What is the cost of living in Bali? 

What is the cost of living in Bali? 

The average cost of living in Bali is between $750 and $2,600 per month, including affordable accommodation, transportation, and entertainment. Some say you can live comfortably on $2,000 monthly as a couple or $3,000–$3,500 as a family, excluding school fees. 

Here are some examples of monthly expenses in Bali:

  • Couple living in most towns: $1,900
  • Three-bedroom villa with a pool by the beach: Stretches your budget, but you can save a few hundred dollars by not having the pool
  • Family of four: Estimated monthly costs are $2,070.1 without rent
  • Single person: Estimated monthly costs are $582.4 without rent 

Some say Bali is 60% cheaper than the United States and 64.5% less expensive than New York. 

Here are some other costs to consider:

  • Utilities: Basic utilities, such as electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage, cost around $50–$200 per month
  • Internet plan: Costs $20–$50 per month, depending on the type of plan and its speed

What is the cost of living in Bali? The average cost of living in Bali entails a budget between $750 to $2,600 a month. Of course, this will fluctuate depending on how frequently you eat out and what activities you indulge in. Bali is a tropical haven that won’t break the bank.

Living costsThe cost in Bali, Indonesia, can vary greatly depending on lifestyle, island location, and personal preferences. Bali offers options to suit various budgets, from affordable to luxurious. It is important to note that the cost of living in Bali is much lower than in many Western countries, making it an attractive destination for expats, digital nomads and retirees.

However, costs can vary, and depending on your preferences, you can live on a budget or enjoy a more luxurious lifestyle. Please note that these cost estimates are only estimates and may change over time due to inflation and exchange rate fluctuations.

When planning your stay in Bali, planning for unexpected expenses and considering factors such as healthcare and visa requirements is essential. Cheap accommodation (hostels, guest houses): $10-$30 per night


Mid-range hotels and villas: $40-$150 per night Luxury Resorts and Villas: $150+ per night
Please note that prices may vary depending on the time of day and the region of Bali where you wish to stay. Popular tourist areas such as Seminyak and Ubud are more expensive than less touristy areas.


Local warung (small restaurant/stall): $2-5 per meal Casual dining at restaurants: $5-$15 per meal Fine Dining: $20++ per meal Bali offers a variety of dining options, from cheap local restaurants to luxury international restaurants.

The cost of living in Bali can vary widely depending on lifestyle choices, accommodation preferences, and spending habits. Bali is known for offering a range of options, from budget-friendly to luxury, catering to different preferences. Here’s a general overview of the estimated monthly expenses in Bali:

  1. Accommodation: Budget Accommodation (Guesthouses, Homestays): $300 – $600 per monthMid-Range Hotels or Villas: $700 – $1,500 per month Luxury villas or Upscale Resorts: $1,500 and above per month
  2. Food: Local Warungs (Eateries): $1 – $3 per mealCasual Restaurants: $5 – $15 per mealtime Dining or Upscale Restaurants: $20 and above per meal
  3. Transportation: Scooter Rental: $50 – $100 per month fuel for Scooter: $10 – $20 per month car Rental: $300 and above per monthTaxi or Ride-Sharing: Varies based on distance and frequency of use
  4. Utilities (Electricity, Water, Internet): Utilities for a Standard Apartment: $50 – $100 per month
  5. Groceries: Basic Groceries: $100 – $200 per month
  6. Health Insurance: Basic Coverage: $50 – $100 per month (cost can vary based on coverage and provider)
  7. Dining Out and Entertainment: Varies based on personal spending habits.

These are general estimates; actual costs can vary based on individual choices and preferences. Some people live a frugal lifestyle, while others may opt for more upscale accommodations and dining experiences.

Additionally, the cost of living in popular tourist areas like Seminyak or Ubud may be higher compared to less touristy areas. Individuals should tailor their budgets based on their specific needs and priorities.

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These estimates and prices may have changed. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, it’s recommended to consult current local sources or expat communities in Bali.

Can I live in Ubud, Bali, for 500-600 USD a month?

