Depok, the university city of Greater JakartaIndonesia · population 2.1 million · index 6.0 of 10

Depok in 200 words.

Depok scored 6.0 on the everycity index in 2026. The headline numbers: a central one bedroom rents at 3,500,000 rupiah a month, the monthly all in cost runs 620 dollars for a single resident, the income tax tops out at 35 percent with the floor at 5 percent, and the safety score is 6.6 on the same 10 point scale we apply to Jakarta, Singapore, and Bangkok.

The case for Depok runs through the cost line, the university economy, and the commuter rail link into Jakarta. The case against, where there is one, is named below in section 12. If you want the comparison view instead, start with Bali vs Jakarta or Jakarta vs Kuala Lumpur, then return here for the deep read. The full Indonesia country report covers the national context, and Asia places the city on the regional table.

The data feeding this report is drawn from the sources listed at the foot of the page and explained in our 2026 cost of living report and on the methodology page. Numbers are May 2026 unless stated otherwise. Currency is the Indonesian rupiah with a dollar conversion alongside. The index blends 18 weighted inputs, from rent to internet speed, into the single figure in the badge above.

One reading note. This is the long form report. If you only want the headline figure, the city score generator returns the index with custom weights in 30 seconds, the cost converter tells you what your home salary needs to become here, and the relocation score tool grades your current city against this one out of 100.

A 6.6 read on streets, day and night.

Depok scored 6.6 overall. The breakdown matters more than the headline.

Against the rest of the index, Depok sits at 6.6 overall, a typical reading for a dense Greater Jakarta satellite. The safest cities ranking places Singapore at 9.5 and Tokyo at 9.4 as the Asian anchors; for comparison Jakarta reads 6.4 and Bangkok 6.6. The four categories behind the score are violent crime, property crime, traffic safety, and emergency response.

The numbers tell the honest story for Depok. The score is steadiest on the 6.8 family reading and weakest on the 5.8 after dark figure, which is the variable that should drive neighborhood choice and the decision on whether to ride a motorbike at night. Petty theft and traffic are the real day to day risks rather than violent crime. The solo female safety ranking and the family safety ranking show how the city scores on those axes against the field.

Practical notes for new residents: carry an international policy from SafetyWing for the first months while local cover is arranged, register your address with the local RT and RW neighborhood administration soon after arrival, and read the full safety methodology on the methodology page before you weight this section against the others.

Who pays, and how much the tax takes back.

Salary medians are May 2026, from Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, and national statistics. Tax figures are from the official revenue authority.

The major employers in Depok are Universitas Indonesia, the largest university in the country and the anchor of the local economy, the Gunadarma University and a cluster of private campuses, the retail and food economy along the Margonda corridor, and the Jakarta employers that a large share of residents commute to by rail. The take home math is sensitive to deductions; the tax calculator tool is the cleanest way to run a real offer. For benchmarking, the highest paying cities ranking and the cities for tech jobs ranking cover the field.

Note on tax: the income tax tops out at 35 percent with the floor at 5 percent. Run your own number, not the headline, because the effective rate after standard deductions lands well below the marginal top for most salaries. The wider point for Depok is that local salaries are modest, and the city works best financially for the resident who commutes to a Jakarta salary or earns remotely from abroad while paying Depok prices.

Career mobility for the foreign worker is worth pricing in before you sign. The work permit usually ties the foreign worker to the sponsoring employer, so a change of job can mean a change of visa. The visa guide 2026 covers the path and the timelines, the spouse visa guide covers the dual income question, and the relocation checklist lists the documents recruiters skip.

The system, the cost, the wait.

Healthcare scored 6.0 on a 10 point scale. The methodology weights access, cost, and outcomes equally.

The local system in Depok runs through the public RSUD Depok hospital, the Universitas Indonesia teaching hospital, and a row of private hospitals including the Bunda Margonda and Mitra Keluarga groups, with the deeper Jakarta hospital network 45 to 75 minutes away. The fastest route for routine specialist care is the private tier, where the wait collapses from weeks to days, and most expatriates carry private cover rather than rely on the BPJS national scheme alone.

For new arrivals: pick up an interim international policy from SafetyWing or Cigna Global while residency papers process, then enroll in BPJS or a local private plan. Double cover is the most common mistake new residents make. The expat insurance guide covers the trade off, and the expat mental health guide covers the slowest stream in any system here. Families should also read the best cities for families ranking.

Dental and vision typically sit outside the main coverage and are inexpensive by Western standards: a cleaning runs 15 to 40 dollars at the private clinic tier. For prescription medication, the local pharmacy network usually beats anything you can import, so bring a short supply and switch to the local equivalent on arrival. Mental health provision is thin in the public system and concentrated in Jakarta for the English speaking patient.

Walk, ride, or drive.

Walkability 5.0, transit 6.0, bike 4.5. Car needed: No, but a motorbike helps.

Depok runs no metro of its own, but the KRL Commuterline puts central Jakarta at 35 to 50 minutes for a fare under a dollar, and it is the single reason the city works as a Jakarta dormitory. Within Depok the angkot minibuses and ride hailing motorbikes cover the gaps, and most residents end up on a motorbike for the daily run. The flat terrain helps cycling in principle, but the traffic and the heat keep the bike score at 4.5. For scouting trips before a local vehicle is sorted, a rental from Discover Cars covers most needs.

Airport access is the variable most new residents underweight. Soekarno Hatta International is 60 to 90 minutes northwest depending on traffic, reachable by the airport rail link from central Jakarta. For the frequent flyer, the connection quality and the cost of a regional hop matter more than the headline; the best cities for digital nomads ranking and the public transport ranking track the connections that count.

Internet, visas, and where to plug in.

Median internet speed 30 Mbps. Coworking density: 12 spaces. Remote worker visa: Yes, the E33G.

The remote work rating for Depok turns on three numbers. The home internet median at 30 Mbps, which is serviceable for video calls but below the regional leaders, the coworking density at 12 spaces concentrated near the campus, and the time zone, which sits seven hours ahead of London and twelve ahead of New York. For a privacy layer on local networks, NordVPN is the cleanest option we have tested. The best cities for remote work ranking covers the full table.

For nomads, the visa story improved sharply. Indonesia now issues the E33G remote worker visa for foreign nationals employed by a company outside the country, valid for one year and renewable, with income earned abroad not taxed locally. The nomad visa guide 2026 tracks the eligibility, the cost, and the tax residency triggers, and the nomad visa cities ranking and the best cities for digital nomads ranking keep the macro view. Watch the 183 day tax residency rule.

On coworking specifically, the figure of 12 spaces hides a wide quality range, and most are aimed at the student and startup crowd near Universitas Indonesia. A strong home fibre line at the speeds above makes a dedicated desk optional for many, and the cafe culture along Margonda absorbs the rest. The cities for expats ranking tracks how the whole package compares across the field.