Cost of living in Bali: Food, transport, and more

The cost of living in Bali is one of the main reasons why many travellers, like digital nomads, students or long-term tourists, decide to stay for a while to enjoy a paradise with affordable prices. In this article, we’ll discover how much it costs to stay on this Indonesian island, where to shop, how to get around, healthcare and leisure activities.

Although it’s cheaper than many European destinations, it depends on your chosen accommodation, location and lifestyle. Finally, we’ll recommend the best options to get a stable internet connection anywhere in the city. Let’s discover the real cost of living in Bali!

Average cost of staying in Bali

The price of accommodation is an important factor when considering Bali’s cost of living. You’ll find plenty of options, from hotels, apartments, luxury villas or colivings, an excellent choice for digital nomads. Prices, as you’ll see, are very affordable, sometimes offering luxury quality. Check the accommodation types available:

• Mid-range hotels: on Booking you’ll find three-star hotels between €32 ($37) and €55 ($65) per night, such as Valstar Hotel in Canggu or Tijili Hotel in Seminyak.
• Furnished apartments: between €350 ($535) and €780 ($910) per month, depending on facilities. You can even stay in a villa with pool for that price.
• Colivings for digital nomads: in areas like Canggu, Ubud or Seminyak, you’ll find several colivings between €550 ($600) and €910 ($1,000) per month. These usually include fast internet, coworking spaces and cleaning, like Bali Bustle.
• Airbnb (studios or small villas): from €23 ($25) per night or about €640 ($700) per month with long-stay discount.

How much does food cost in Bali?

Eating on this island is very cheap, so many travellers eat most of the time in traditional local restaurants called warungs. However, if you choose Western options, prices increase considerably. You can also shop and cook at home in supermarkets like Pepito Market:

• 1 litre of milk: $1.50 (€1.40)
• 1 kg rice: $1.20 (€1.10)
• 12 eggs: $2.10 (€1.90)
• 1 kg of chicken: $4.80 (€4.40)
• 1 kg of beef: $9 (€8.20)
• 1 loaf of bread: $1.40 (€1.30)
• 100 g of local ground coffee: $2.50 (€2.30)
• 1 chocolate bar: $2.00 (€1.80)

In any warung in Ubud, Denpasar or Canggu, you’ll find great prices with traditional Balinese food. For example, a very popular spot on the island is Warung Babi Guling Ibu Oka in Ubud, where you can order a full menu for these approximate prices:

Typical menu from a local restaurant in Bali.

Transport prices in Bali

Bali’s transport costs are quite cheap, though coverage remains limited. Still, you can travel by bus, taxi, motorbike or even buy a new vehicle. Let’s check the approximate costs for each transport type.

How public transport works

The main bus system is Trans Metro Dewata, with fixed routes at low prices, but it doesn’t reach every island corner. This service stopped early 2025 due to government funding cuts but resumed in April. Tickets cost about €0.23 ($0.27).

Taxi and Grab, a more comfortable option

Taking a taxi in Bali is very affordable, so most tourists prefer it over buses. For example, a five-kilometre trip costs around €3.00 ($3.50).

Also, Grab is very popular in Bali, offering rides by car or motorbike. A journey from the airport to the city centre costs about €6.50 ($7.60).

Bike and scooter rentals, the most popular

Undoubtedly, the island’s most used transport is the motorbike, thanks to its ease on narrow, traffic-heavy streets. Traffic in Bali is chaotic, with frequent motorbike and bike accidents. We warn you that traffic in Bali is very chaotic, and motorcycle or bicycle accidents often happen. Therefore, you must take great care and always wear your helmet.

You can rent a bicycle for €3.00 ($3.50) per day. A scooter-type motorbike costs €4.30 ($5.00) per day or €75 ($87) for a full month. Rental includes basic insurance and two certified helmets.

Buy a new vehicle in Bali

This option is worth considering if you’ll stay long-term and prefer safer transport than scooters. One common model is the Toyota Avanza from €15,000 ($17,475). You should also add the following costs to Bali’s living expenses:

• Insurance: not compulsory in Indonesia, but recommended against accidents, theft and damage, from about €50 ($58) for two weeks.
• Petrol: much cheaper than other countries, around €0.52 ($0.61) per litre.
• Electric charging: though stations are limited, prices range between €0.20–€0.28 ($0.23–$0.33) per kWh.

Cost of living in Bali: Healthcare services

According to the Global Health Security Index (2021), Bali ranks number 46 worldwide for healthcare readiness and quality. As a foreigner, living on this island, you must understand how to access Bali’s healthcare system and how it affects the cost of living.

If you hold a temporary visa (KITAS) or permanent visa (KITAP), you can access public healthcare by registering with the national BPJS Kesehatan system. Otherwise, as a tourist, you must purchase private health insurance, like Cigna Global, starting from €100 ($116) monthly. Without insurance, you’ll face the following approximate fees if needed:

Healthcare service fees in Bali.

Internet and call plan prices

With the arrival of many digital nomads, Bali’s internet connection has improved greatly in recent years to support online work. You’ll usually find 4G coverage in urban and tourist areas, while rural zones may have weaker service. Fixed internet and data plans cost around:

• MTM Bali: 200 Mbps for €13.50 ($15.80) per month.
• Telkomsel: 25 GB for $26.00 (€22.00) monthly
• IM3: 18 GB for $16.00 (€13.00) monthly

For a safer connection, we recommend the eSIM for Bali from Holafly if your trip is short. You’ll enjoy unlimited data only for the days you need. However, if you’ll stay longer, Holafly monthly plans are the best solution.

Start browsing from the first day on the island with 5G coverage, unlimited data and the option to connect multiple devices simultaneously from €50.50 per month, without contract. Plus, you can travel to over 170 destinations with the same eSIM!

Important: If you are a frequent traveler and want to stay connected without worrying about expensive roaming or looking for a new SIM at every destination, Holafly’s subscription plans are for you. With a single eSIM, enjoy internet in more than 160 countries for a fixed price and no surprises on your bill. Travel without limits and connect easily and securely! 🚀🌍

Cost of leisure activities in Bali

After reviewing the different factors influencing Bali’s living costs, we must include the leisure activities available on the island. Besides paradise landscapes and cultural richness, you can explore ancient temples, visit palaces or go hiking in the mountains. Take note!:

• Cinema: a ticket costs around €2.15 ($2.50).
• Zoo: entry to Bali Zoo costs about €21.45 ($25).
• Theatre: you can enjoy a play from €8.60 ($10).
• Temples: such as Lempuyang, Tirta Gangga, Forest, from €4.30 ($5.00) per entry.
• Ubud Monkey Forest: entry costs around €4.70 ($5.50) per day.
• Tegalalang Rice Terrace: entry to admire the rice fields costs about €1.12 ($1.30).
• Mount Batur: a guided sunrise hike plus hot springs visit costs about €70.00 ($80.00).
• Netflix: monthly subscription costs €6.99 ($8.12).

In summary, Bali’s living costs vary depending on your lifestyle, but roughly you can live comfortably with a budget between €775–€1,290 ($900–$1,500) if you stay in a simple villa, or around €1,722 ($2,000) if you prefer a luxury villa with pool. Still, it remains a low living cost compared with other destinations, so it’s worth experiencing life on this island for a while. Have you already packed your suitcase?

Frequently asked questions about the cost of living in Bali

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