Is Bali expensive? Not for visitors paid in US or Canadian dollars. A backpacker gets by on about US$36 (C$51) a day, a comfortable mid-range trip costs about US$128 (C$181) a day per person, and the island still has a luxury tier with no ceiling. What surprises people is how wide the gap is between a warung lunch at IDR 35,000 and a Canggu brunch at five times that.
All figures were checked in September 2026 and converted at the rate of 29 September: about IDR 18,000 to US$1 and IDR 12,700 to C$1. Several well-ranked guides still convert at around 15,600 to the US dollar, which inflates their dollar figures by roughly 15%. Rupiah prices are the ones that hold. The dollar columns move with the exchange rate.
On this page
Is Bali expensive in 2026?
Bali runs two price lists side by side. One is for Balinese customers: a plate of nasi campur, a minimart Bintang, a scooter from the shop down the road, a Grab bike across Ubud. That list has barely moved and, with the rupiah near 18,000 to the US dollar, it is cheaper for Americans and Canadians than it has been in years.
The other list is for visitors, and it is the one that shows up on social media. Specialty coffee in Canggu, smoothie bowls, beach club daybeds, private pool villas on the Bukit. Those are priced for tourists who compare them with home, and home for many of them is Sydney or Melbourne. Mix the two lists and Bali is cheap. Live entirely on the second and it is not.
Why is Bali so expensive now?
Four things make a trip cost more than people expect. The ++ on menus: most restaurants and cafés in tourist areas add 10% service and 11% regional tax, so a IDR 100,000 dish becomes IDR 121,000. Warungs and street stalls do not. Alcohol: imported wine and spirits carry heavy duty, which is why a cocktail costs more than dinner. Location: the same room is roughly 40% dearer in Canggu, Seminyak or Uluwatu than in Amed, Lovina or Candidasa. And transport: distances are short on the map and long in traffic, so taxis and drivers add up faster than in Thailand.
Is Bali cheap to visit if you eat local?
Yes. Eat one meal a day in a warung, drink minimart beer, ride a scooter and sleep in a family guesthouse, and a day costs well under US$40. That is the Bali on a budget trip, and it is still entirely possible in 2026, in Ubud and Sanur as much as in the quieter east.
Bali daily budget by travel style, in USD and CAD
These are per person, per day, flights excluded. They are our estimates, built from the item prices further down this page rather than copied from anyone else's table. A couple sharing a room pays less than double: see the couple budget below.
| Travel style | Detail | Order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | Guesthouse room around IDR 250,000, three meals in warungs, a rented scooter, one entrance fee, water and a SIM. | IDR 650,000US$36 · C$51 |
| Mid-range | Boutique hotel or shared villa around IDR 1.2 million, café breakfast and restaurant dinner, Grab plus a driver day now and then, one paid activity. | IDR 2.3 millionUS$128 · C$181 |
| Luxury | Private pool villa or five-star resort, restaurants with ++ on the menu, a driver most days, spa and beach club. | IDR 7.2 million+US$400 · C$567 |
Bali on a budget: the backpacker day (about US$36 / C$51)
A private room in a homestay at around IDR 250,000, three meals in warungs for IDR 150,000 in total, a scooter for IDR 100,000 a day including fuel, and IDR 150,000 for one temple, water, and data. There is no dorm in that figure: Bali's family homestays are cheap enough that a private room with breakfast is the normal budget choice outside Canggu.
Mid-range Bali budget (about US$128 / C$181)
A boutique hotel or a room in a shared villa at around IDR 1.2 million, café breakfast and a proper restaurant dinner for IDR 450,000, Grab rides plus one private driver day spread across the trip for about IDR 350,000 a day, and an activity or a massage for IDR 300,000. This is the trip most first-time visitors from the US, Canada and Australia actually take.
Luxury Bali budget (US$400 / C$567 a day and up)
A private pool villa or a clifftop resort from IDR 4.5 million, restaurants and beach clubs at IDR 1.2 million a day, a driver on call for IDR 800,000, and spa treatments and tours on top. The ceiling is set by the villa: a daybed at a big Uluwatu beach club can carry a minimum spend of IDR 2 to 15 million on its own.
Bali prices in 2026, item by item
The detail behind the budgets. Rupiah first, because that is what you pay, then dollars rounded at the September 2026 rate.
