A comfortable retirement works out cheaper in Bali, Indonesia — around £1,900/month for a couple, versus £2,000 in Thailand (about 5% more).
Cost of living, side by side
| Bali, Indonesia | Thailand | |
|---|---|---|
| Modest (couple/mo) | £1,200 | £1,300 |
| Comfortable (couple/mo) | £1,900 | £2,000 |
| Premium (couple/mo) | £3,000 | £3,200 |
Indicative monthly estimates for a couple — real costs vary by location, lifestyle and exchange rates.
Bali, Indonesia: Foreigners can't own freehold land, but can hold property via leasehold or the 'Hak Pakai' right-to-use.
Thailand: Foreigners can own a condominium outright (freehold) within a building's 49% foreign quota; land itself is held via a long lease or a genuine Thai company (never a nominee).
Bali, Indonesia: The KITAS and second-home visa routes are the common paths for longer stays.
Thailand: Most retirees use the Non-Immigrant O / O-A retirement visa (age 50+, with income or savings requirements).
Bali, Indonesia: Southern Bali has decent private clinics and hospitals (such as BIMC and Siloam) for routine and moderate care, but serious emergencies are often referred to Singapore, so comprehensive international insurance is strongly advised; everyday consultations are inexpensive and usually paid out of pocket.
Thailand: Private hospitals in Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai are internationally accredited and excellent, at a fraction of Western prices; most expats use private insurance or pay out of pocket, budgeting perhaps £80-150 a month for cover at older ages.
Bali, Indonesia: Indonesian tax residents (183+ days) are taxed on worldwide income on a progressive scale up to 35%, with relief available under the UK-Indonesia double-tax treaty; the retirement KITAS and Second Home visas do not by themselves exempt a foreign pension, so take advice on residency and what you remit.
Thailand: Since 1 January 2024 Thailand taxes residents (183+ days) on foreign income they remit into the country, so a UK pension brought in may be assessable; the UK-Thailand double-tax treaty, careful timing, and the pensioner LTR visa (which exempts remitted foreign income) can reduce or remove the bill, so take advice.
Bali, Indonesia: Tropical and warm all year (high 20s to low 30s C); the dry season from roughly April to October is the best time, with a humid, wetter monsoon from November to March. Very friendly and generally safe; English is widely spoken in tourist and expat areas, but traffic is chaotic and driving is on the left, so many retirees prefer to hire a driver.
Thailand: Tropical and hot year-round; the cooler, dry season from roughly November to February is most comfortable, with a hot spell (March-May) and a monsoon (June-October) that varies by coast. Generally very safe and welcoming; English is widely spoken in tourist and expat areas, driving is on the left, and daily life is easy for British retirees.
Bali, Indonesia: Foreigners cannot own freehold land, so buying is via long leasehold (Hak Sewa, commonly 25-30 years) or a Hak Pakai right-to-use title (which needs a KITAS); budget notary and legal fees of around 1%, plus a 5% acquisition duty (BPHTB) on a Hak Pakai transfer, and always use an independent lawyer to check title.
Thailand: Budget around 6-8% of the price in one-off costs, a 2% transfer fee, possible specific business tax or stamp duty, plus legal fees; a condo is the freehold option for foreigners and can complete within a few weeks once due diligence is done.
Bali, Indonesia: Sanur for a calm, flat, walkable beach town popular with retirees, Ubud for a green cultural base inland, Seminyak and Canggu for lively well-serviced coastal living, and Uluwatu for clifftop scenery.
Thailand: Phuket for beaches and resort living, Chiang Mai for a cooler, cultured and cheaper base, Hua Hin for a quieter seaside town near Bangkok, and Bangkok itself for amenities and top healthcare.
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