Looking for Australian Expats in Indonesia?

Is Indonesia a good move for Australians? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2025 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year. The points below reflect what Australian expats in Indonesia wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.

• It's affordable and welcoming. 70% of expats in Indonesia rate the general cost of living positively (vs. 40% globally), 61% housing affordability, and 90% feel welcome.

• People are warm and friendships come easily. 85% rate locals as friendly and 68% say making local friends is easy, against a global average of 39%.

• It's warm, and Asia is on the doorstep. 67% rate the climate and weather positively and 90% the opportunity to travel, with weekends away close by.

• Life feels free and relaxed. Australians describe a low-stress, easygoing pace and fresh, affordable food.

• Infrastructure and transport lag. Only 33% of expats in Indonesia rate the availability of public transportation positively (vs. 73% globally), and roads and traffic are a common complaint.

• Pollution and waste are visible. Air quality rates 38% and government environmental policy just 20%, with rubbish in the rivers and on the beaches a recurring theme.

• Healthcare is a worry. Just 47% rate healthcare affordability positively and 43% the quality of medical care.

• Bureaucracy can be frustrating. Only 27% find dealing with authorities easy.

For Australians, Indonesia offers warmth, beauty, low costs, and an easy, happy pace of life right on the doorstep. The trade-offs are infrastructure, pollution, and healthcare. It suits those who come for the lifestyle and can look past the practical gaps.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys among expats — asking them about various aspects of their life, from work to leisure. Learn what motivated our Australian members to move abroad, what keeps them there, and what they struggle with or miss about home.

Of course, expat living in Indonesia is not just about shipping your belongings and filing in some bureaucratic papers. Regular socializing with fellow Australians is an essential part of expat life and helps getting accustomed to the Indonesian way of life and mentality. InterNations helps you connect and meet up with other Australians in Indonesia, residing in Jakarta, Medan, Semerang and many other places throughout the country. Just take a look at our group of Australians in Jakarta or Australians in Bali.

If you ever wish to have a chat in your native language, discover where to shop for Australian food or discuss your favorite sports team's latest match, become a member of the Indonesian InterNations Community:

• Look up our top quality network to get to know open-minded expats from Australia in Indonesia.
• Obtain and share insider tips in our Indonesia Expat Forums – e.g. how to hire a babysitter fluent in your native tongue for your children or where to get vegemite in Medan.
• Search the InterNations Places database for Indonesia to get information on institutions from your home country, including the Australian embassy.

From the steep mountains and extensive cave systems of Kalimantan to the ricelands, coffee plantations and volcanoes of Java, we’ll help you connect with supportive and friendly Australian expats in Indonesia.

Moreover, please feel free to attend our regular expat events and activities in Indonesia. Our get-togethers are very diverse and range from a cozy gathering to enjoy the traditional Indonesian nasi goreng, to big expat celebrations with hundreds of participants in Jakarta’s best locations. You can also participate in one of our expat trips to go and see Java's cultural treasures as well as other beautiful landmarks in Indonesia.

Our meet-ups and activities are a great opportunity to mingle with expats from Australia and various other countries in a casual setting. Interested? Just sign up and you’ll soon be receiving a cordial Hello from our Australians living in Indonesia!