Are you interested in traveling to Bali but don’t know how much it will cost? If you’re planning a vacation and need to find out the total amount, this post can help. It seems like Bali is all over the place on various travel websites. This is because every site and every person is different when it comes to their vacations.

(1) My cousin, who owns a large marketing company in Washington, D.C., was recently on vacation in Bali with her husband. I asked her to share some tips for budget travelers who wanted to go there on vacation. She graciously obliged and shared the following information: So you want to go on a vacation, but you don’t know how much it’s going to cost you for everything. On the other hand, maybe you do know how much your flight to Bali is going to be, but you want a ballpark figure for your entire vacation. How should you plan for this? The truth is, it really depends on what type of a vacation you want; are you looking for luxury or something more budget-friendly? Is this an all-inclusive vacation package or are you figuring out what things you will need to pay extra for separately?

Known as the Island of the Gods and with a rich cultural history, Bali is an Indonesian island consisting of rugged mountains, volcanos and sandy beaches. Bali also has some of the most beautiful rice terraces you will ever see. After spending time in crowded cities like Bogor, Jakarta or even Singapore, many tourists decide to head to Bali for their holidays to get away from the crowds and explore this beautiful archipelago.

How Much Does It Cost To Vacation In Bali

How Much Does it Cost to go to Bali?

By Barry Choi | May 18, 2022 | 37 

**This post may contain affiliate links. I may be compensated if you use them.

Have you ever wondered how much does it cost to go to Bali? Indonesia is a dream destination for many travellers. Beautiful villas, green rice terraces, towering waterfalls, white sand beaches, and epic sunsets. But is Bali expensive to visit? Well, that depends on several factors including where in Bali you want to go, your travel style, and what your plans are.

Bali may be a small island, but there is plenty to see and do. Hundreds of temples, stunning natural attractions, and a variety of towns to visit mean you won’t ever be bored. For the purpose of this article, I’m going to suggest a one-week (seven days, six nights) itinerary in Bali. This will include return airfare, average meal costs, transportation, accommodation, and more. Please note that this guide is based on the costs for a single person. If you are travelling as a couple, make sure to double these costs (except for hotels).

Bali trip cost for one week

	Estimated Costs
Airfare	$850
Accommodations	$480 ($100 X 6 nights)
Transportation and attractions	$120
Food and drink	$175 ($25 X 6 7 days)
Random spending	$100
Total	$1,725 USD

The above estimate is in American dollars. Please use xe.com to find out the average costs in your home currency.

This estimate is assuming that you’re using shared taxis/hired drivers to get around and has not rented a motorbike. For motorbike costs and information, see the transportation section.

Also keep in mind that this is just an estimate. Bali can be both budget friendly and costly, depending on your travel style. Throughout this article, I’ll be sharing tips on how to keep costs low to best stay on, or even below, your budget.

Airfare

Airfare to Bali will probably be your biggest cost, especially if you are coming from North America. To help lower these travel costs, avoid travelling during the holidays (Christmas and Easter) as well as during July and August which is the high season. You’ll want to budget about $850 for your flight to Bali.

If you are travelling from Canada or the United States, Bali is quite far (especially from the Eastern parts of both countries). Direct flights to Denpasar do not exist, so play with some different itineraries and carriers. For example, it may be more affordable to fly to Bangkok, Singapore or even Hong Kong. You could then find a cheap flight with a budget airline to Bali. If you can be flexible, it’s definitely worth doing a few different searches as you may be able to save a couple of hundred dollars with the added bonus of getting to experience another city.

It’s also worth checking different departure dates or Bali vacation packages to see if there are any additional savings to be found.

If you’re Canadian, you may want to consider applying for one of the best travel credit cards in Canada to help offset your costs by collecting points. For example, the American Express Platinum Card gives you a signup bonus of up to 85,000 American Express Membership Rewards points which have a minimum value of $850 (potentially more if you transfer your points to Aeroplan or Marriott Bonvoy). There’s also the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite card that has no foreign transaction fees and it comes with airport lounge access.   

Accommodations

When it comes to accommodation, Bali has it all. From world-class luxury villas with infinity pools and jungle views, to a single bed in a shared dorm room of a hostel. For the sake of this article, I’ve estimated the average nightly price to be $80, which is what you can expect to pay for a 3-star nice hotel in a central location. However, this price can both inflate and deflate drastically depending on your travel style. Free WiFi is included in all accommodations.