How much is accommodation in Bali per night?
| Where you sleep | Detail | Order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Guesthouse or homestay | Private room, fan or basic air con, breakfast often included. Cheapest outside Canggu and Uluwatu. | IDR 150,000 to 400,000US$8 to US$22 · C$12 to C$31 |
| Boutique hotel or shared villa | Pool, air con, decent wifi. The bracket most first-time visitors actually book. | IDR 950,000 to 2.2 millionUS$53 to US$122 · C$75 to C$173 |
| Private pool villa | One or two bedrooms, your own pool. Splits well between a couple or two friends. | IDR 2.5 to 4.4 millionUS$139 to US$244 · C$197 to C$346 |
| Five-star resort | Nusa Dua, Uluwatu clifftops, the Ayung valley near Ubud. Check whether tax is included. | IDR 6 million and upUS$330+ · C$470+ |
Hotels quote prices with and without “tax and service”, and the difference is 21%: check the total at checkout rather than the headline rate. Comparing the final price across Hotels.com and booking the same property directly takes five minutes and regularly saves a night. Partner link.
How much is a meal in Bali? Warung vs café
| What you eat | Detail | Order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Nasi campur in a warung | Rice with four or five sides, iced tea. No service charge, no tax. | IDR 25,000 to 50,000US$1.40 to US$2.80 |
| Casual café meal | Burger, pasta, a big salad in Canggu, Seminyak or Ubud. | IDR 70,000 to 125,000US$4 to US$7 |
| Brunch in a trendy café | Smashed avocado, smoothie bowl, the big breakfast. Often ++. | IDR 110,000 to 200,000US$6 to US$11 |
| Flat white | Specialty café in Canggu or Ubud. Oat milk adds IDR 8,000 to 15,000. | IDR 40,000 to 55,000US$2.20 to US$3 |
| Tasting menu | Fine dining in Seminyak, Ubud or Uluwatu, wine not included. | IDR 800,000 to 2 million+US$44 to US$110+ |
The swing is enormous. Three warung meals cost less than one brunch in Berawa. Most travellers end up somewhere in between, and the single best saving on the whole trip is replacing one café meal a day with a warung.
Tipping in Bali is not expected where the bill already carries a 10% service charge. Rounding up in a warung, or IDR 20,000 to 50,000 for a driver who has given you a good day, is appreciated rather than required.
How much is a beer in Bali?
| What you drink | Detail | Order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Bintang 330 ml, minimart | Indomaret, Circle K, Alfamart. Cold from the fridge. | IDR 18,000 to 25,000about US$1 to US$1.40 |
| Bintang 330 ml, warung or local bar | The plastic chair price, happy hour often lower. | IDR 20,000 to 30,000US$1.10 to US$1.70 |
| Bintang, beach club | Same bottle, different view. Service and tax usually on top. | IDR 40,000 to 70,000US$2.20 to US$3.90 |
| Cocktail | Bar or beach club in the south. Imported spirits carry heavy duty. | IDR 150,000 to 230,000US$8 to US$13 |
Almost every bar in the south runs a happy hour between 4pm and 7pm, often two for one. If you drink, that window does more for the budget than any other habit.
Scooter rental, Grab and private driver prices in Bali
| How you get around | Detail | Order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Scooter, per day | Honda Vario or Scoopy. A Yamaha NMAX or PCX runs IDR 150,000 to 320,000. | IDR 80,000 to 180,000US$4.50 to US$10 |
| Scooter, per week | Vario 125, negotiated with the rental shop. Roughly 30 to 40% below the daily rate. | around IDR 400,000US$22 · C$31 |
| Grab or Gojek bike, short hop | Under 5 km inside Canggu, Seminyak or Ubud. | IDR 20,000 to 50,000US$1.10 to US$2.80 |
| Grab car, airport to Seminyak | Plus an airport pickup fee of IDR 5,000 to 12,000. More at night and in the rain. | IDR 130,000 to 250,000US$7 to US$14 |
| Private driver, full day | Up to 10 hours, car and fuel included. Parking and entrance fees are not. | IDR 650,000 to 900,000 per carUS$36 to US$50 · C$51 to C$71 |
A scooter is the cheapest way around, and the riskiest. You need a motorcycle licence from home plus an International Driving Permit. Without them the police can fine you and, more to the point, most travel insurance will not pay out after an accident. Grab and Gojek are cheaper than street taxis, but some villages post “no online taxi” signs: an app car can drop you there but cannot pick you up.
A private driver looks expensive until you plan a day with three or four stops. At IDR 650,000 to 900,000 for the car, shared by four people, it undercuts a string of taxis. The airport run is costed in detail on the Bali airport to Ubud page.