I will illustrate a budget where you can live as if you are on vacation. You will live in a bed and breakfast facility with breakfast, a swimming pool, Wifi, air conditioning, and housekeeping. You will also eat out daily at a local restaurant and hire a scooter for a month.

BUDGET: USD 600 = Rp 8,300,000

Airbnb accommodation: $360/ Rp 5,113,212

2 Bedrooms, swimming pool, Air conditioning, parking, accommodate 4 guests, WI-FI, 1 bathroom, daily breakfast, complimentary drink bottle daily, daily housekeeping, kitchen, 24/7 host

Other facilities:

Woodcarving learning, making an offering, farm and rice paddies tracking, motorbike/ car rental, yoga class, massage, laundry and other tours.

Local Food Daily (Kedaton Restuarant in Ubud): $86/Rp 1,200,000

1 serving below of meat, rice, vegetables and chillis with a drink is roughly $2 (Rp20k)

Assuming you eat this 2x a day for lunch and dinner for 30 days (breakfast provided by accommodation). That will be $86 or Rp 1,200,000

Transport: $50 / Rp 750,000

Hire a scooter a month from $50/Rp 500,000 up to $100

or ride online taxi Scooter ($1 per ride) or car ($2–3 per ride).

Results:

Accommodation $360

Food $86

Transport $50

Total = $496 / Rp 6,900,000

Leftover: $104

This budget was created based on a 3-minute Google search; you can find better accommodation, transport, and food deals. Home-cooked food can save your budget by 50%. Cheaper air-conditioned accommodation can be as affordable as USD 100.

I am confident that you can live with only 300 USD monthly and have the financial freedom to live well.

How much is the average rent price in Bali for a month?

It is so varied that an average is difficult to set Rp500,000 to Rp25,000,000 would cover most properties, which is much higher. Suppose you want a room and bathroom, anywhere from 500,000 to 1,200,000. This is where most people are.

If you want a small 2-bedroom house in south Bali, expect about 1,500,000 per month to 2 million. On top would be water, electricity, internet etc.

If you want a 3 bedroom villa with a swimming pool, pay about Rp15m monthly. You will need a maid, water, electricity, gardener, pool cleaning etc. Total cost about Rp22m.

The sky is the limit on luxury villas. Some charming places are around Rp40m per month.

By European standards, none of them will be well made or well equipped but very, very cheap ( apart from top-end villas, and even then, wiring and plumbing are usually severely done)

The cost of living in Bali can vary depending on your lifestyle and preferences. Generally, rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre can range from 300to300 to 600 per month, while outside the city centre, it can be around 200to200 to 400 per month.


As for food, dining out at local eateries can be pretty affordable, with meals costing around 2 to 25. If you cook at home and shop at local markets, your grocery expenses can also be relatively low. Bali is known for offering a lower cost of living compared to many Western countries, but expenses can still vary based on individual choices and preferences.

How comfortably can I live in Bali with 2200 USD/month?

You’re in trouble if you want to drink at Potato Head, eat in Seminyak top restaurants, or rent a fancy schmancy villa in the centre of the tourist hot spots with a pool.

If you want to live 10 minutes out of the tourist hot spots, eat at less expensive options (there are HEAPS) and don’t have a taste for excessive indulgence, you will live VERY well indeed.

Monthly costs:

  • 2 bedroom with pool about 10 mins out of tourist spots – as cheap as USD 700 a month or less if you rent 12 months at a time – 1 bedroom no pool as cheap as $400 a month or less for 12 months depending on how fancy you want.
  • Electricity is $50 a month.
  • Internet $40 a month (cheaper options available)
  • Phone $30 a month.
  • Motorbike $50 a month (car more like $250)
  • Food is $10 a day to eat comfortably. You can survive on $5 and VERY well on $20 if you shop at the local markets and cook yourself – less, much less.
  • Visa costs – budget $150 monthly for tourist / social / visa runs/agents.

beyond this, it is up to your lifestyle.

How do you afford to live in Bali?

For reference, here is an overview of Bali’s minimum wage across different regencies.

