How Much Does It Really Cost to Live in Bali in 2025?
Dreaming of living in Bali? There's a famous saying which goes, 'a dream without a plan is just a wish. If you're going to live in Bali, you might be wondering what kind of budget you'll need each month. Bali's reputation as an affordable paradise has been spread across social media in recent years, but is that still accurate in 2025?
Before relocating to Bali, it’s important to calculate potential living expenses to create an accurate budget for your stay.
The truth is, things have become quite a lot more expensive, especially compared to when Instagram posts were made before or during the pandemic, back when Bali was touted as a place that you could comfortably live in for $700 a month. Like most places across the globe, post-pandemic inflation and rising rental costs have hit the island, and if you want a good standard of living comparable to what you'd have in western countries, you're going to have to pay for it. Still, Bali offers a great lifestyle at a reasonable budget, as eating out and rental prices are still cheaper than in Europe and the US. So, what can you reasonably expect to pay, and for what? Keep reading for more details, or check out this summary below for a quick idea.
Monthly Living Cost Summary:
Housing: $300-2,500 USD per month (depending on location and quality)
Food: $150-1,000 USD per month (local vs Western dining)
Transportation: $45-200 USD per month (scooter rental + fuel or ride-hailing)
Utilities: $90-180 USD per month (basic to high usage)
Healthcare Insurance: $60-165 USD per month (essential coverage)
Total Monthly Budget: $700-4,100 USD, from the bare minimum to a much more luxurious lifestyle. Whilst $700 might be technically possible, this standard of living is generally too low for most expats, and would leave nothing in the case of emergencies or unexpected costs. For a more realistic budget, having approximately $1500 would be good.
Housing Costs in Bali 2025
Housing is something you have to pay for every month, so it's important to choose wisely. There are plenty of good villas and housing options available in Bali, but realistically, for a 2 bedroom villa with a private pool in Canggu, Uluwatu, Seminyak or Ubud, 180-250 million rupiah ($10,980-15,250 USD) a year would be a good estimate.
This could include cleaning, pool and garden maintenance and wifi, but probably not electricity, which could add an extra 1-3 million rupiah ($61-183 USD) per month. There are villas available for less or more, but this may be a good middle of the road option for couples that are looking to rent a place with a spare bedroom.
For truly luxury villas, you could be looking at anything between 30 million to 70 million rupiah ($1,830-4,270 USD) a month. If you'd like to find something a little more humble, then there are places to be found as low as 70 million rupiah ($4,270 USD) a year for a one or two bedroom local style house in village areas outside of Canggu or Ubud.
Bali provides a wide range of accommodation options, from budget-friendly guesthouses to high-end luxury villas.
If you plan on staying long-term, paying for a year upfront will help you to secure a much better deal if you can afford the initial cost.
If you're looking for a guesthouse (small studio room with ensuite), there are budget options available from approximately 5-6 million rupiah ($305-366 USD), up to 10-12 million rupiah ($610-732 USD) for something more premium. These often include security, wifi, electricity cleaning services and potentially a shared pool.
One of the biggest determiners of how much you'll pay is where you choose to live. In prime areas in Uluwatu or Canggu and surrounding areas, such as Berawa, Pererenan and Seseh, you're much more likely to pay a premium for rentals.
If you're willing to live somewhere further out, such as Padonan, Dalung, Tumbuk Bayuh, Umalas, Kerobokan, Nyani or Kaba Kaba, there are much better deals to be had. Similarly, in areas such as Sanur, Denpasar and the outskirts of Ubud, there are plenty of more affordable options.
When you're choosing a place, it's important to think about traffic and how much time you want to spend driving. While living far away from wherever you need to be might save you money, it will cost you time. So think carefully about your location and weigh up the pros and cons of living somewhere further away, especially if there’s a lot of traffic around that area.
Another important consideration is that rental prices often increase in the high season, which falls in July, August and then December. For a more competitive deal, rent something earlier or later in the year and pay upfront for a term that includes those months. Make sure you check the inclusions and your contract thoroughly before signing so you can avoid any unexpected or hidden costs.
Food Costs in Bali 2025
Food costs can vary wildly, and ultimately, what you spend will depend on your tastes and preferences. If you are someone who needs Western comfort foods, you will spend considerably more than those who are happy with eating local food.
Nasi Campur Bali — a plate of rice served with a variety of side dishes, from meats and vegetables to sambal, flavor-packed and only 20k–50k IDR at a local warung.
For local warungs, the name given to small family restaurants, a complete meal can cost around 20,000-50,000 rupiah ($1.22-3.05 USD). For that price, you could get something like nasi campur (rice with different vegetable or meat dishes), or a nasi goreng (fried rice).
However, if you fancy eating international cuisine, you could spend approximately 80,000-200,000 rupiah ($4.88-12.20 USD) for an average meal. If you want to eat somewhere high-end, the sky is the limit, but on average it may set you back anywhere between 400,000-1,000,000 rupiah ($24-61 USD) per person.
