Cost of Living in Bali (2026): Real Monthly Budgets by Lifestyle
- Last Updated:
- By: Peter Orsel
Bali is one of the most visited digital nomad destinations in the world, and the most common question people ask before moving here is simple: what does it actually cost? I’ve lived here for multiple years now, and I still get asked this a lot.
This guide is not about my own spending alone. It covers real monthly budgets for every kind of Bali life, from a backpacker staying in a hostel to a family renting a three-bedroom villa near an international school. If you want the bigger picture first, visas, best areas, how to actually find a place, start with my Bali Travel Guide. This article is the deep dive on money specifically.
Every price below is in USD first, since that’s the currency most readers can translate without doing extra math themselves. Here’s the live rate if you want to check the actual rupiah amount:
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In This Post
What's the Cost of Living in Bali? (Quick Answer)
A single person can live in Bali for anywhere between $500 and $3,900 per month, depending on lifestyle, from a shared kos to a private pool villa. Couples typically spend $1,200 to $3,000 combined, and families with school-age children should budget $3,200 to $6,700 or more, with school choice usually deciding where in that range you land. Location, accommodation type and how often you eat Western food move these numbers more than anything else.
Monthly Budgets by Lifestyle
Every budget below assumes long-term rent (paid upfront for 6-12 months, which is standard in Bali), not short-stay Airbnb pricing. If you’re only here for a few weeks, expect to pay significantly more for accommodation than these tables show.
Backpacker Budget: $700-1,100 / month
This is the lifestyle most digital nomads start with. A simple room in a guest house, eating almost entirely at warungs or cooking yourself, getting around by your rented scooter.
At this budget, expect free beach days, a gym on the cheaper side, the occasional drinks at a warung rather than a beach club, and maybe one paid surf lesson a week.
People on this budget usually end up in Kerobokan, Dalung, Ungasan or somewhere around Kuta. Canggu would usually be out of budget, if you try to keep it very cheap.
| Category | Monthly cost (USD) | Monthly cost (IDR) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (simple guest house) | $110-250 | 2,000,000-4,500,000 |
| Food (mostly warungs) | $150-220 | 2,700,000-3,900,000 |
| Scooter rental + petrol | $55-90 | 980,000-1,600,000 |
| Gym/fitness (budget gym) | $28-56 | 500,000-1,000,000 |
| SIM/data | $4-6 | 70,000-110,000 |
| Laundry | $20-30 | 360,000-540,000 |
| Health insurance (basic) | $40-60 | 720,000-1,100,000 |
| Miscellaneous | $100-150 | 1,800,000-2,700,000 |
| Total | $500-900 | 9,000,000-16,100,000 |
Mid-Range / Digital Nomad Budget: $900-1,800 / month
The range where most long-term remote workers land. Private accommodation, a mix of local and Western food, a real social life.
At this budget, you’re looking at a nicer guest house in Canggu, Uluwatu or Ubud, or a 1-2 bedroom house without a pool. Food-wise, this is where a proper restaurant becomes a regular option instead of a warung-only routine.
Most people at this level work from home or a cafe. A proper gym starts around $110/month, and if padel or surf lessons become a regular habit instead, you easily pay that same amount as well.
| Category | Monthly cost (USD) | Monthly cost (IDR) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (Luxurious guest house or 1BR/2BR house) | $250-670 | 4,500,000-12,000,000 |
| Food (mix of warungs, Western, and cafe work sessions) | $250-400 | 4,500,000-7,200,000 |
| Scooter rental + petrol | $60-100 | 1,100,000-1,800,000 |
| Gym, or padel/surf lessons | $61-112 | 1,100,000-2,000,000 |
| SIM/data | $4-6 | 70,000-110,000 |
| Laundry | $25-40 | 450,000-720,000 |
| Health insurance | $50-100 | 900,000-1,800,000 |
| Miscellaneous + social | $200-350 | 3,600,000-6,300,000 |
| Total | $900-1,800 | 16,100,000-32,200,000 |
Comfortable Budget: $2,150-3,900 / month
A private pool villa in Canggu or Uluwatu, beach club days that turn into a habit instead of an occasional treat, and a gym membership at one of the famous gyms. This is the Bali you’ve scrolled past on Instagram, an infinity pool over rice fields, someone’s smoothie bowl at a beach club table. At this budget, that’s just an average Tuesday, and it’s the lifestyle most people picture when they think about moving here.
