Is Bali expensive? What things really cost in 2026
Short answer
Bali can be very cheap or surprisingly expensive, depending on where you eat and sleep. Local warung food and homestays keep a budget day to about IDR 600,000 per person, while Seminyak beach clubs, Uluwatu cliff hotels and private drivers push a mid-range day to about IDR 1,750,000. It is generally cheaper than Singapore or Europe, but tourist-area prices are well above the rest of Indonesia.
Daily budget: backpacker, mid-range, luxury
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | IDR250,000 | IDR700,000 | IDR2,500,000 |
| Food & drink | IDR150,000 | IDR350,000 | IDR900,000 |
| Sights & tickets | IDR100,000 | IDR400,000 | IDR1,000,000 |
| Local transport | IDR100,000 | IDR300,000 | IDR600,000 |
| Per person, per day | IDR600,000 | IDR1,750,000 | IDR5,000,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Bali day-cost table.
What things cost
| Item | Typical price* |
|---|---|
| Nasi campur at a warung | about IDR 25,000–60,000 |
| Babi guling plate | about IDR 40,000–80,000 |
| Nasi jinggo (rice packet) | about IDR 5,000–10,000 |
| Sacred Monkey Forest, Ubud | about IDR 80,000–100,000 |
| Kecak fire dance, Uluwatu | about IDR 150,000 |
| Balinese massage, 1 hour | about IDR 150,000–300,000 |
| Mount Batur sunrise trek with transfers | about IDR 600,000–900,000 |
| Mid-range pool villa near Ubud | about IDR 900,000–1,800,000 a night |
| Tourist levy (one-off) | IDR 150,000 |
* Approximate prices, October 2026. They change with season and exchange rates.
Where the money goes
Beds take the largest share: about IDR 250,000 per person sharing a double in a homestay, IDR 700,000 mid-range, and luxury resorts far more. Transport is a bigger cost than in most cities because Bali has almost no public transport: a shared driver or ride-hailing costs roughly IDR 100,000–300,000 per person a day. Food ranges from about IDR 150,000 a day in warungs to IDR 350,000 with cafés and a sit-down dinner; imported wine and beach-club minimum spends are where food bills balloon. Activities such as temples, dance shows, the Batur trek and Nusa Penida trips add IDR 100,000–400,000 a day. Budget for the IDR 150,000 tourist levy and, for most nationalities, a visa on arrival or e-VOA fee.
When it is cheaper
The wet season (roughly November to March, excluding the Christmas–New Year weeks) and the shoulder months of April–May and October usually have the lowest villa and hotel rates, often noticeably below July–August peaks; check prices for your dates.
How to spend less
- Eat at local warung with prices on the wall rather than tourist cafés; nasi campur costs a fraction of a café brunch.
- Use Grab or Gojek for short trips and agree a full-day price with one driver for touring days.
- Base yourself in two areas (Ubud and the south) instead of moving daily, to save on long drives.
- Drink refill-station water instead of buying many small bottles; many cafés and hotels offer refills.
- Skip beach-club minimum spends and watch sunset from the sand at Batu Bolong, Echo Beach or Jimbaran with a Bintang.
- Choose your own restaurants and shops rather than letting drivers take you to commission places.
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Common questions
How much does a day in Bali cost?
About IDR 600,000 per person on a budget, IDR 1,750,000 mid-range and IDR 5,000,000 in comfort, including a shared room, food, activities and transport.
Are there extra fees to enter Bali?
Yes: a one-off tourist levy of IDR 150,000, and for most nationalities a visa on arrival or e-VOA of about IDR 500,000. Check the official sites for your passport.
Is Bali cheaper than Thailand?
Roughly similar for local food and guesthouses. Bali often costs more for transport, because you rely on drivers rather than public transport.