Bali Budget Calculator
- Housing + utilities $622 45%
- Food & drink $371 27%
- Getting around $88 6%
- Work + connectivity $176 13%
- Health, gym, fun $133 10%
These are mid-market figures. Paying with a typical bank card in Bali adds roughly 3% on top, about $42 a month on this budget. Find the best travel card for Bali →
A solo digital-nomad month, per person, side by side with places in the region.
A month here is about 50% of a mid-size US city.
See the cost breakdown
- Rent (1-bed) 1× 1-bed $527
- Utilities + internet flat estimate $95
- Eating out (local) 32 × $1.98 $63
- Eating out (mid-range) 16 × $5.54 $89
- Groceries (cooking in) 32 meals × $2.08 $66
- Coffees 45 × $2.77 $125
- Beers out 10 × $2.82 $28
- Getting around scooter + 12 taxis $88
- Coworking $151/mo $151
- SIM / data 7-day SIM × 4 $25
- Gym $23/mo $23
- Massages 2 × $13 $26
- Health (amortised) GP + dentist ÷ 12 $4.00
- Nightlife / buffer flat estimate $80
Figures assume a long-term stay (30+ days) and cover rent, food, transport, internet and everyday spending. Flights, visas and insurance aren't included. Rent, utilities and internet are shared across the household; everything else is per person. Rent, food and transport use the prices listed below. Utilities, health costs spread over the year and a buffer for extras are estimates.
Prices last checked between May and September 2026
Average prices in Bali
Bali is still good value, but the days of ultra-budget travel are fading as demand from remote workers has driven up rental prices in popular areas. You can still eat cheap at local warungs for a few dollars, but imported goods and Western-style cafes can get expensive.
Where a business publishes a price we use it and name it: 67 of them sit behind the rows above, last checked between May and September 2026, and the i beside a price shows which. Where no business publishes one, a taxi fare or a long-term rent, the figure is an estimate drawn from published local sources. How these prices are collected ↗
Rent in Bali by area
Rent in Bali is highest in Uluwatu and Canggu and lowest in Denpasar. The areas below are listed from most to least expensive, compared with the island average. The rent differences are estimates from local listings, not measured prices, so treat them as a rough guide.
- Uluwatu Pricier Uluwatu has the highest rents on this list. It sits on the Bukit, the limestone peninsula at Bali's southern tip, where a villa-building boom has made rents rise fast. A modern one-bed there often costs more than one in Seminyak.
- Canggu Pricier Canggu is the main base for remote workers, with cafes, coworking spaces and surf all close together. Its rents are among the highest on the island, and the cafe lifestyle gets expensive quickly.
- Seminyak Pricier Seminyak is easy to get around on foot and full of restaurants. Rents and everyday prices are high because so many tourists stay there.
- Sanur Mid Sanur is quieter than the west-coast tourist areas and suits families. Rents are around the island average.
- Ubud Cheaper Ubud is cheaper than the beach areas, especially outside the center. The downside is a longer trip whenever you want the coast.
- Denpasar Cheaper Denpasar is Bali's capital and main city. It has the lowest rents on this list and few tourists.
Gym prices in Bali
A day pass at a Bali gym typically costs Rp245k (about $14). Plain local gyms in Kuta, Legian and Sanur charge the least, and the clubs in Canggu and Berawa that bundle a pool, sauna, ice bath and classes charge the most. A week pass costs about Rp795k (about $44) and is cheaper than day passes once you train four times that week.
For a month, expect around Rp1.5m (about $84). A plain local gym costs about $23 a month and a premium club about $215, and a membership pays off once you train about twice a week. Watch for prices marked "++": 10% tax, and sometimes 5% service, is added on top. Many gyms are also on ClassPass, and some give holders of a KITAS or an Indonesian ID card (KTP) a discount.
Is Bali expensive?
Bali is cheap for rent, transport and local food. Anything imported or aimed at tourists costs close to what it does at home. Budgets usually go over on cafe meals and nightlife.
A digital-nomad month in Bali costs far less than the same life in a mid-size US, UK or Australian city. In the region, Bali costs a little more than Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand, and more than most Vietnamese cities. Singapore is far more expensive.
Sending money to Bali
If your income or savings are abroad, you will be converting money into rupiah for rent deposits, monthly transfers and big bills. A poor exchange rate plus a transfer fee cancels out part of what you save on living costs.
Landlords usually want rent and deposits in cash or by bank transfer, so sort out how you move money before you sign a lease. Compare what each provider sends below, then read the full Bali money guide for ATMs, cards and QRIS (Indonesia's national QR-code payment system).
What you'll receive today
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Paying rent, using ATMs, tapping a card? See the full Bali money guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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How much do you need per month to live in Bali?
About $790 a month for one person on a basic budget, $1,700 as a digital nomad with a one-bed and coworking, and $3,060 for a villa with a car. These are island averages. The calculator above adjusts for household size, neighborhood and currency.
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Can you live in Bali on $1,000 a month?
Yes, for one person, if you rent somewhere simple, eat mostly local food and get around by scooter. That leaves little room for Western-style cafes and nightlife.
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Is Bali cheaper than Thailand?
No, but they are close. Rent and coworking in Bali cost a little more than in Chiang Mai and about the same as in Bangkok. Local food is cheap in both.
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What costs do people forget when budgeting for Bali?
Health insurance and visa fees are the two people leave out most. The other common surprise is paying by the night: short-term stays cost much more than a monthly rental, so sign a monthly lease once you have picked an area.
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Do you need a scooter, or can you get by without?
You can get by without one, but a scooter makes life much easier in Canggu, Ubud and Uluwatu, especially away from the main streets. Ride-hailing apps work instead, but the fares add up. The Basic and Digital Nomad budgets include a monthly scooter rental; the Luxury budget uses a car.