How much do I need to travel to Bali

26th March 2020

Bali is, without doubt, one of the most popular travel spots for Aussie travellers. It's no surprise, either. Not only is it super close to home, but the island boasts stunning countryside, picture-perfect beaches, super friendly locals, and world-class cuisine. The best bit? It is incredibly affordable, with options for even the most budget of budget travellers. Luxury travellers are also catered for by 5-star resorts, private villas and niche dining. Love it or hate it, Bali really does have something for everyone.

Perhaps one of the more confusing things about planning a trip to Bali is the AUD to IDR currency conversion. With just over 100 Aussie dollars, you will be considered a Balinese millionaire. The jarring exchange rate can leave you scratching your head when it comes to sorting out your Balinese travel budget. Luckily for you, the team at Travel Money Oz have put together a nifty travel budget calculator that combines Numbeo data with the latest exchange rate to give you the most up to date idea of how much you'll be spending in Bali.

Before we dive into the calculator though, let's take a look at what you should include in your Bali travel budget.

What goes into a budget for Bali?

Transport

Bali's proximity and popularity with Aussie travellers mean airlines are often slinging super cheap flights. You can expect to pay between $80 (yes, $80!!) and $900 (ouch) for your flights to Bali.

Once you arrive, you have a few different ways of getting around.

Taxis: These start at around 1AUD and got up by 50cents or so per km. Bluebird Taxis are the most dependable for metered taxis and drivers that speak English.
Rideshare: Grab is the go-to rideshare option in Bali; however, it can sometimes be more expensive than taxis. You can also use Go-Jek, however, it is generally for motorbike rideshares. Drivers will bring you a spare helmet and are super cheap.
Scooter rentals: Did you even go to Bali if you didn't ride on a motorbike or scooter. For around 15 AUD per day, you can live the Bali dream and scoot around as you please. Just make sure your travel insurance has motorbike and scooter inclusions.
Bicycles: Keen to be on two wheels without the motor? Grab a bike for around 6 AUD per day.
Tourist bus: These are super cheap with air-conditioning and even wifi if you're lucky. Tickets start at 2AUD and go up from there depending on where you travel.
Boats: Ferries are a cost-effective way of getting to places like Lombok and the Gili Islands, with tickets less than 10 AUD. Alternatively, you can get a speedboat for around 40AUD.
Private car charter: if it's you're first time on the island, and you're keen on a convenient way to explore the island with plenty of freedom, a private car is a great option, especially if there are a few of you travelling together. For less than 40AUD a day, it is often the most popular option for Aussies.

It's also worth noting that you should most definitely wear a helmet if you are riding any kind of bike. Seriously, if not for your health and wellbeing, do it for your mum's peace of mind.

Accommodation

Bali offers a full scope of accommodation options, from 5-star luxury villas with a private infinity pool and meal plan to humble boutique hotels and hostels. The vast supply of places means hotels are always competing, which is excellent news because you can nab some sweet digs for a very low price. Prices will surge in Aussie school holidays; otherwise, you can expect to pay around the following. This is a guide only, and prices will fluctuate with seasonality and location on the island.

Guesthouse and hostel - 7-20 AUD per night
Budget hotel - 25-70 AUD per night
Private villa - 80-400 AUD per night
Airbnb - 50 - 500 AUD per night
Resort - 100-500 AUD per night
Luxury room - 500-1000 AUD per night

Food

Bali boasts some mouth-watering, world-class cuisine. It's popularity with ex-pats, and social media influencers have resulted in some very hip and trendy cafes and restaurants popping up across the island. Catering to all food preferences and cravings, you are bound to leave well-fed and satisfied.

Food as a whole is very cheap, especially when compared to Australia. You can eat mountains of street food and local dishes without even putting a dent in your travel budget. The following is a good guide for prices while in Bali:

Street food - 1 AUD
Basic local dish - 1-5 AUD
Western food - 10 - 15 AUD
Restaurant cuisine - 15 - 40 AUD
Bottle of water - 2 AUD

Make sure you try the following dishes while visiting:

Babi Guling: a famous dish of tender suckling pig.
Sate: mashed chicken blended with an array of spices.
Pisang Goreng: fried bananas served with honey or palm sugar syrup, flaked coconut and ice cream.
Mie Goreng: fried noodles served with veggies, your choice of meat all topped off with a fried egg.
Nasi goreng: like Mie Goreng with rice instead of noodles.
Spring rolls: you should know what these are.