The highest minimum wage by regency is Badung at 2,5 million rupiah or roughly USD 170. In reality, many Balinese earn slightly more than reported due to bonuses, incentives and other sources of income. From my experience, most Balinese can live comfortably at 3 – 4 million rupiah ($200-USD 300).

But since we are here in Quora, $200 is way below your expectations. Unlike the Balinese, you would want to live in a pretty modern minimalist accommodation; you own various technology devices, crave avocado toast, and buy $2–3 coffees regularly. You want a lifestyle that is very similar to back home.

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I recommend an income of no less than Rp—10,000,000/month (USD 683). If you can earn 10 to 20 million a month, you can live an excellent life in Bali.

Now that income is out of the way, it is just about lifestyle choice and financial knowledge. The rules are the same anywhere in the world.

Average Balinese: 2–4 million

Above average Balinese: 7–9 million

Recommended for ex-pats: 10–15 million

The golden zone: 20–30 million

How much does it cost to live in Bali as an expatriate with a family?

The cost of living in Bali as an expatriate with a family can vary greatly depending on location, lifestyle, and housing choices. According to data from Numbeo, a website that provides information on the cost of living, the overall cost of living index in Bali is about 25% lower than in New York City. However, it’s worth noting that this is an overall cost of living index, and expenses can vary depending on the location, lifestyle and housing options.

Here are some general estimates of expenses you might expect to incur while living in Bali as an expat with a family:

  • Housing: Rent for a three-bedroom apartment in a nice area can range from around $800 to $1,500 monthly.
  • Utilities: Utilities such as electricity, water, and internet can cost around $150 to $200 per month.
  • Food: Groceries and eating out can cost around $300 to $500 monthly.
  • Transportation: Transportation costs, including fuel and car rental, can cost around $100 to $200 per month.
  • Education: International schools in Bali can cost around $1,500 to $3,000 per month per child.
  • Entertainment and leisure: Gym membership, yoga classes, and going out for dinner or drinks can cost around $200 to $300 per month.
  • Health care: Health care costs in Bali can vary depending on your insurance type, but it can be relatively inexpensive.

It’s worth noting that these are rough estimates, and costs can vary greatly depending on your lifestyle, location, and other factors. It’s also important to consider that living costs in Bali can be higher than in different parts of Indonesia, as it is a significant tourist destination. It’s advisable to visit Bali or speak with other expats who have lived there to get a better sense of the costs associated with living in Bali.

How much is the cost of living in Bali for a foreigner?

In case of basic needs:

Let say that

  1. 3x Meals a day will cost you each Rp 15k – Rp 20k at minimum so it will be Rp 45k – 60k a day.
  2. At a minimum, boarding houses can be on Rp 500K to 1M a month.
  3. Scooter rent at a minimal 45 to 50k each day.
  4. Gasoline for scooters will also depend on how much you travel and how far your travel destination is. Per litre is about Rp. 7.5k

Sum up that up, and then it will be your monthly expense.

Can I live in Ubud, Bali, for 500-600 USD a month?

I’ve been in Ubud, working for 1 year in 2014:

  • horrible but huge room/mo $50 (include water+electricity)
  • Internet/mo $50
  • daily food weekdays $5×5 = $25
  • daily food weekends $15×2 = $30
  • daily food/mo $55×4 = @$220
  • expendable expense (soap, shampoo, toothpaste) = $20

I spend about $300–$350 monthly, while the salary is $700

while my friend:

  • nice room/mo $150 (include water+electricity)
  • Internet/mo $50
  • daily food weekdays $10×5 = $50
  • daily food weekends $20×2 = $40
  • daily food/mo $90×4 = @$360
  • expendable expense (soap, shampoo, toothpaste) = $30

he spends $500–$600 monthly while the salary is $700

Also note that this is the price for local Indonesians; the price may vary for local Balinese – or foreigners – and this is the price for workers who focus on staying not hungry and not living in a happy, fuzzy feeling like tourists.

