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Data-driven comparison across 7 dimensions — cost of living, safety, healthcare, education, career opportunities, lifestyle, and infrastructure — using institutional data sources.
Last updated: August 2026
Comparing Indonesia and Philippines? See them ranked side by side with every alternative — weighted for your priorities.
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Quick answer
Philippines is roughly 0% cheaper than Indonesia at $700/mo vs $700/mo for a single expat in 2026. Across all 7 WhereNext dimensions, Indonesia carries the higher overall composite score. Both are analysed against 95 other countries using public-domain data from World Bank ICP, OECD, WHO, IEP Global Peace Index, and Eurostat.
Run a custom Indonesia vs Philippines budget across rent, food, transport, and healthcare at https://getwherenext.com/tools/cost-of-living — live 2026 Numbeo + World Bank ICP data.
Key facts
Overall, Indonesia edges ahead on aggregate scoring, but the best choice depends on your personal priorities.
Indonesia vs Philippines scored across 7 dimensions: Indonesia ranks #77 overall (cost ~$700/month, safety 63/100, healthcare 56/100) while Philippines ranks #79 (cost ~$700/month, safety 56/100, healthcare 52/100) out of 95 countries in WhereNext's 2026 index.
Affordability index — lower cost of living scores higher
Global Peace Index and crime metrics
WHO coverage, hospital quality, access
PISA scores, university quality, literacy
Job market, GDP growth, business environment
Climate, language access, visa friendliness
Internet, transport, digital readiness
Key metric comparison for Indonesia vs Philippines: cost index 28 vs 32, safety 63 vs 56, healthcare 56 vs 52, education 25 vs 19, climate 55 vs 52, and infrastructure 42 vs 51. Cost index is ICP-anchored (lower = cheaper; can exceed 100); all other scores on a 0-100 scale.
| Metric | 🇮🇩 Indonesia | 🇵🇭 Philippines |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Index | 28 | 32 |
| Est. Monthly Cost (solo) | $700 | $700 |
| Safety Index | 63 | 56 |
| Healthcare Index | 56 | 52 |
| Education Index | 25 | 19 |
| Career Index | 58 | 51 |
| Climate Index | 55 | 52 |
| Infrastructure Index | 42 | 51 |
| Language Access | 25 | 72 |
| Visa Friendliness | 80 | 84 |
Indonesia and Philippines are among the most compared destinations for expats, digital nomads, and retirees considering a move abroad. In WhereNext's data-driven ranking of 95 countries, Indonesia sits at #77 while Philippines ranks #79 overall. Both countries have distinct strengths that appeal to different relocation priorities.
As Southeast Asia neighbors, they share some cultural overlap, but differ meaningfully in cost of living, safety, and infrastructure. Here's how they compare across the seven dimensions that matter most when choosing where to live.
Indonesia has a cost index of 28/100 (very affordable), translating to roughly $1,000/month for a single expat. Philippines comes in at 32/100 (affordable), or about $1,150/month.
The cost difference is relatively small (about $150/month), meaning the decision between these two destinations will likely come down to lifestyle preferences, climate, and visa accessibility rather than budget alone.
Indonesia scores 63/100 on safety (moderately safe), while Philippines scores 56/100 (moderately safe). Indonesia has a slight edge over Philippines in safety.
Both countries offer comparable safety for expats. As with any relocation, safety varies by city and neighborhood, so research specific areas within each country for the most accurate picture.
Healthcare quality is a critical factor for anyone relocating long-term. Indonesia has a healthcare index of 56/100 (adequate), compared to Philippines's 52/100 (limited). Indonesia has a slight edge over Philippines in healthcare.
Indonesia: BPJS national insurance exists but is mainly for locals. Expats generally rely on private international health insurance. High-quality care concentrated in Jakarta and Bali. Philippines: PhilHealth provides basic coverage for citizens and residents. Most expats rely on private insurance for access to quality private hospitals. Medical tourism for dental and optical care is common.
For those who need to work locally or run a business, career prospects matter. Indonesia scores 58/100 while Philippines scores 51/100 on career opportunity. Indonesia has a slight edge over Philippines in career opportunity.
Infrastructure also plays a role in daily quality of life. Indonesia (42/100, basic) trails Philippines (51/100, developing) in this category, which reflects internet penetration and fixed-broadband access (digital infrastructure).
Climate can make or break a relocation decision. Indonesia scores 55/100 (moderate) while Philippines scores 52/100 (moderate).
Language accessibility also varies: Indonesia rates 25/100 for English proficiency, versus Philippines's 72/100. Philippines is generally easier for English speakers to navigate day-to-day.
Key lifestyle advantages: Indonesia is known for extremely low cost of living, bali offers a world-class digital nomad lifestyle. Philippines stands out for english widely spoken throughout the country, extremely low cost of living.