| Category | Monthly cost (USD) | Monthly cost (IDR) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (1-2BR villa) | $1,100-1,950 | 20,000,000-35,000,000 |
| Food (mostly Western, dining out) | $400-650 | 7,200,000-11,600,000 |
| Transport (scooter or occasional driver) | $100-250 | 1,800,000-4,500,000 |
| Gym (premium studio) | $110-250 | 2,000,000-4,500,000 |
| Health insurance (comprehensive) | $100-200 | 1,800,000-3,600,000 |
| Miscellaneous + social | $350-600 | 6,300,000-10,700,000 |
| Total | $2,150-3,900 | 38,500,000-69,800,000 |
Family Budget: $3,200-6,700+ / month
For a family with a school-age child, the calculation changes the moment school fees enter the picture. This is the tier where international school tuition, not rent, decides your total. Please note that I don’t have children myself, and I gathered this information directly from the websites of popular schools.
Beyond school fees, this covers family-friendly beach clubs, weekend trips to Nusa Lembongan or a waterpark, and enough buffer for a household helper. Families tend to cluster around Umalas, Berawa and the family-oriented areas of Sanur, close to the international schools.
School fees vary enormously by campus. Entry-level bilingual schools start around $250/month per child, while established schools like Canggu Community School and Bali Island School fall closer to $800-1,700/month. Premium campuses such as Green School Bali run well past $2,500/month. On top of that, expect registration, a one-off capital or building levy, uniforms and transport to add another 20-30%, so budget above the headline tuition figure, not at it.
| Category | Monthly cost (USD) | Monthly cost (IDR) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (3BR+ villa) | $1,400-2,500 | 25,000,000-45,000,000 |
| International school (per child) | $500-1,700 | 9,000,000-30,000,000 |
| Food and groceries | $500-900 | 9,000,000-16,100,000 |
| Transport (car or driver) | $150-350 | 2,700,000-6,300,000 |
| Household help | $150-300 | 2,700,000-5,400,000 |
| Health insurance (family) | $200-400 | 3,600,000-7,200,000 |
| Miscellaneous | $300-500 | 5,400,000-9,000,000 |
| Total (2 adults, 1 child) | $3,200-6,700+ | 57,300,000-120,000,000+ |
Health Insurance Costs in Bali
Living in Bali means you’re exposed to risks you don’t have at home. Traffic is no joke, and the moment you need to see a doctor, things can work differently than they do in your home country. The good news: excellent healthcare is available here, from premium hospitals and clinics to private dentists. That being said, it’s worth it to cover the risks properly. Many hospitals won’t start (emergency) treatment without an agreement on price and payment upfront, so you want to know exactly what your policy covers before you ever need it.
Did you know? Most policies won’t cover a bike accident if you were breaking the rules at the time. That includes riding without a valid local motorbike license or motorbike license from your home country (a car license plus an international permit isn’t enough), riding without a helmet, or riding faster than what’s considered safe.
I personally use a Dutch expat insurance, only available on the Dutch markets. Before this, I had an insurance through Safetywing. It’s the option I’d point most digital nomads toward first. You can calculate your own monthly premium right here, based on your age and where you’re from:
If you need certain premium treatments, it can sometimes be worth it to see whether it’s better to get those done in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. Make sure those cities fall within your policy’s covered region before you count on that option.
How Prices Vary by Area
Where you base yourself changes your budget more than almost any other decision. Canggu, Seminyak and Uluwatu are most popular, but most expensive as well.
| Area type | Example areas | Accommodation price effect |
|---|---|---|
| Premium / tourist-heavy | Canggu, Umalas, Uluwatu, Seminyak | +30-60% vs. island average |
| Mid-range | Ubud, Sanur, Cemagi | Average |
| Budget-friendly | Denpasar, Kerobokan, Dalung | -20-40% vs. island average |
If you’re coming for a shorter trip and want to know which of these areas actually suits your travel style, I’ve broken that down separately in my guide to the best areas to stay in Bali. If you’re planning to settle here longer term, the practical side of choosing an area, visas, finding accommodation, registering a bike, is covered in full in my long-term living in Bali guide.