Bali entrance fees and activity prices
| What you visit | Detail | Order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Uluwatu temple | Adult foreigner. The kecak dance at sunset is a separate ticket of IDR 150,000. | IDR 50,000 to 60,000 |
| Tanah Lot | Adult foreigner, parking extra. | IDR 75,000 |
| Tirta Empul | Sarong included. Bathing in the pools is part of the ticket. | IDR 75,000 |
| Tegallalang rice terraces | Main entrance. The swings and nests inside are paid separately. | IDR 25,000 to 50,000 |
| Ubud Monkey Forest | Adult, weekday and weekend alike. | IDR 100,000 |
| Ulun Danu Beratan | The lake temple at Bedugul. | IDR 100,000 |
| Besakih | Mother temple, includes the shuttle from the car park. | IDR 150,000 |
| Balinese massage, one hour | A reputable local spa, not the resort. | IDR 120,000 to 250,000US$7 to US$14 |
| Yoga class, drop-in | 60 to 90 minutes in an Ubud or Canggu studio. | IDR 150,000 to 230,000US$8 to US$13 |
| Surf lesson, private | Around two hours with board and instructor, Kuta or Canggu. | IDR 400,000 to 650,000US$22 to US$36 |
| Fast boat to Nusa Penida, return | From Sanur. Gili boats cost a little more. | IDR 500,000 to 750,000US$28 to US$42 |
Prices are for adult foreigners in September 2026 and are paid at the gate, mostly in cash or by QRIS. Uluwatu is quoted at IDR 50,000 by some sources and 60,000 by others, so carry the higher figure. None of these fees is covered by the tourist levy, which buys nothing at any gate.
Bali tourist tax and visa: the fixed costs
| What everyone pays | Detail | Order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Visa on arrival (e-VOA) | 30 days, extendable once for another 30. Paid online or at the airport. | IDR 500,000US$28 · C$39 |
| Bali tourist levy | Once per trip, per person, children included. Paid on the Love Bali portal. | IDR 150,000US$8.30 · C$12 |
| Both together | Per person, before you have bought a single coffee. | IDR 650,000US$36 · C$51 |
These two are the only costs that do not depend on how you travel. The Bali tourist levy is IDR 150,000 per person, once per trip, and the page explains how to pay it without the card being declined. The Bali visa is a separate IDR 500,000, with an increase proposed but not yet in force. Neither payment covers the other.
Bali trip cost for 7, 10 and 14 days
Per person, flights excluded, visa and levy included. Take the daily budget, multiply by the number of days, add IDR 650,000. Rounded to the nearest ten dollars.
| Travel style | 7 days | 10 days | 14 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | US$290C$410 | US$400C$560 | US$540C$770 |
| Mid-range | US$930C$1,320 | US$1,310C$1,860 | US$1,830C$2,590 |
| Luxury | US$2,840C$4,020 | US$4,040C$5,720 | US$5,640C$7,990 |
How much spending money for Bali for 10 days?
Around US$1,310 or C$1,860 per person for a mid-range trip, of which the room is roughly half. If the hotel is prepaid, spending money on the ground comes to about IDR 1.1 million a day, US$61 or C$87, for food, transport and activities. On a backpacker budget, IDR 400,000 a day covers everything except the room.
Is $1,000 enough for a week in Bali?
US$1,000 is about IDR 18 million. After the visa and the levy, that leaves roughly IDR 2.5 million a day for seven days: a comfortable mid-range week, with room for a driver day and a spa. C$1,000 is about IDR 12.6 million, or around IDR 1.7 million a day after fixed fees. That still covers a good boutique hotel and warung lunches, but not a private pool villa. Either way, the flight sits outside those numbers.
Bali trip cost for a couple
The room is the only big item a couple shares, so two people do not pay double. On the mid-range budget, each person's share of the room drops by about IDR 600,000, which brings a couple to around IDR 3.4 million a day, US$189 or C$268. Ten days for two then comes to about US$1,960 or C$2,780, visas and levies for both included. A private pool villa is where sharing pays most: at IDR 3 million a night, it is IDR 1.5 million each.
Flights to Bali: the cost that is not in these totals
Return flights change the total more than any daily choice. As a rough guide for 2026, count US$400 to US$700 from Australia and US$1,100 to US$1,600 from the United States and Canada, with January to March typically 20 to 30% cheaper than July, August and Christmas.