It's also worth noting that alcohol is very cheap, and you can very easily get a great cocktail for a small price. Just be cautious of nasty bootleg drinks that appear cheap even by Bali standards. As a guide, avoid drinks labelled as 'arak'.

Activities

There is plenty to keep your mind, body and soul occupied while on holiday in Bali. We recommend setting some time aside for the following:

Shop 'til you drop! Bali offers travellers more than the usual mass-produced souvenirs, boasting boutiques, high-end homeware stores, silver jewellery and gorgeous antiques. Just keep in mind that a lot will cost the same as back home in Australia, so keep your eyes peeling for sales if you're keen on a bargain.
Immerse yourself in the local culture, learning about customs and the Balinese way of life.
Explore the temples. Pura Besakih is a popular location, mainly because it is located on the sacred Mount Agung, an active volcano. Tanah Lot Temple is also a famous and visually striking temple to visit.
See the wildlife, including monkeys (they are very cheeky), buffalo and dolphins.
Relax and pamper at one of the many spas. Balinese massage and spa treatments use herbs and spices to ignite the senses and re-energize your body.
Have a go at some adventure sports including mountain bike riding, horseback riding, zip-lining, paragliding and mountain trekking. There are also plenty of water sports available if you're keen to get the adrenaline pumping while staying cool.
Speak of water sports, Bali is very popular for its diving and snorkelling. If you're keen to scuba, make sure you check out the US Liberty cargo shipwreck dive.
Head to a yoga or pilates retreat to destress and stretch. You can attend a single class, or take part in a multi-day retreat.
Listen to TLC and go chasing some waterfalls.
Appreciate the local art, whether it be paintings, woodcarvings, metalwork, sculptures or dance.
Take a cooking class and learn to make classic Indonesian dishes.
Relax on the beach with a cocktail in hand
Eat like a King!

Pre-travel expenses

Aussie's don't need a visa for stays of less than 30 days in Bali. Before leaving for your trip, stop by your doctors to make sure you're up to date with any relevant travel immunizations. Further to this, it's in the best interest of all travellers to invest in a comprehensive travel insurance policy, regardless of where you are visiting.

How much does a trip to Bali cost?

Step 1

Enter your destination (Bal)
Let us know how long you'll be away
Choose your currency. In this case, it will either be AUD or IDR.
Get ready to relax with a Bintang! You've officially started your travel budget.

Step 2

Unlike other locations around the world, it is very affordable to eat out for every meal in Bali. Many hotels will include breakfast as well, so be sure to factor this into your travel budget and consider whether you'll be focusing on local dishes and street food, or if you'll instead be hitting up more expensive restaurants.

Step 3

In this section, estimate how much you plan on shopping while in Bali. From cheap souvenirs (don't kid yourself, you'll grab a Bintang singlet) to boutique homewares and jewellery, consider how much shopping you'll do while in Bali.

Step 4

This is for all of your transport outside of flights, so the taxis, scooters, buses and private cars.

Step 5

The hard work is done! Here you'll find a simple layout of your planned expenses in both Australian dollars and Indonesian rupiah. From here you can either go back and edit, or start saving for your holiday!

It's important to note here that this only accounts for your most basic expenses. You'll need to add in travel insurance and other daily expenses. It's also worth having a bit of wiggle room in the kitty for unexpected costs, like finding the perfect Balinese dining table that you need to ship home, or a last-minute yoga retreat.

Bali Budget Examples

Here are some examples of what the bones of your travel budget would look like. Please note all of these examples are based on seven nights of accommodation and are quoted in Aussie dollars. Prices will, of course, vary with seasonality and availability.

Couples trip (or girls weekend away with your bestie!)

This couple is spending a week indulging in some meditation and pamper packages in stunning Ubud.

Flights	$780 per person	Sydney to Denpasar return with Qantas with a return taxi from the airport to Ubud.
Accommodation	$1981	One-bedroom villa with private pool in a resort and spa with breakfast included.
Food	$100 per day	With breakfast included in your hotel cost, you can splurge on some local restaurants and dishes.
Activities	$150 per day	A bit of shopping, plenty of massages and a day trip here and there.
Total for couple	$5291	Honestly, what a bargain.

