[![Image]() Meet Jobicy Copilot — free AI autofill for job applications + remote job alerts ›](#) Side-by-side city decision # Santa Teresa vs Bali. A direct comparison of monthly costs, connectivity, safety, quality of life and remote-work fit. Share comparison Copy link Santa TeresaCosta Rica3 VS BaliIndonesia1 $2,400Santa Teresa monthly budget $1,455Bali monthly budget 70 MbpsSanta Teresa internet 55 MbpsBali internet Decision summary Santa Teresa Santa Teresa leads on more of the six headline signals. Cost Best budget Bali Speed Fastest internet Santa Teresa Vibe Best nomad vibe Tie Safety Highest safety Tie Air Cleanest air Santa Teresa Walk Most walkable Santa Teresa Quick read ## Two cities at a glance The headline numbers before you examine the full comparison. [Santa Teresa](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/costa-rica/santa-teresa.md) Costa Rica 3/6 Budget$2,400 Internet70 Mbps Vibe9/10 [Bali](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/indonesia/bali.md) Indonesia 1/6 Budget$1,455 Internet55 Mbps Vibe9/10 Full comparison ## Compare what matters Green marks the stronger numeric result. Text-only categories are presented without a winner. Differences only ### Monthly budget and costs 7 signals Total estimated budget $2,400 $1,455 1-bed center rent $1,400 $850 Coworking desk $250 $170 Local meal $10 $2.5 Cappuccino $3.8 $2.8 Gym membership $70 $45 Transport budget $150 $85 ### Work and infrastructure 2 signals Internet speed 70 Mbps 55 Mbps Nomad vibe 9/10 9/10 ### Quality of life 5 signals Safety index 72/100 72/100 Air quality 88/100 70/100 Walkability 5/10 4/10 Female safety 7/10 7/10 LGBTQ+ friendly 8/10 6/10 ### Culture and climate 4 signals Healthcare quality Average Good English proficiency Good Good Climate type Tropical savanna Tropical monsoon Best time to visit Dec - Apr May - Sep Beyond the numbers ## What each city asks you to trade Costs and scores help narrow the choice. These practical strengths and limitations finish the picture. [Santa Teresa](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/costa-rica/santa-teresa.md) Costa Rica → ### Strengths * World-class surf beaches and year-round outdoor lifestyle * Large, social international remote-worker community * Strong café, wellness, yoga, and coworking scene * Warm weather and spectacular sunsets * English is widely spoken in tourism-facing businesses * Relaxed small-town atmosphere with excellent nature access ### Trade-offs * Rental prices are high for a small, remote beach town * A scooter or ATV is often needed to get around * Roads become muddy, rough, and difficult in the rainy season * Internet and power reliability vary considerably by property * Limited medical facilities and services locally * Groceries, imported products, and nightlife can be expensive ### Common visa routes * Tourist entry permission, commonly granted for up to 180 days at the immigration officer's discretion * Costa Rica Digital Nomad Visa for qualifying remote workers, valid for one year and renewable * Temporary residence routes such as rentista, investor, or family-based residency [Bali](https://jobicy.com/cost-of-living/indonesia/bali.md) Indonesia → ### Strengths * Large, established remote-worker community * Affordable food, services, and domestic travel * Excellent coworking choice in Canggu and Ubud * Tropical lifestyle with beaches, rice fields, and surf * Strong café culture and widespread digital payments * Reliable mobile data and improving fiber internet ### Trade-offs * Traffic and unsafe scooter conditions are major drawbacks * Rents in popular areas have risen sharply * Sidewalks and public transport are limited * Rainy-season humidity, flooding, and internet disruptions occur * Tap water is not safe to drink * Tourism pressure can make Canggu and Seminyak crowded ### Common visa routes * Visa on Arrival / electronic Visa on Arrival * B211A Visit Visa * E33G Remote Worker Visa Reading the result ## Use this as a planning benchmark The headline score compares six directional signals. It does not weight personal priorities, visa eligibility, household size or individual lifestyle choices. Costs are monthly estimates, not guaranteed prices. Higher is better for quality scores and connectivity. Lower is better for budgets and individual expenses.