enjoying Sanur Beach – Bali
Costs of Traveling in Bali on a Budget in 2015
I just spent one month immersed in my beloved Bali – after a 2-year hiatus. Quite predictably, prices in Bali have risen again since I last left the island in late 2012.
At that time I wrote Costs of Budget Travel Around Bali in 2012, in which I lamented the fact that prices in Bali have nearly tripled since I first set foot there in 2000.That includes costs for accommodation, local food and beverages, transportation and many daily needs such as prepaid mobile sims and petrol (gasoline).
Happily, many daily items remain at about the same price – things like shampoo, moisturizer, soap, bottled water and other bottled beverages – at least if you buy them at large supermarkets.
Until a few years ago, I regularly lived & traveled around Bali quite comfortably for about $250-300 US per month, making Bali considerably cheaper than other countries around SE Asia (where I could live comfortably for about $400-500 US). No longer is Bali the super budget paradise it used to be, alas.
In 2012 and again in 2015, I had to spend $500-$600 per month to get by.
On top of that, in 2014 the cost of Bali’s popular Visa On Arrival increased from its long-standing price of $25 US to $35 US, adding yet another cost to travelers visiting Island of Gods. Here are details on arrivals procedures in Bali 2015.
However, the Indonesian Government just announced that it’s in the process of allowing citizens of 45 countries to enter with a FREE Visa On Arrival as of April, 2015. Check out the official stance on this before heading to Bali.
On another positive note, in 2104 and 2015 exchange rates for the Indonesian rupiah have been much more favorable for overseas visitors than in previous years, somewhat offsetting the higher prices. A standard exchange rate for many years before 2014 was about $1 US = 10,000 rp.
In 2014 & 2015, the rate has been $1 US = 12,000-13,000 rp, a 20%-30% improvement. The same holds true for rates on Euros, GBP and $ Australian. We all get more Indo rp for our dollars.
my room at Yulia Guest House in Sanur
The price of budget accommodation is what has particularly soared over the years, so much so that now in 2015 budget rooms in Bali cost more than in neighboring Malaysia and Thailand. Whereas Bali used to be much cheaper for budget travelers than other SE Asian countries, Bali now costs about the same over all, if not a bit more.
On a happy note, Bali’s budget rooms are generally better value for dollar as they include breakfast, nicer rooms and gardens settings, sometimes even with a swimming pool. Compared to budget accommodation in other SE Asian countries, Bali’s budget places are rather luxurious. At least you get more bang for the buck.
cheers from Bali!
In any event, following are prices of budget rooms (in Bali called home stays), meals and drinks at local markets & warungs (small restaurants), motorbike rental, petrol and various daily needs.
From these individual prices you can calculate your own particular travel costs, which will significantly from person to person, depending on where/how often you eat, how much you move around the island, what kind of rooms you require and so on.
I’ve calculated the $ US amounts based on $1 US = 13,000 rp. Note that if exchange rates return to their long-standing rates of $1 US = 10,000 rp, the costs will be considerably higher from the stance of your own currency.
Be sure to check the current exchange rates online before you figure out the costs. Exchange rates do fluctuate frequently. Also expect the Balinese prices listed here to be a bit higher after 2015.
Cost of Budget Rooms at Homestays in 2015
* 120,000-170,000 rp / $9.25-$13 US
with 150,000 rp / $11.50 US being the standard.
Bali budget accommodation generally means your own private room with bathroom, cold shower, a veranda or balcony, set in landscaped gardens and/or with panoramic views. Generally includes breakfast and unlimited wifi. Most places (though not all) include a sheet or blanket on the bed, a towel and toilet paper.
There are exceptions to this rule. In Ubud and many mountainous areas, you’ll get a hot shower (though it might actually be lukewarm). Some homestays have lovely swimming pools in their gardens.
Sometimes breakfast is not included. A few places still don’t have wifi.
Meals and Drinks at local markets and warungs
Fresh fruit juice: 7000-10,000 rp / $0.55-0.77 US
Babi guling dishes – Bali
Te bottle: 3000-4000 rp / $0.23-$0.30 US
Hot tea or coffee: 3000-4000 rp / $0.23-$0.30 US
Nasi Campur (rice with mixed veg, tofus & meats): 10.000-15,000 rp / $0.77-$1.15 US
Bubur Ayam ( rice porridge with chicken): 5000-7000 rp / $0.40-$0.55 US
Bali Guling (roast suckling pig) 10,000-20,000 rp / $0.77-$1.55 US
Chicken Sate with rice: 10,000-15,000 rp / $0.55-1.15 US
Mutton Sate with rice: 20.000 rp / $1.55 US
Chicken curry with rice & veg: 15,000-17,000 rp / $1.15-1.30 US
Rendang beef with rice & veg: 15,000-17,000 rp / $1.15-1.30 US
Local sweets: 1000-3000 rp each / $0.07-0.23 US
using my laptop at a Bali home stay
Internet costs
Now that most hotels, cafes, restaurants, bars and even home stays in Bali offer free wifi, internet shops are far and few between. It’s also generally not necessary to use a usb modem and internet credit with your laptop either since free wifi is so readily available. You can pretty much catch wifi anywhere, except in quite remote villages and mountain areas.
