If you have read our Ultimate Bali Guide then you probably have a good sense of the places you would like to visit during your adventures through the island of smiles. The idea of traveling to such an awesome place is so exciting, but what about the cost of living in Bali?

We have spent three months living in various areas around the island and wanted to put together a breakdown of how much it costs to travel there as a couple.

As always, do not hesitate to reach out to us if you need any advice for planning your trip to Bali or anywhere else in the world!

Typical Cost Of Living In Bali

This is a suggested budget based on our experiences staying in hostels, eating primarily at the cheap markets and warungs, drinking moderately, not taking expensive tours, and using local transportation whenever possible.

Suggested Daily Budget: $30-$50 USD Per Person

The Total Cost Of Living In Bali For 1 Month For The Two Of Us Was $1,990

Which Breaks Down To $65 Total On Average Per Day As A Couple

And That Was A Lavish Month

The $1,990 total we mentioned above was during our 3rd and final month in Bali when we rented an Airbnb in Canggu for the whole month.

However, if you plan on staying in fancy resorts or going on expensive tours, expect your budget to be much higher (there are plenty of resorts and restaurants out there that tout prices that are more expensive than western standards).

If you are really pinching pennies then you can probably drop this daily budget down by $5-$10 dollars a day.

With $60-$100 dollars per day combined with your partner you will be able to live quite comfortably in Bali

Accommodation

Along the popular tourist path in Bali, accommodation can be found to suit anyone’s needs. Whether you are looking for a hostel, local homestay, hotel, or fancy resort, you will find plenty of options to choose from in all the major tourist areas.

Though it can be cheaper to try and negotiate a price once you arrive, we typically book ahead of time through Agoda, Hostelworld, or Airbnb.

Dorm Beds: 80,000-120,000 IDR Per Person

Dorm beds in a decent hostel can be booked for around 100,000 IDR. Of course, you can find cheaper, but in most cases, you get what you pay for, so be sure to check out the room before you book if the price seems ridiculously cheap.

Private Doubles: 200,000+ IDR

As a couple, we usually opt to stay in private double rooms at dorms or home-stays for around 150,000-250,000 IDR ($11-$18 USD). For this price you will get a comfortable room pretty much anywhere in Bali, but don’t expect luxury.

Airbnb Villa For Two: 300,000+ IDR

From there the sky is the limit. There are plenty of budget friendly luxury options scattered around the island and plenty of super fancy resorts with all the amenities that will fetch a price around what one might spend in a country like the US.

Longterm Rentals

If you are planning on staying in Bali for an extended period of time then you should definitely look into a long term rental agreement. Negotiating in person can save you money, but we were able to find a wonderful villa in the heart of Canggu (housekeeping and pool included) for $600/month on Airbnb.

Prices for monthly leases will vary significantly depending on the location, amenities, and time of year. Airbnb is a great place to start.

Food

Average Per Meal: 50,000 IDR

Local food is cheap. A typical meal at a warung will cost 20,000-40,000 IDR for the local fare. You can order a plate of Nasi or Mie Goreng (fried rice or noodle with chicken and an egg) for 20,000 IDR or less in practically any town or village in Bali. One of our favorite dishes is Soto Ayam, a noodle soup with chicken and vegetables which can also be found on most menus for around 20,000 IDR.

Local Food: 10,000-50,000 IDR

Street stalls will typically cost under 10,000 IDR and serve some of the most delicious food you will find. Don’t be afraid to try something you have never heard of before. For the price of a dollar, it is worth trying something new. Balinese food is delicious!

Western Food: 125,000 IDR For A Meal And Drink

In general, most western style and boutique restaurants are going to be more expensive than the local warungs and street stalls. Most items on a western menu will start at around 50,000 IDR up to 150,000 IDR, with extravagant meals (like a steak or lobster) reaching 200,000+.

Though it is nice to enjoy a cappuccino and a burger from time to time, we try to eat primarily at local spots to keep our daily budget low

Beer: 30,000 IDR For A Small Beer At The Bar

You will find small Bintangs for around 13,000 IDR ($1) at the convenience stores around the island. Besides the local spirits (Arak and others), liquor is very expensive. Best to bring a bottle in Duty Free if you’re planning on buying a bottle while you’re there.