Are you planning to work in Ubud? Then 500–600 or even lower can hold you to staying alive (barely living), as Indonesian food is cheaper and easier to find; alternative to pork-based food is chicken and fish, which is relatively more expensive than the pork-based one (8k-15k vs 12k-20k [IDR]).

Are you a foreigner? It will be hard, as you might find the diet incompatible with your body, or the room feels uncomfortable. For a foreigner to live quite comfortably in Ubud, I think an $800 monthly salary is the minimum

What is a couple’s monthly cost of living in Bali, Indonesia?

4% of the population receives less than $1.50 per day. You may struggle with that, as they do. 9% of the population is below the National Poverty Line.

I have staff who survive as a couple on $200 per month. That includes the cost of a motorcycle and renting a room to live with an ensuite and a baby. But they also have basic government health insurance, a petrol allowance and help at low points.

You can rent a basic 2 bedroom house furnished for Rp3m per month if you want a 3 bedroom villa and pool about 6m upwards.

You can rent a motorcycle for Rp1m and a car for Rp4m. If you want to buy one, a new Mitsubishi Xpander is Rp240m.

Petrol is cheap. A Honda motorcycle will not be used much. You can eat out from Rp10,000 to Rp2m per meal. If you need visas, factor in Rp5m per year for each. If you like drinking, as much as you want.

Everything is available in Bali. Imported goods and food are twice as much as overseas, and local is half the price. I own my villa and cars, but running costs for a family with one kid at an international school and servants, car repairs, utilities, meals, etc, run about $3000 monthly.

What is the average monthly cost of living in Ubud, Bali?

It depends on your lifestyle. A decent private room in a monthly homestay costs about USD 300 (you can even get down to USD 120 if you’re not picky). Food is cheap if you go to not-so-fancy restaurants and even more affordable if you cook at home. You can live comfortably with USD 500 as a foreign expat on average. If you live like the locals, it’s even cheaper (more or less 200).

How long can I live in Bali for USD 100k?

It’s possible to live in Bali for longer than this, with this amount of money too! However, a reasonable monthly budget might reduce this time to about half, depending on the quality of life you’re looking for.

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If you’re a modest spender and not looking for a very lavish lifestyle with a fancy designer villa in a busy tourist/expat area, then it’s reasonable to spend this much.

  1. 5m IDR per month on your accommodation.
  2. 1m IDR on your scooter.
  3. 6m IDR on food and drink.
  4. 1m IDR on nicks and knacks.
  5. 1m IDR on your visa.
  6. 2m IDR on gym/spa/classes.

This totals around 16m IDR, generally around USD 1200 per month.

The thing about this, though, is that if you plan to stay for a long time, you generally save 20–30% on these expenses.

For example:

  1. 6–12 month rentals on accommodation will save you up to 40%.
  2. Buying a scooter instead of renting one can save you 50%.
  3. 3–12 month gym/spa/sauna memberships will save you 30–50%.
  4. Food and drink get cheaper as you stay longer because you become more reasonable with your spending and the amount you eat at fancy places.
  5. Visa expenses are always around the same.

So, this can drop your monthly expenses down significantly! Down to around USD 850 per month if you’re savvy!

If you are an intelligent investor, you can easily make enough money with the 100k invested to live indefinitely in Bali.

How comfortably can I live in Bali with 2200 USD/month?

1 USD = IDR. 14,000

2,200 USD = IDR. 30,800,000

It’s a lot of money, I counted 🙂 In our currency.

Half of it you can rent a 2-bedroom private villa with a swimming pool at a nice location with fresh, clean air and fully equipped with an excellent quality standard.

The rest of your money depends on your lifestyle, of course. Depending on consumption patterns and lifestyle, you can spend it at night or for a month. Bali has all the possibilities for spending your money.

How much money would a person need to bring for a month when visiting Bali, Indonesia, if they wanted to cover their expenses for food and accommodation?

It depends on where you stay and what you eat! A low-cost Kos may cost Rp2m to Rp4m a month, the 4 Seasons Rp120m to Rp150m.