The same applies for grocery shopping, where the price of local markets and shops differs greatly from supermarkets like Pepito, Frestive and Bintang. Local markets and grocery stores offer great produce at cheaper prices, but you may not be able to find all the ingredients you need to cook the recipes you know, or to quell your food cravings.
Having a monthly budget of $150-300 USD (2.46-4.92 million rupiah) could cover your food shopping in local places, whereas you could easily end up spending between $600-1000 USD (9.84-16.39 million rupiah) per month for imported goods and eating out at western restaurants.
Getting Around Bali in 2025
Transportation in Bali is quite reasonable, especially if you plan on using ride hailing apps like Grab or Gojek, or renting a motorbike. You can usually rent scooters like an old Scoopy or Honda Vario for as low as 700,000 rupiah ($43 USD) per month, but the quality or condition of the bike may be a little questionable.
Stay safe and compliant when riding in Bali - a valid scooter license is essential, especially with police checks becoming more frequent.
When it comes to your safety, it's always worth spending a bit more if you are able to, so we'd recommend getting something such as a newer Honda Vario or Nmax, which usually will set you back approximately 1.6-2.5 million rupiah ($98-153 USD) depending on which place you're renting them from. Fuel will generally cost between 50,000-100,000 rupiah ($3.05-6.10 USD) for a full tank, meaning you can get around quite cheaply for days once you've paid your initial rental cost.
Using Gojek or Grab is also a convenient and inexpensive option. Taking a short trip in your neighbourhood can cost as little as 15,000-30,000 rupiah ($0.92-1.83 USD) for a bike, whereas a longer journey to another area could be between 50,000-80,000 rupiah ($3.05-4.88 USD).
For trips with a taxi, you can expect to pay more, but the costs are still very reasonable, with taxi rides from 30,000-60,000 rupiah ($1.83-3.66 USD) within your local area, up to 200,000-350,000 rupiah ($12.20-21.35 USD) for long journeys of around 1 or 2 hours. This can be a great option when it's raining, if you don't feel like driving or if you've had alcohol.
In order to ride a scooter legally, you need to have a driving license. Although you can often rent one without having the correct paperwork, police checks are becoming much more frequent these days. Being stopped and reported by the police is an unpleasant and unnerving experience that is best avoided. If you need help with obtaining an Indonesian license, we can make the process easy and straightforward for you. Simply contact us on Whatsapp or drop into our office in Pererenan and we'd be happy to assist.
Healthcare and Insurance in 2025
Healthcare is still much cheaper than the US and some other countries, but if you're coming from a country with free healthcare, it will be an additional expense. For international coverage policy from insurers like Cigna or Allianz, you can expect to spend anywhere between $700-2,000 USD (11.48-32.79 million rupiah) annually, depending on your age. If you're working or have a KITAS, you can get basic coverage with BPJS (Indonesia's national healthcare system) or get a more basic plan with a local insurer.
Medical costs in Indonesia can be affordable compared to Western countries, but emergencies may require evacuation insurance.
Doctor appointments, dental care and other consultations are actually quite cheap compared to other Western countries, with a GP consultation ranging from $10-30 USD (164,000-492,000 rupiah) in most clinics. Routine dental appointments may only cost $20 USD (328,000 rupiah), and more complex procedures like wisdom tooth removals may be around $150-200 USD (2.46-3.28 million rupiah). However, if something serious happens that requires full insurance coverage, costs can become exceedingly high. That's why comprehensive insurance is actually essential for most expats, rather than just an optional expense. There are plenty of stories of expats paying $50,000+ due to not having insurance and needing immediate care. Don't take the risk with your health - make sure you get proper insurance.
Other Costs
Your utility costs depend mostly on your usage, although they are still considerably cheaper than in other European countries. Basic electricity, water and waste collection may average around 1.5 million rupiah ($92 USD) monthly. However, having a swimming pool or using air conditioning could easily double electricity bills, especially if you have an older property with poor insulation.
Mobile data is still very affordable, with unlimited packages offering 60-125GB monthly for just 38,000-100,000 rupiah ($2.30-6.10 USD).
Another cost that needs to be factored in is the cost of visas. If you're looking to stay longer term, having a KITAS is a good option, although they can be costly and require quite a lot of paperwork. On the other hand, tourist visas remain relatively cheap but may put you in a legal grey area if you plan on staying long term. We highly recommend looking into the digital nomad visa if you're planning on working remotely. Please check our list of different visas here or feel free to reach out to us if you're wondering what type of visa might be best for you.
Ready to Make the Move?
If you’ve got the right budget, Bali offers an incredible lifestyle in a place with a unique culture and stunning natural beauty. However, you will need more than just enough money, as having a means of income, visa and proper insurance is necessary to make sure you can stay both legally and with peace of mind. If you need help or assistance with visa options, simply reach out to one of our expert staff members at Bali Solve through Whatsapp or email, and we’ll help you make your move a success story.
Written by Bali Solve Team
12th August 2025