Bali vs Home: How Much Cheaper Is It?
People can always say that Bali is cheap, but what does that actually mean compared to back home? Daily expenses are about 110% higher in Sydney, Australia, and close to 195% higher in New York City. Amsterdam comes out roughly twice as expensive overall once rent is included. Restaurant prices in New York are over 300% higher than in Bali; groceries cost about 100% more.
These figures are based on Numbeo, the largest cost-of-living database online. I often use this website before a longer trip to a new destination.
That gap is exactly why so many remote workers and retirees end up here instead of staying home. It’s not that Bali is free. It’s that the same quality of life costs a fraction of what it does in most Western cities.
My Own Bali Budget (Real Numbers)
Everything above is a range built from many different lifestyles. Here is one specific, real example: my own monthly spending as a single digital nomad and photographer. When I first arrived, my income was tighter than it is now, so this reflects my current budget in 2026, not where I started.
| Category | Price in USD | Price in IDR |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (1BR loft in cheaper area) | $224 | 4,000,000 |
| Food and groceries | $686 | 12,300,000 |
| Visa (paid upfront, averaged monthly) | $56 | 1,000,000 |
| Transport: bike depreciation | $45 | 800,000 |
| Transport: petrol | $28 | 500,000 |
| Internet (phone and home) | $21 | 375,000 |
| Laundry | $34 | 600,000 |
| Padel (3-4x a week) | $145 | 2,600,000 |
| Extras/unexpected | $112 | 2,000,000 |
| Total | $1,351 | 24,175,000 |
I still live on the cheaper side of the digital nomad life, but I don’t hold back on the things I actually enjoy. I make my own coffee at home, but I rarely eat at warungs. I don’t sign up for expensive gyms, but my padel sessions add up to about the same. Trips and bigger one-off expenses aren’t included here, these are just the costs of actually living here.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cost of Living in Bali
Can I live in Bali for $1,000 a month?
Basic digital nomad insurance starts around $40-60 a month. Comprehensive international coverage, which is what I’d actually recommend if you’re staying longer than a few months, costs $100-250 a month depending on age and coverage level.
How much does health insurance cost in Bali?
Yes, comfortably, if you stick to the backpacker or lower mid-range budget above: a simple guest house, mostly warung food, and a scooter. It gets harder in Canggu or Uluwatu but can easily be doable in Kerobokan, Dalung or Kuta.
Is Bali cheaper than the US, Europe, or Australia?
Significantly, across all three. Daily costs are about 110% higher in Sydney and close to 195% higher in New York compared to Bali. Amsterdam comes out roughly twice as expensive overall once rent is included. Restaurant and grocery prices show a similar gap.
What is a realistic monthly budget for Bali as a digital nomad?
Most remote workers land between $900 and $1,800 a month for a comfortable, sustainable lifestyle: private accommodation, a mix of local and Western food, cafe work sessions instead of a paid coworking space, and a real social life without counting every dollar.
How much does a family need to live in Bali?
A family of two adults and one child in international school should budget $3,200-6,700 a month, more with a second child. School choice, not rent, is usually what decides what you spend in that range: entry-level schools start around $250/month per child, established schools like Canggu Community School or Bali Island School cost $800-1,700/month, and premium campuses like Green School Bali can be $2,500/month, before registration and capital fees add another 20-30% on top. I don’t have children myself, so these numbers come directly from school websites rather than personal experience.
Where to Go From Here
This article covers the money. If you want the full picture of moving to and living in Bali, visas, finding accommodation, setting up your life here, my Bali Travel Guide is the place to start. For the practical steps of settling long-term, read my long-term living in Bali guide. If you’re deciding where to base yourself for a shorter trip instead, check my best areas to stay in Bali guide.
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About Me
Peter Orsel is a Dutch travel photographer based in Bali, specialized in drone and landscape photography. He has visited over 40 countries and writes detailed, no-nonsense guides based on firsthand experience.