Bali operates under Indonesian pricing for most items. See the Indonesia cost-of-living page for the national baseline [1]. This page covers practical lifestyle costs specific to Bali.
Monthly budget overview (IDR)
Indicative ranges for a single person in South Bali (annual lease, mid-range lifestyle):
South Bali (Canggu, Seminyak, Sanur, Ubud)
| Category | Budget (IDR/mo) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (1-bed villa annual lease) | 3-10 million | South Bali blended range |
| Electricity + water + pool | 1-3 million | Pool pump is a major cost |
| Internet (fibre or Starlink) | 500,000-1 million | IndiHome or Starlink |
| Mobile phone | 100,000-300,000 | Telkomsel or XL |
| Food (groceries) | 2-5 million | Local + imported |
| Eating out | 2-6 million | Bali has many restaurant options |
| Transport (motorbike) | 500,000-1 million | Fuel + maintenance |
| Health insurance | 1.5-5 million | International, age 60+ |
| Miscellaneous | 2-4 million | Coworking, entertainment |
| Total | 12,000,000-30,000,000 | ~700-1,800 EUR |
Cost-in-USD comparison
Many Bali villas quote annual rent in USD. At the annual lease rate, a typical monthly equivalent is 300-800 USD. This is cheaper than short-term (monthly) rentals which are 2-3x higher.
Key cost drivers specific to Bali
Housing: the biggest variable. Annual lease on a 1-bed villa 3-10 million IDR/month. Short-term monthly (without annual commitment): 7-25 million IDR/month. Coworking space: if you WFH, a coworking membership adds 500,000-1,500,000 IDR/month.
Pool maintenance: if renting a villa with a pool, budget 200,000-500,000 IDR/month for chemicals and pump electricity.
Motorbike vs car: motorbike is the practical mode. A 125cc scooter costs about 300,000-500,000 IDR/month on a long-term lease including service; petrol adds 150,000-400,000 IDR/month. Car ownership is expensive. A second-hand car costs 100-300 million IDR and fuel adds 500,000-1,500,000 IDR/month.
Coworking: popular in Canggu and Ubud. Day passes 50,000-100,000 IDR. Monthly memberships 800,000-2,000,000 IDR.
Eating and drinking
- Warung meal (nasi campur, mie goreng): 15,000-35,000 IDR
- Western cafe breakfast: 50,000-120,000 IDR
- Mid-range restaurant dinner for one: 100,000-250,000 IDR
- Fine dining / chef table: 300,000-800,000 IDR
- Local coffee: 15,000-25,000 IDR
- Flat white / latte at expat cafe: 35,000-55,000 IDR
- Bintang beer (shop): 20,000-30,000 IDR
- Bintang beer (bar/restaurant): 40,000-80,000 IDR
- Imported wine (shop): 200,000-500,000 IDR per bottle
- Cocktail at expat bar: 100,000-200,000 IDR
Regional variations within Bali
- Canggu: the most expensive for housing (5-15 million IDR/month for a 1-bed villa) and eating out.
- Sanur: more affordable (3-8 million IDR/month for a 1-bed house).
- Ubud: similar to Sanur for housing. Food costs similar to South Bali.
- Jimbaran / Uluwatu: mid-range. South Bukit housing costs have risen with development.
- Amed / East Bali: significantly cheaper (2-5 million IDR/month for housing) but fewer amenities.
- Lovina (North Bali): cheap (1-3 million IDR/month) but remote.
Comparison with Western Europe
A comfortable single-person lifestyle in South Bali (annual lease) costs roughly 800-1,500 EUR/month. Equivalent lifestyle in a European city: 2,200-3,500 EUR/month. Bali offers good value for those who live local (warung food, motorbike, annual lease) but can cost as much as a European city if living in Canggu's premium tier.
This page is indicative. Actual costs vary significantly by individual circumstances.