Here are a few recommendations depending on what you are looking for. Regardless of which country you’re from, make sure you apply for a credit card with no foreign exchange fees before you depart.

Hostels 

Bali’s hostels are definitely the cheapest choice. Dorm rooms will have the lowest cost but you can get some nice private rooms as well. Dorm options average at about $8/night while private rooms can be found for $20/night and up. I’ve written a detailed guide on the best hostels in Bali which covers Ubud, Seminyak, Canggu, and Kuta, so check that out now.

Recommendations: Wayan Family Homestay II (Ubud), M Boutique Hostel (Seminyak), The Jungle House (Canggu).

Homestays 

Balinese homestays are basically like staying in a bed and breakfast. Travellers will stay on a local family’s property in a private room with breakfast included. These properties are usually basic, but clean, comfortable, and homey. Average nightly costs are about $35/night.

Recommendations: Ujung Ubud Guesthouse (Ubud), Nadialit (Seminyak), Wita Homestay (Canggu)

Midrange Hotels 

Bali has plenty of nice midrange hotels with good amenities and in great locations. Prices can range quite a bit, but it’s easy to find a room for about $100/night.

Recommendations: The Sungu Resort and Spa (Ubud), U Passha Seminyak Bali (Seminyak), Canggu Beach Apartments (Canggu)

Luxury Hotels and Villas 

If you have ever wanted to really splurge on a luxury hotel, then Bali is the place to do it. From elegant villas to resorts. Bali does luxury like nowhere else.

Recommendations:  Viceroy Bali (Ubud), W Bali (Seminyak), Ametis Villa (Canggu)

If you have the right credit card, you can save a fair amount of money on hotels. Americans should strongly consider the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant American Express Card since you can earn up to 75,000 Marriott Bonvoy points and $200 back at U.S. restaurants as a welcome bonus.

Canadians should consider the Marriott Bonvoy American Express which gives you up to 55,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. That’s enough points for a few free nights at some hotels which could easily have a value of over $500.

Local transportation

Local transportation is the biggest hassle when travelling through Bali. Public transit is non-existent and transfers can get pretty pricey.

The most affordable and easiest way to travel around the island of Bali is by motorbike. While it is the best deal money-wise, it can be dangerous and should not be considered if you have no motorbike driving experience. Keep in mind if you plan on renting a motorbike in Bali, you will need an international driver’s license. While it is not necessary for renting purposes (they just need a copy of your passport). Police will pull you over to check. The average price for renting a motorbike in Bali is between US$20-$30 for the week. Make sure to ask around to find a reputable place, and be sure to check the bike over ahead of time for any scratches or damage so you don’t get the blame upon return.

For those who don’t want to rent a motorbike, expect to pay significantly more to get around as you will have to rely on local drivers.

Uber does exist, however, there are a lot of problems between Uber drivers and taxis that have led to violence and problems. Uber is not allowed in most areas and while there are some drivers, they will take off and leave you hanging if they don’t feel safe. For this reason, Uber is not a reliable form of transit.

Taxis are common in the main areas of Kuta, Seminyak, and Canggu. As in many countries, the taxi drivers here have a reputation for ripping off tourists. The best advice is to use Blue Bird taxis when possible and, of course, make sure that they turn on the meter.

If you plan on going any distance (for example, Seminyak to Tulamben) you will need to hire a private driver. This will cost $50 per trip or more. You can always try to haggle, but know that this form of travel can be quite expensive.

To save money on transportation costs, your best bet is to base yourself in one, maybe two areas during your stay and rely on group day trips.

Attractions

Bali is absolutely stunning and plenty of the attractions across the island are natural. From waterfalls to beaches to rice terraces; the terrain is stunning. While nature is normally free to explore, a few spots do come with small fees. For example, the famous Tegalalang Rice Fields near Ubud has an entrance fee of 15,000 IDR which is equal to about 1.10USD. A very minimal fee.

Bali’s other predominant attractions are the beautiful temples spread across the island. These include Tanah Lot, Uluwatu Temple, Goa Gajah, and Tirta Empul. All of these temples also come with a small fee, usually just a couple of dollars.

Of course, there’s also all the beaches. Sanur, Nusa Dua, and Legian beach are some of the best places to relax. You can also find beaches with great waves to surf.