Looking for German Expats in Indonesia?

Is Indonesia a good move for Germans? 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 German 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%.

• The climate and islands are a dream. Tropical warmth and endless islands draw praise, and 90% rate the opportunity to travel positively.

• Many Germans feel at home there. A relaxed pace and low costs add up, with 82% rating their life abroad positively (vs. 67% globally).

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

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

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

• Bureaucracy and careers frustrate. Only 27% find dealing with authorities easy, and 47% say the move improved their career prospects.

For Germans, Indonesia offers warmth, beauty, low costs, and an easy, happy pace of life. 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 German 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 Germans 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 Germans in Indonesia, residing in Jakarta, Medan, Semerang and many other places throughout the country. Just take a look at our group of Germans in Jakarta or Germans in Bali.

If you ever wish to have a chat in your native language, discover where to shop for German 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 Germany 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 roast pork with Knödel in Medan.
• Search the InterNations Places database for Indonesia to get information on institutions from your home country, including the German 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 German 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 Germany and various other countries in a casual setting. Interested? Just sign up and you’ll soon be receiving a cordial Grüß Gott from our Germans living in Indonesia!