Living in Dili
What it really costs to live in Dili, what you can earn, the visas that get you in, and the taxes you'll pay — for East Timor, updated 2026. Dili lies in South-Eastern Asia. The main languages are Portuguese, Tetum. The currency is the dollar. East Timor borders Indonesia.
Cost of Living in Dili
Full Monthly Breakdown for Dili
What You Can Earn in East Timor
Typical gross annual salaries in East Timor by sector (entry · median · senior). Dili pay usually sits around the national median.
| Sector | Entry | Median | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| it | €7 500 | €10 500 | €14 500 |
| retail | €3 500 | €5 000 | €6 500 |
| finance | €7 500 | €11 000 | €15 500 |
| education | €4 500 | €6 500 | €9 000 |
| healthcare | €5 500 | €8 000 | €11 500 |
| engineering | €7 000 | €10 000 | €13 500 |
| hospitality | €3 500 | €5 000 | €7 500 |
| construction | €5 500 | €8 000 | €11 000 |
Living in Dili: Safety, Health & Climate
Dili shares East Timor's wider quality-of-life profile. Dili has a tropical climate. Here is what daily life looks like on the things that matter most when you relocate.
Visa Routes to East Timor
Affording Dili is only half the question — you also need a visa that lets you stay in East Timor. The main routes:
- A job offer is normally required for the main work route.
- Permanent residence after about 5 years.
- Citizenship after ~5 years — dual nationality allowed.
Taxes in East Timor
Top marginal rate 15%, VAT 10%.
Settling into Dili
- Foreigners can open a local bank account in East Timor.
- Budget around €1 800 for first-month setup in Dili.
- Regulated professions needing credential recognition: Medicine, Law, Engineering.
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How much does it cost to live in Dili?
A single person in central Dili should budget about €625/month, roughly €565 outside the centre. A family of four needs around €1 550/month.
Can I get a visa to live in East Timor?
Yes — the main route usually needs a job offer, with permanent residence reachable in about 5 years. See the full East Timor visa comparison for the route that fits you.
Sources: salaries, taxes, safety, healthcare and visa data from World Bank, OECD, the Global Peace Index and official government portals. Cost-of-living figures are community-sourced benchmarks — a guide, not a quote. Last reviewed 2026-05.
Related: East Timor Guide · Visa Comparison · All Countries