesia Remote Worker Visa (E33G) means you must earn like a foreigner to live here legally. Limited English, fair healthcare, and 19 Mbps internet make daily life workable but not frictionless, and the digital nomad score of 46/100 tells you this is not a remote-work hub. Come for the low rent and the dry season from June to September, stay only if you can tolerate a 65-thousand-person town where your money goes far but your options do not.

About Indonesia

MONTHLY SAVINGS

$2,542/mo

Nomad Viability

Moderate Suitability

Cost of Living (Without Rent)

Single Person$1,550/mo

Family of Four$5,600/mo

Rent Per Month

1 Bedroom (City Centre)

$288

1 Bedroom (Outside Centre)

$198

3 Bedroom (City Centre)

N/A

3 Bedroom (Outside Centre)

N/A

Attractiveness

FIRE Score

71/100

Retiree Score

53/100

Nomad Score

25/100

City Details

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Battle of Lifestyles

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Metric	Pontianak	Tulungagung
1BR Apartment (Center)	$167.52	$288.33
1BR Apartment (Outside)	$111.68	$198.23
3BR Apartment (Center)	$500	N/A
3BR Apartment (Outside)	$350	N/A
Safety Index	60	63
Internet Speed	25Mbps	18.7Mbps
Walkability Score	N/A	N/A

Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices

Category	Pontianak	Tulungagung
Total (rent included)	$364/mo	N/A
Excluding rent	$252/mo	N/A
Rent	$112/mo	N/A
Groceries	$91.00/mo	N/A
Dining out	$17.00/mo	N/A
Entertainment & lifestyle	$46.00/mo	N/A
Utilities & connectivity	$98.00/mo	N/A
Transport	N/A	N/A

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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