Live Well In Bali For $900 A Month (Yes, Really!)
By Sam Lee, 2025. Can you imagine waking up to the sound of crashing ocean waves, warm tropical breezes, and vibrant green jungle surroundings — all for $900 USD per month?
Living in Bali (even for a short while) is a dream for many remote workers and travelers. And you may think paradise comes with a hefty price tag, right? But that's simply not true.
In this article, I’ll show you how to live an amazingly comfortable life in Bali, all while sticking to a budget of just $900 per month. So, let's go!
01—
Housing: Find somewhere great to live
When moving to Bali, you first have to find a nice spot to live peacefully. Housing will be your biggest expense in Bali. Depending on your preferences, it could eat up to around $150 to $500 of your $900 monthly budget. The most budget-friendly option for solo travelers is a basic room in a local homestay for $150 to $250 per month.
You might have to give up some privacy compared to a full villa rental, but you will gain a more culturally immersive experience. Many homestays have shared living areas and kitchens that allow you to mingle with local families.
One smart way to keep costs down is to find a rental a bit outside the most touristy areas like Canggu, Seminyak, and Ubud, as these drive up prices. Many digital nomads and travelers also share rental costs by living with friends or a partner to split expenses.
If you want a little more personal space, you could rent a private room within a shared villa with other expats for around $350 to $520 per month in popular areas like Canggu. Some rooms even have their own bathroom and small kitchen.
As I mentioned, an excellent cost-saving tip is to venture just a bit outside the main tourist hotspots in each area of Bali — you can find gems just 10-15 minutes away by motorbike for far cheaper rent. And always negotiate long leases to drive your prices down!
TRAVEL TIP: If you like a more chilled lifestyle, head to northeast Bali (Bali’s best-kept secret). You can find excellent accommodation deals, and the cost of living is significantly cheaper than more popular destinations down south.
02—
Indulge in delicious local cuisine
One of the biggest joys of living in Bali is the incredible local food. You'll be glad to know that eating delicious, authentic Indonesian food from local warungs is ridiculously affordable, with even huge, tasty meals costing just $2 to $6. This is where you’ll save loads of money.
Don't miss trying out their traditional nasi goreng and the incredibly rich and spicy beef rendang. For just a couple more bucks, you can chase it all down with a refreshing Bintang beer.
If you stick to these local warungs and food stalls, you could easily eat three meals daily for $10 or less. For a cheaper option, go with home cooking. Groceries for one person may only run US$100 to $300 per month.
To hit that sweet spot, I recommend eating about 80% of your meals from warungs, markets, and simple local restaurants while allowing yourself to splurge at nicer places the rest of the time.
03—
Transport: Getting around Bali
While many cities have extensive public transit systems, Bali's undisputed transportation king is the motorbike. 95% of locals and expats navigate the island's chaotic roads on motorbikes due to low costs, zipping past traffic, and ease of parking.
As a new arrival, your best bet is renting a motorbike for $50 to $200 per month, depending on the bike size and your negotiating skills. The major benefit here is that there is no big upfront cost before you get a feel for the roads and traffic patterns.
It’s a good idea to leave about $20 to $50 per month in your budget for ride-sharing apps like Gojek and Grab. Their bike taxis are cheap and invaluable for longer journeys, hauling heavy luggage, going out drinking, or whenever you don't feel like driving yourself.
You can also use Gojek and Grab for private car or van rides as affordable taxi alternatives. Expect to pay $3 to $20 for a short ride across town or $10 to $25 for transit between the major hubs like Canggu to Ubud.
Be sure to factor fuel costs into your budget as well if you'll be riding a scooter frequently. Stop at local convenience stores called Tokos and have them fill up your tank for just $1 or $2.
04—
Living a healthy lifestyle in Bali
A major draw of the Bali lifestyle is the incredible array of healthy living activities available for budget-friendly prices.
Yoga lovers can score a monthly unlimited pass to places like The Yoga Barn in Ubud for around $80 to $100 per month, but there are also other cheaper options. Many expats and travelers swear by the transformative powers of Bali's deeply spiritual yoga scene.
Bali has so many great outdoor activities. For only $10 to $30 with a guide, you can hike in the jungle with mist all around. You can even climb a real volcano, like Mount Batur, which is super pretty!
If you like surfing, Bali is famous for it! You can learn to surf for $6 to $20 an hour and rent a surfboard to use for the day for just $6 to $10.
05—
Other key expenses in Bali
While many cafes and accommodations provide free WiFi, you'll want your own reliable mobile data plan for calling, maps, rideshare apps, and uninterrupted internet access wherever you go. The good news is that telecoms in Indonesia are very affordable.
Get a pre-paid SIM card from Telkomsel, which I find to be the fastest and most reliable carrier. A reasonably generous data package costs just $15 to $25 per month.
Proper travel health insurance is essential to protect you from the costs of illnesses, accidents, or emergencies during your stay in Bali. Please don’t skimp on this.
That’s a wrap! Is Bali for you?
I have seen people earning loads of money go broke while living in Bali because of their lifestyle. But living in Bali on a $900 monthly budget is possible and can be an enjoyable experience.
By making smart choices about where you live, eat, and how you get around, you can stretch your dollars and have a great time in Bali.
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