Mobile phone costs
Pre-paid sim for standard mobile phone: 50,000 rp / $3.85 US
Pre-paid sim for smart phone: 75,00 rp / $5.78 US
top up credit: 10,000-100,000 rp – depends on how much you want / $0.77-7.70 US
local sms: 200 rp / < 1 cent US
international sms: 600 rp / $0.04 US
international calls:
– varies with the country called and if calling a land line or mobile number. Most phone providers have special international access codes that make calls very cheap. My overseas calls cost 500-1000 rp per minute
– vary depending on whether calling land line or various mobile phone companies
domestic calls:
– varies greatly depending on if calling to landline, mobile phone with same provider or not
Drinks from stores, cafes & bars
arak cocktail – Bali
1 Lt bottled water at supermarkets: 2500-3500 rp / $0.20-0.27 US
Mizone electrolyte drink: 3500-5500 rp / $0.27-0.42 US
Can of coke, sprite, etc: 7000 rp / $0.55 US
Espresso coffees: 20,000-30,000 rp / $1.55-2.30 US
Cocktails: 40,000-100,000 rp per cocktail. In many places 60,000-70,000 rp is common. / $3-7.70 US
Beer: 25,000 small bottle – 60,000 rp large bottle / $1.92-4.60 US
Daily needs:
fragrant soap: 1600 rp / $0.12 US
small bottle shampoo: 10,000 rp / $0.55 US
small bottle hair conditioner: 8000-10,000 rp / $0.60-0.77 US
contact solution: ~ 50,000 rp / $3.85 US
sarong: 10,000-50,000 rp / $0.77-$3.85 US
knock off sunglasses: 50,000-100,000 rp / $3.85-$7.70 US
learning to drive a motorbike in remote Bali
Transportation
rental bicycle per day: 20,000 rp / $1.55 US
rental motorbike per day: 50,000 rp / $3.85 US
rental motorbike per month: 500,000-800,000 rp / $38.50-61.50 US
petrol per liter: ~7000 rp / $0.55 US
(motorbikes get about 30-35 km per liter)
taxi from airport to points in south Bali: ~110,00-150,00 rp / $8.45-$11.50 US
taxi from airport to points in north Bali: 300,00-450,000 rp / $23-34.60 US
lounging at Yulia Guest house – Bali
My actual daily costs of traveling/living in Bali for one month in 2015:
Monthly Totals:
Food: 1,497,000 rp / $115 US
Room: 2,930,000 rp / $225 US
Motorbike Rental: 500,000 rp / $38.50 US
Petrol: 135,000 rp / $10.50 US (I drove about 800 km)
Phone sim & credit: 55,000 rp / $4.25 US
Misc Expenses: 1,391,000 rp / $107 US
(included toiletries, laundry, DVDs, weekly massages, taxis to/from the airport and misc.)
Daily Averages:
Food & Drink: 50,000 rp / $3.85 US
(eating exclusively at local warungs, street stalls, markets and masakan padang)
Rooms: 120,000-150,000 rp / $9.25-$13 US
My average was 127,000 rp / day, but you should budget for 150,000 rp / $11.50 US per day
I also lucked out with six nights of free accommodation in various friend’s homes.
Total daily costs for one month in 2015: 6,500,000 rp / $500 US
+ Visa On Arrival: $35 US
+ Flight from Brisbane to Bali: $250 US
(I counted my flight out of Bali in my expenses for the following month in Malaysia)
Total cost to visit Bali for one month: $785 US
sunrise at Sanur Beach – Bali
Final words on budget travel in Bali:
Budget travelers might find it increasingly difficult to visit Bali on less than $600 US per month. On top of that, don’t forget to add the cost of flights to/from Bali and possibly your visa. Check out your visa options in my post here.
Since prices in Bali seem to increase annually, if planning a trip there after 2015, expect costs to be a bit higher. Fortunately many free, fun, exciting activities are available to help offset the higher costs of food and rooms. Hopefully, that will make visits to Bali still affordable for budget travelers.
Check out my post 10 Free Things to do in Bali that covers activities around the entire island.
Ubud is Bali’s cultural heartland, jam-packed with art, religious festivals, performances, and intriguing Balinese daily life, so the charming town is definitely worth a visit. Here are 10 Free Things to do in Ubud.
Here are 10 Tips and Cautions for Visiting Bali
Find all my 50+ posts about Bali here.
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Hi! I'm Lash, an American nomadic world traveler who's been traveling solo since 1998. I’m passionate about traveling the world nomadically and then sharing it all with you. I hope to inspire you to travel the world, to entertain you with tales from the road, and to help you reach your travel dreams. Welcome! 
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