Transportation

Unfortunately, transportation is something you really must shop around for if you want to get a good deal. With so many tourists visiting Bali every year, the price for transportation services has risen significantly.

On the flip side, you will never have a hard time finding someone to drive you. If you shop around and practice those bartering skills, then you will have no problem negotiating a fair price. However, always expect for the first price offered to be extremely high.

As a rule of thumb, you can usually haggle prices for most things down by 40%. In major stops along the tourist trail like Kuta, Seminyak, and Ubud you will find dozens of tourism service offices that can arrange transport for you. Many will even have prices listed out on a board outside for private taxis and shuttle services to certain destinations, these too can be negotiated and will vary from office to office.

If you can, try to get a seat on a shuttle bus, or find a group of fellow travelers heading to the same place to get the best deal for yourself.

Taxis

Bluebird is one of the most prominent taxi services in Bali and is a company that you can trust not to scam you. You will see these blue cars in all major areas throughout Bali. Though some taxis use a meter, the majority do not. Always agree on the price before placing your luggage in the trunk or getting in the car. There are also countless private taxi drivers that will offer to give you a ride all over Bali, don’t be afraid to use them, but again always negotiate the price before you get in.

If you are looking for a reliable, friendly, and all around awesome tour guide/driver for the day then be sure to hit up our good friend Wayan Remy!

When In Bali Grab Is Your Uber

BY FAR THE CHEAPEST way to get around in Bali is to use the Grab app on your phone to hail a driver in your area. For those that aren’t familiar with Grab, it is the local equivalent to Uber in Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia and is usually a bit cheaper than Uber from our experience.

Whenever we need to go somewhere in Bali we will start by seeing if we can get a Grab first. It is actually pretty amazing how much cheaper they are then using a taxi or shuttle service.

For example, during our second week in Bali we needed to get from Seminyak to Ubud (about an hour drive). All the taxi services and tourism offices we inquired with wanted to charge us 300,000-400,000+ IDR to get there. We hailed a Grab to take us to our Airbnb’s doorstep in Ubud for less than 100,000 IDR.

The problem with using these apps in Bali is that there has been a huge backlash from local taxi services (taxi mafia) and their affiliates which has prompted many areas on the island to put an unofficial ban on the use of these services. This makes getting picked up by one a bit tricky, as some drivers don’t want to take the risk of going into certain neighborhoods or areas where the ban is particularly aggressive… Uluwatu is one such place.

That said, we have used them to get all over the island (even trips of over an hour) with no trouble at all. If you want to save money on transport, we recommend always checking to see if there are any Grabs in the area before seeking out other means of transport.

For shorter trips, you can use the GoJek app to have someone on a motorbike come to pick you up. They also deliver food and pretty much anything else you might want.

Renting A Motorbike

If you are a capable and confident rider, then renting a motorbike will be the cheapest way to get around in Bali.

To be legal you do need an international license that endorses you to ride a motorcycle. Insurance is another big thing to consider. Making sure you are covered in the event something were to happen is a wise thing to do.

Otherwise, just stick to hailing Grabs and GoJeks to get where you need to go around the island.

Heading To Bali? Then You Will Definitely Want To Check Out These Posts Too!

• Best Places to Visit in Bali: The Ultimate Bali Itinerary
• Bali On A Budget: Top Things To See And Do
• 8 Ways To Save Money In Bali

Safety Is A Big Concern When It Comes To Riding Motorbikes But Here Is Another Factor You Might Not Have Considered…

• Learning To Ride A Scooter In Bali: One Mistake You Should Not Make

Ubud Is A Magical Place Just Be Ready For Some Crowds

• How to Spend Four Days in Ubud, Bali

Looking For A Homestay?

• Remy Homestay: Experiencing Life With A Balinese Family

Temples To Explore

• Bali Temple Guide: Pura Tirta Empul
• Bali Temple Guide: Pura Gunung Kawi
• Bali Temple Guide: Pura Mengening
• Exploration Guide: Pursuit of Paradise – Gili Islands & Lombok

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