Money in Bali: ATM fees, money changers and exchange traps
This is where a careful budget leaks. No single charge is large, but ten withdrawals and a bad exchange booth can cost as much as a night in a good hotel.
Bali ATM fees and withdrawal limits
| Bank | Detail | Order of magnitude |
|---|---|---|
| Mandiri | Fee for foreign cards introduced in February 2026. Up to about IDR 2.5 to 3 million per withdrawal. | IDR 50,000 per withdrawal |
| BCA, BNI, BRI | Reported between free and IDR 25,000 depending on the machine and the card. Limits of IDR 2 to 3 million. | IDR 0 to 25,000 |
| CIMB, Permata and standalone machines | The ones in minimarts and on shop fronts, with no branch attached. | IDR 30,000 to 85,000 |
The trap is the withdrawal limit. Most machines give IDR 2 to 3 million per withdrawal, US$110 to US$165, so taking out enough for a week means several fees in a row. Your own bank then adds its foreign transaction fee on each one. The figures above are what travellers and bank pages reported in mid-2026. Only Mandiri's IDR 50,000 is confirmed by several independent sources, and the others change often enough that the screen on the machine is the only authority. Use ATMs inside bank branches or malls rather than standalone ones on the street, where card skimmers turn up.
Should you pay in rupiah or dollars in Bali?
When an ATM or a card terminal offers to charge you in US or Canadian dollars “for your convenience”, refuse and pick rupiah. That offer, called dynamic currency conversion, applies the machine's own rate, and it is almost always worse than your card's. A multi-currency card such as Wise or Revolut usually beats a standard bank card on both the rate and the fees.
Money changer scams in Bali
Legitimate changers charge around 2% and display a Bank Indonesia licence. The ones to avoid sit in a back room off the main streets of Kuta and Legian and advertise a rate slightly too good to be true. The trick is almost always the count: notes palmed while they recount for you, or a calculator that “makes a mistake”. Use an authorised chain such as BMC or Central Kuta, or a bank, count the notes yourself before you hand anything over, and do not let the pile go back across the counter. The money section of the Bali airport guide covers the booths in arrivals.
How to make a Bali trip cheaper
The cheapest time to go to Bali
The wet season, from December to March, brings the lowest flight prices and hotel discounts, with the obvious catch. The better deal is the shoulder months: April to June and September to October keep most of the discount while the weather stays largely dry. July, August and the Christmas fortnight are the most expensive weeks of the year, for flights and rooms alike.
Where to stay in Bali on a budget
Stay a few minutes outside the hotspots. A guesthouse inland from Canggu, or a room in the villages around Ubud rather than on Monkey Forest Road, costs noticeably less for the same standard. Sanur, Amed and Lovina run cheaper again, and the savings on the room pay for a lot of Grab rides.
Nusa Penida on a budget
The day trip to Nusa Penida is the biggest single activity most visitors buy. A tour that bundles the fast boat, hotel pickup and a driver on the island usually works out cheaper than arranging each piece yourself, once the island's road conditions are priced in. The Nusa Penida day trip breakdown shows what each formula includes and which gate fees still land on you in cash.
The day trip most budgets include
Bali: Nusa Penida All-Inclusive Full-Day Tour with Transfers
- ✓Return fast boat from Sanur and hotel pickup in the south, both inside the price
- ✓A driver on the island instead of a rented scooter on broken roads
- ✓Kelingking, Broken Beach with Angel's Billabong and Crystal Bay on one loop
- ✓Budget separately for the gate fees on the island, which no ticket includes
Affiliate link. Booking through GetYourGuide costs you nothing extra and supports the guide. Price and rating checked September 2026. Both move with season and demand.
Bali budget tips that actually save money
- One warung meal a day. On its own it can save IDR 100,000 to 150,000 a day against café prices.
- Grab for short trips, a driver for long ones. Street taxis at the airport and in Kuta quote two to three times the app price.
- Weekly scooter rates. Ask for the week price rather than paying day by day.
- Avoid the resort restaurant. The same meal a five-minute walk away is usually half the price, often without the ++.
- A local SIM or an eSIM. A Telkomsel tourist SIM runs about IDR 100,000 for 25 GB over 30 days. An eSIM such as Airalo's Indonesia plan costs a little more but works the moment you land, which is when you need Grab. Partner link.
Bali trip cost: the questions people actually ask
Prices checked in September 2026 and converted at about IDR 18,000 to US$1 and IDR 12,700 to C$1. Rupiah amounts hold longer than the dollar ones.