Food can be fried rice and noodles, which can be fried at Rp50,000 per day. INTERCONTINENTAL has a lovely Sunday brunch for Rp1,500,000, including wine.

If I were staying in Bali as a wealthy foreigner, I would stay at a 3-star or 4-door hotel and pay about Rp1m per day for accommodation. I would eat and drink lunch and dinner about Rp300,000 One month, Rp40m, is enough for me.

How much is the cost of living in Bali for a foreigner?

As you have seen from the other answers, costs vary depending on the standard of your lifestyle. Other costs you need to consider would be the cost of your Kitas or residence permit or your social visit pass and related expenses.

Some people travel in and out of Bali on a tourist visa and “live” here. Then, you must factor in airfares, hotels, agent fees, and visa extension fees. Studying the legal ways to live in Bali is wise for avoiding problems.

Is 1,000 US dollars a month a lot in Bali?

I want to share my experience living in Bali. $ 1.000 depends on how your living habits. A thousand dollars is a lot of money to live in Bali.

Let’s count some living costs. For food 5$ you can buy a great burger. It does not cost you anything expensive, just a burger. So, in a month on my own, $ 500$ is for food.

Another$500 is for a place to stay. In Bali, I prefer to stay in a homestay. We can interact with the local people and experience honest Bali.

What is the monthly living cost in Indonesia, including the house rent and other bills?

Let us rephrase this question: How much money will you need to enjoy the same standard of living that you currently enjoy in India? I would say roughly one and a half times… say you earn INR 3 lakhs per month in India, you would need to earn INR 4.5 lakhs (convert it into IDR at current rates).

What I say would apply to Jakarta. In most other Indonesian cities, 1.25 times the Indian income will be ok. Also, your employer should pay for your house rent and kids’ education. This is tax-free, unlike in India, where it would be considered a perk and taxed.

There are good international schools in Jakarta that use English as a medium of teaching (Jakarta International School is the best, though a bit expensive). Try to get a good car as your employment benefit (tax-free). All KIA models are available in Indonesia.

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Jakarta has some great malls. You also have Indian goods stores, though the prices may sometimes shock you. This is because they get the goods from Malaysia and Singapore. You will get Indian vegetables near Mahatma Gandhi Public School in North Jakarta. There are a couple of good Indian restaurants. There are many good weekend getaways ex-Jakarta. You will love going there.

What is the cost of living in Indonesia for expats who get paid $1000-2000 USD per month? What are their monthly expenses like rent, food, etc.?

That depends on you. But getting a legal visa for Indonesia would be a problem if you don’t have a job there. If that’s not an issue, you can easily live on 400$ a month (if you’re not too fancy). A room in a guesthouse starts at around 38$ per month (you’ll have a mattress, fan, maybe WiFi and a shared bathroom) to “the sky is the limit”.

It also depends on the area where you live. Most foreign immigrants seem to flock to Canggu or other seedy regions (at least they stay away from the rest of the island then), and prices are higher than in some local areas. Renting a place in Mengwi will be much cheaper than in Ubud or Canggu, but you’ll need Indonesian skills there.

In 2018, my daily limit was 100,000, and my rent was 2,5 mio, so 5,5 a month. That was roughly 350 $ back then. It was a more prosperous life than I had in Germany. But I didn’t meet any foreigners who lived like me; most of them seemed to spend millions each month.

How far would 10 dollars a day go in Bali?

When I lived in Bali, 140,000 Rp would go a fair way. When I last visited in 2019 less. If you live like a local and don’t need a motorbike to get around, you can eat all day for that much if you go to warungs or street vendors, but that’s about it.

140k will get you a room in a scungy hotel 15 minutes or more from a beach. If the AC doesn’t work, don’t complain too loudly. If there’s no hot water, don’t complain at all. 140k will enable you to hire a Honda Vario scooter, plus a couple of meals from street vendors.

You can buy a couple of small Bintangs and a snack at some of the bars on Jalan Legian for that much. If you want to drink at a place on the beach, you might get 2 beers but you need food for that amount.

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