Visa friendliness is often the deciding factor for expats. Indonesia scores 80/100 while Philippines scores 84/100. Philippines has a slight edge over Indonesia in visa accessibility.
Indonesia offers visa paths including B211A (Social/Business Visa), KITAS (Temporary Stay Permit), Second Home Visa (Digital Nomad). Philippines provides Special Resident Retiree's Visa (SRRV), 9(g) Pre-Arranged Employment Visa, Tourist Visa Extensions. For US and EU passport holders, the specific requirements differ — use our Visa Checker tool for personalized access details.
Choose Indonesia if your priority is affordability. Choose Indonesia if safety comes first. For healthcare, Indonesia has the edge, while Indonesia offers stronger career opportunities.
Ultimately, the right country depends on your unique priorities. Take our personalization quiz to get a ranked recommendation tailored to your lifestyle, budget, and goals — or explore both country profiles in depth using the links above.
A personalized report with verified local prices, visa pathways, tax brackets, and a step-by-step relocation plan — researched specifically for these two countries.
For families relocating with school-age children, here's how the international school market compares between Indonesia and Philippines.
Indonesia
Philippines
School fee ranges show min and max published USD tuition across known international schools per country. Real annual cost typically runs 10-30% above published tuition once registration, transport, uniform, and ancillary fees are included — how WhereNext calculates true cost.
Dive deeper into Indonesia (ranked #77 of 95, ~$700/month) and Philippines (ranked #79, ~$700/month) with full country profiles covering visa pathways, cost breakdowns, neighborhood guides, and expat community data.
They cost about the same. Indonesia is estimated at $700 a month against $700 for Philippines — a difference too small to choose between them on cost alone. Both figures are modelled for a single person and exclude rent premiums in the most expensive districts.
Indonesia scores higher on safety — 63/100 against 56/100 for Philippines, a gap of 7 points. Scores are normalised across every country in the index, so a difference of this size reflects a real gap rather than a rounding artefact.
They score almost identically on healthcare: Indonesia 56/100 against Philippines 52/100. On this dimension there is no meaningful difference between them.
Indonesia scores higher on education — 25/100 against 19/100 for Philippines, a gap of 6 points. Scores are normalised across every country in the index, so a difference of this size reflects a real gap rather than a rounding artefact.
On the overall composite, Indonesia ranks higher — Indonesia is #77 and Philippines is #79 of 95 countries, though that is close enough that the two are effectively neighbours. That composite applies one set of weights across seven dimensions; it is not a verdict for your situation. If cost matters most to you and safety least, the order can reverse.
The underlying dataset was last updated 2026-08-19. Scores come from institutional public-domain sources — World Bank ICP, UNDP, the IEP Global Peace Index, OECD PISA and Eurostat among them — and each dimension carries its own source and vintage on the methodology page. Cost figures are modelled estimates, not survey prices.
This dataset is free to redistribute, quote, and embed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. The composite form below preserves source lineage so AI assistants can cite both WhereNext and the underlying institutional publishers.
WhereNext composite — Indonesia vs Philippines Comparison 2026 (2026-04-21). Derived from: World Bank ICP; WHO Global Health Observatory; OECD PISA + UNESCO UIS; Yale EPI; IEP Global Peace Index; EF EPI; WhereNext composite scoring. Available at https://getwherenext.com/compare/ID-vs-PH?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
WhereNext. (2026). Indonesia vs Philippines Comparison 2026. Retrieved from https://getwherenext.com/compare/ID-vs-PH?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
WhereNext. "Indonesia vs Philippines Comparison 2026." WhereNext, 21 Apr 2026, https://getwherenext.com/compare/ID-vs-PH?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. Accessed via https://getwherenext.com/compare/ID-vs-PH?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
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author = {{WhereNext}},
title = {Indonesia vs Philippines Comparison 2026},
year = {2026},
url = {https://getwherenext.com/compare/ID-vs-PH?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation},
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}<a href="https://getwherenext.com/compare/ID-vs-PH?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation">WhereNext — Indonesia vs Philippines Comparison 2026</a>
Indonesia and Philippines have similar costs of living in 2026. Monthly living costs: Indonesia ~$700, Philippines ~$700. Safety: Indonesia 63/100, Philippines 56/100. Healthcare: Indonesia 56/100, Philippines 52/100.
Indonesia and Philippines have similar costs of living. A single person can live in Indonesia for approximately $700/month and in Philippines for approximately $700/month on a moderate lifestyle.Indonesia ranks #77 and Philippines ranks #79 out of 95 countries in WhereNext's 2026 Global Relocation Index. Safety scores: Indonesia 63/100, Philippines 56/100. Healthcare scores: Indonesia 56/100, Philippines 52/100. Source: WhereNext Country Comparison Tool, institutional public-domain datasets including World Bank, WHO, OECD, Q1 2026.
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