Bali has become one of the world's most popular bases for remote workers, retirees and long-stay travellers. A single person can live comfortably on roughly US$1,000 to US$2,500 a month, depending mostly on housing and how often you eat Western food. This guide breaks down typical prices in 2026 and, just as importantly, explains which visas actually allow you to stay long term, because the rules changed in 2024 and a lot of older advice online is now wrong.

All prices below are in Indonesian rupiah (IDR) with approximate US dollar equivalents at around 16,000 rupiah to the dollar. They are typical ranges collected from local listings and crowdsourced data such as Numbeo's Bali price index; your costs will vary by area and season.

How much does rent cost in Bali?

Housing is the biggest variable. A basic room or studio in Canggu or Ubud costs about 4 to 7 million rupiah a month (US$250 to US$450). A one-bedroom villa with a small private pool typically runs 8 to 15 million rupiah (US$500 to US$950). Multi-bedroom villas with ocean views or designer finishes range from 20 to 50 million rupiah (US$1,250 to US$3,100) or more.

Location matters. Seminyak, Canggu's centre and Uluwatu near the famous surf breaks are the most expensive; Ubud's outskirts, Sanur and the quieter east and north coasts offer better value. Many landlords want several months, or even a full year, paid up front, which lowers the monthly price but ties up cash. Always see a property in person and get a written agreement before paying.

Food and groceries

Eating like a local is remarkably cheap. A meal at a warung, a small family-run eatery, costs 20,000 to 40,000 rupiah (US$1.25 to US$2.50) for rice, a protein, vegetables and sambal. Western-style cafés and restaurants in tourist areas charge 80,000 to 200,000 rupiah (US$5 to US$12.50) per dish, and a night out at a beach club can easily cost more than a week of warung meals.

Groceries for cooking at home cost around 1.5 to 3 million rupiah (US$95 to US$190) a month for one person. Local markets are cheapest for fruit, vegetables and fish; imported cheese, wine and breakfast cereal are expensive because of import duties.

Getting around

Public transport is very limited, so most residents ride a scooter. Renting one costs about 600,000 to 900,000 rupiah (US$38 to US$56) a month; a car with a driver or a monthly car rental costs 4 to 7 million rupiah (US$250 to US$440). Ride-hailing apps such as Grab and Gojek are cheap and widely used, with short trips typically 20,000 to 50,000 rupiah. If you ride, carry an international driving permit valid for motorcycles and wear a helmet: police checks for foreigners are common, and many travel insurance policies refuse claims for unlicensed riders.

Coworking and internet

Coworking spaces are concentrated in Canggu and Ubud. Monthly memberships cost roughly 1.5 to 4 million rupiah (US$95 to US$250) and usually include backup power and faster connections than home Wi-Fi. Fibre internet is available in most popular areas, with home plans commonly advertising 20 to 100 Mbps, but outages happen. A local SIM with a data plan, from providers such as Telkomsel, is a sensible backup and costs only a few dollars a month.

Healthcare

Routine care is affordable: a GP consultation at a private clinic costs roughly 200,000 to 500,000 rupiah (US$12.50 to US$31). International-standard private hospitals such as BIMC and Siloam handle most emergencies, but for complex treatment many expats fly to Singapore, Bangkok or Jakarta. International health insurance with medical evacuation cover is strongly recommended, typically US$100 to US$300 a month depending on age and cover.

Everyday extras

Yoga classes cost around 100,000 to 150,000 rupiah a session, surf lessons 350,000 to 500,000 rupiah, and a one-hour Balinese massage 100,000 to 300,000 rupiah. Since February 2024, foreign tourists also pay a one-off Bali tourist levy of 150,000 rupiah per entry to the island, collected by the provincial government.

Which visa do you need to live in Bali?

This is where much older advice is out of date. Your options, as described on Indonesia's official e-Visa portal, are:

  • Visa on arrival (e-VOA): 30 days for eligible nationalities, extendable once for another 30 days. For tourism only.
  • Single-entry visit visa: the visa long known as the B211A, now issued under Indonesia's newer visa categories. It allows around 60 days, extendable in-country, and is meant for tourism, family and social visits. It does not authorise remote work, even though many nomads historically used it that way.
  • E33G Remote Worker KITAS: introduced in 2024, this is Indonesia's actual digital nomad permit. It is a one-year, multiple-entry limited stay permit for people employed by companies outside Indonesia, with a minimum income of US$60,000 a year, as summarised by Emerhub and other specialist advisers. It does not allow you to work for Indonesian clients.
  • Other KITAS permits: for people employed or sponsored by an Indonesian company, investors, spouses of Indonesians, and retirees who meet the age and income criteria.

There is no five-year digital nomad visa with a blanket tax exemption, despite claims you may still see online. On tax, Indonesia generally treats people who stay more than 183 days in a 12-month period as tax residents, and Indonesia's tax authority (Direktorat Jenderal Pajak) has been tightening residency rules. Remote workers planning to stay most of the year should get professional tax advice before assuming their foreign income is untaxed. Immigration enforcement in Bali has also stepped up, so working on a tourist visa is a real risk.

A realistic monthly budget

  • Budget (about US$800 to US$1,000): a simple room, mostly warung food, scooter transport.
  • Comfortable (about US$1,500 to US$2,500): a one-bedroom villa, a mix of local and Western meals, coworking membership, private health insurance.
  • High-end (US$2,500 to US$4,000+): a larger villa with a pool, frequent restaurant dining, a car and an active social life.

Remember to add one-off costs: visa agent fees, deposits, flights and insurance. Bali remains excellent value compared with most Western cities, but it rewards people who plan their paperwork as carefully as their villa search.