What Is the Cost of Living in Bali?
Many people from around the globe dream of moving to Bali, Indonesia, due to the delicious food, captivating Hindu culture and the city's overall gorgeous setting. While many visit Bali to spend a nice vacation with their loved ones, other expats have opted to settle down due to the standard and cost of living in Bali.
Continue reading this article to know the monthly cost of living in Bali!
What Is the Average Cost of Living in Bali?
A single person living in Bali should expect to spend around 1,03,00,000 Rp – 3,73,00,000 Rp as their monthly expense. However, the individual costs tend to decrease for couples and families. Furthermore, an individual’s lifestyle and standard of living play the most important role in deciding the cost of living in Bali per month. The table below shows the approximate monthly expenses of a person living in Bali –
| Area of Expense | Approximate Cost Per Month |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | 39,00,000 Rp – 1,87,00,000 Rp |
| Transportation | 7,00,000 Rp – 13,00,000 Rp |
| Food and Groceries | 36,00,000 Rp – 1,00,00,000 Rp |
| Utilities | 17,00,000 Rp |
| Total | 99,00,000 Rp - 31,700,000 Rp |
What Are the Top Expenses of Living in Bali?
Housing, transportation, groceries and basic utilities are some of the major expenses for living in Bali. We will discuss these expenses in detail in the following section –
1. Housing
An individual’s most significant expense while living in Bali will be paying the monthly rent of living space in the city. Just like any other city in the world, the monthly rent of the housing varies from region to region and the type of property. You can get shared rooms at several different locations at affordable monthly rents in Bali. However, if you are someone moving in with a partner or a family, it is better to rent your own place.
| Classification of Accommodation | Approximate Rent Per Month |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom apartment in the centre of the city | 35,00,000 Rp – 75,00,000 Rp |
| 1 bedroom apartment outside the centre of the city | 20,00,000 Rp – 50,00,000 Rp |
| 3 bedroom apartment in the centre of the city | 75,00,000 Rp – 2,15,50,000 Rp |
| 3 bedroom apartment outside the centre of the city | 40,00,000 Rp – 1,50,00,000 Rp |
The table below shows the approximate price for buying a property in Bali –
| Classification of Accommodation | Approximate Cost Per Square Metre |
|---|---|
| Apartment in the centre of the city | 1,20,00,000 Rp – 2,40,00,000 Rp |
| Apartment outside the centre of the city | 57,71,000 Rp – 81,00,000 Rp |
2. Groceries
The supermarket and grocery prices tend to vary based on the area you live in. Areas with a maximum number of foreign residents tend to have costlier grocery items. It is a good idea to head out to the nearest local market in such places. Furthermore, imported items are far more expensive than the products produced locally.
| Grocery Items | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Milk (regular) (1 litre) | 18,000 Rp – 50,000 Rp |
| White bread (1 loaf) | 12,000 Rp – 44,000 Rp |
| White rice (1 kilogram) | 9,000 Rp – 15,000 Rp |
| Eggs (1 dozen) | 11,000 Rp – 34,000 Rp |
| Cheese (200 grams) | 48,000 Rp – 2,00,000 Rp |
| Chicken breast (1 kilogram) | 32,000 Rp – 96,000 Rp |
| Apples (1 kilogram) | 12,000 Rp – 39,000 Rp |
| Bananas (1 kilogram) | 15,000 Rp – 39,000 Rp |
| Oranges (1 kilogram) | 15,000 Rp – 31,000 Rp |
| Tomatoes (1 kilogram) | 8,000 Rp – 30,000 Rp |
| Potatoes (1 kilogram) | 18,000 Rp – 31,000 Rp |
| Onions (1 kilogram) | 19,000 Rp – 48,000 Rp |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 10,000 Rp – 19,000 Rp |
3. Transportation
Finding public transport in Bali is very rare; therefore, the residents have to rely on a car or scooter for their day-to-day transportation needs. Most of the people living in Bali prefer renting a bike as it is the most cost-effective and convenient way of transporting.
| Fuel Cost/Transportation Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| One-way local transport ticket | 3,000 Rp – 4,000 Rp |
| Monthly pass | 1,50,000 Rp |
| Gasoline (as of 27th June) | 17,740.00 Rp |
| Diesel (as of 27th June) | 19,460.00 Rp1 |
| Taxi fare for a kilometre | 6,500 Rp – 20,000 Rp |
| Rental bike per day | 30,000 Rp |
4. Utilities
The money spent on basic utilities such as electricity and gas supply, internet connection, mobile prepaid plans; add up a significant amount to the cost of living in Bali for a month. The table below shows the approximate cost of the basic utilities in Bali –
| Monthly Utilities | Cost |
|---|---|
| Basic (heating, cooling, electricity, water) for a house | 5,80,000 Rp – 15,00,000 Rp |
| Prepaid mobile tariff per minute | 125 Rp – 2,000 Rp |
| Internet for cable, ADSL, unlimited data | 3,50,000 Rp – 5,60,000 Rp |
5. Entertainment
The table below shows the approximate cost of the other areas of entertainment and leisure –
| Area of Expense | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| 1 month gym membership | 3,50,000 Rp – 15,00,000 Rp |
| 1 morning cappuccino | 20,000 Rp – 57,000 Rp |
| Tennis court rent for 1 hour | 50,000 Rp – 2,50,000 Rp |
| Cinema (1 seat) | 45,000 Rp – 80,000 Rp |
| Meal in an affordable restaurant (1 person) | 12,000 Rp – 60,000 Rp |
| Three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant | 2,50,000 Rp – 10,00,000 Rp |
6. Childcare and Schooling
Individuals moving to Bali with their children should consider the tuition fees of school and kindergarten. For the proper education and training of kids, the best option is to admit them to an international or private school.
| Schools and Childcare | Approximate Fees |
|---|---|
| Preschool or kindergarten, full day, private, monthly for 1 Child | 4,00,000 Rp – 17,00,000 Rp |
| International primary school, yearly for 1 child | 5,00,00,000 Rp – 22,50,00,000 Rp |
The table below shows the best international schools in Bali –
| School | Curriculum |
|---|---|
| Australian Independent School (AIS) | Australian Curriculum and International Baccalaureate |
| Bali Island School | International Baccalaureate |
| Canggu Community School (CCS) | International Baccalaureate |
| Dyatmika School | Cambridge Assessment International Education |
| Gandhi Memorial Intercontinental School (GMIS) | International Baccalaureate |
| Lycée Français de Bali | French Baccalaureate |
| Montessori School Bali | Montessori |
| Sanur Independent School | Cambridge and Australian Curriculum |
| Sekolah Lentera Kasih (SLK) & Lollypop Preschool | National Indonesian Curriculum and the Cambridge Curriculum |
| Sunrise School | British and International Early Years, Primary and Middle Years Curriculums. |
How Expensive Is Bali Compared to Other Top Cities?
Bali is the most visited place in Indonesia. Furthermore, it received the winning position at Trip Advisor's 'Travellers Choice Awards 2021. It is indeed the costliest tourist destination in Southeast Asia. However, Bali gets as costly as one makes it. An individual can save some money if they manage their expenses wisely.
Therefore, this is all the information related to the cost of living in Bali. To summarise, the cost of living here depends on the lifestyle they want and the place they choose to stay in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bali very expensive?
The cost of living in Bali primarily depends on the place where you stay and the lifestyle you choose for yourself. Bali gets as expensive as you make it!
What is the cheapest place to stay in Bali?
Located on the northern coast of Bali, Lovina is undoubtedly the cheapest place to reside in Bali.