Family getaway

Mum, Dad and the two kids are keen on a flop and drop holiday in Nusa Dua. The kids are treated to new friends and waterslides at the kids club, while Mum and Dad enjoy a week of sunsets and relaxation (all with a cocktail in hand of course).

Flights	$2650	Sydney to Denpasar return with Qantas with a return taxi from the airport to Nusa Dua.
Accommodation	$2416	Family king room in a beachfront resort with kids club and breakfast included.
Food	$130 per day	Breakfast at the hotel, with some street food and snacks for lunch and a nice dinner each night.
Activities	$80 per day	The fam is pretty content relaxing at the resort, however, they are keen on a few day trips to temples and maybe some water sports.
Total	$6536	The kids won’t stop raving about their epic holiday to Bali. Coolest parents ever.

Solo traveller

This lucky vagabond is keen on exploring the hip, surfing vibes on Canggu while on a budget.

Flights	$600	Sydney to Denpasar return flights with Jetstar, with a return taxi from the airport to Canggu.
Accommodation	$114	Hostel bunk on a beachfront hostel with breakfast included.
Food	$20 per day	With the hostel covering Breakfast, you can eat like a King at all of the street food stalls.
Activities	$30 per day	Entry into a few attractions, with most of your time spent relaxing on the beach or learning to surf.
Total	$1064	Mate. That’s a bargain if ever we’ve seen one.

Last-minute tips

Locals will know you’re a tourist, so make sure you’re aware of your surroundings in case of pickpockets or vendors trying to do a sneaky on you.
Don’t drink the water. Instead, grab bottled water from the shops or your accommodation. It is also recommended you don’t have ice in your drinks.
Tips aren’t expected, however, if you receive good service (and you probably will, the Balinese people are very generous and hospitable), it’s worth tipping a couple of dollars to your server
While many places will accept card transactions, card fraud is common in Bali so consider leaning more towards cash transactions.
When it comes to your cash, store it in different locations to avoid losing it all should you get pickpocketed.
If you’re worried about international roaming charges it is very easy to rent a reliable pocket wifi device that will cover the extent of your trip.
ATMs are easy to find in main cities, just be cautious of your surroundings and try to use those in banks instead of out on the street.
Foreigners often pay more for entrance to certain locations.
Bartering is very common and expected at markets and stores in Bali. Don’t ever pay the first price you were quoted. If you are new to bargaining, we recommend halving the initial cost and going up from there. It’s also worth
having an idea of how much you are willing to pay; if the price goes above that then just walk away - chances are they’ll quickly lower the cost as you depart.
The Southern part of the island is more expensive, so if you’re keen to save even more look further north.
If paying by card, make sure you choose to pay in the local currency (IDR) to avoid extra fees.
You can save money on attractions by booking in advance online.
Research your 'per day' budget and include the things you want to do. Once you know the costs, you have a savings goal to work towards.
Take advantage of Travel Money Oz’s Best Price Guarantee. If you find a better price from a competitor, we will beat it*.
Hostels are a great way to save cash and meet like-minded travellers.
Check out reviews if you think something is too good to be true. Chances are it might be.
Tourist attractions will always have higher prices, especially in more popular cities.
Don't forget to factor in pre-travel costs like travel insurance, immunisations and visas.
Sign up for Rate Alerts. We'll let you know when the AUD is doing well against the IDR so you can purchase and maximise your travel money.

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Flight costs are based on search from www.flightcentre.com.au and are indicative costs only for travel dates 4 - 11 November 2020. Prices were sourced on March 25th 2020^. Accommodation costs are based on an average per night price for budget, moderate or luxury hotels, as indicated in the table. ~Food based on the average cost of 1 coffee, 1 fast food meal and 1restaurant meal per person, per day. COST COMPARISON TABLE: All costs are based on estimated approximate costs from major metropolitan cities. "From" costs indicate costs that start from the indicated price and may be higher than shown. Average prices indicate a typical estimated cost you would pay for the indicated item. Prices may vary from time to time, and in different places within Bali. This blog is provided for information only and does not take into consideration your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should consider whether the information and suggestions contained in any blog entry are appropriate for you, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs. While we take reasonable care in providing the blog, we give no warranties or representations that it is complete or accurate, or is appropriate for you. We are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise, arising from use of, or reliance on, the information and/or suggestions contained in this blog.