Wanting to travel to Bali on a budget? It’s absolutely doable!
Despite its popularity, Bali remains one of the cheapest holiday destinations — if you know where to look.
Whether you’re a backpacker or just trying to stretch your dollars, traveling Bali on a budget is easier than you might think. With smart choices around food, transport, activities, and accommodation, you can comfortably explore the island for as little as $50–$100 USD per day.
Here are my tried-and-tested tips to help you plan a trip to Bali on a budget, without skimping on the experience!
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Budget Accommodations in Bali
There are tons of great hostel options in Bali if you prefer the social scene! My go-to is renting a private villa, and I’ve even found some for as low as $50 USD a night. Look for jungle vibes, pretty pools, and breathtaking cliff-side views; there’s no shortage of these on the island.
Canggu/Seminyak Area
Grandmas Plus Hotel Seminyak: Just a 2-minute walk from Seminyak Beach, this budget hotel offers modern, single rooms starting at $46 USD per night.
Black Pearl Hostel: Located in Canggu and within a short walk to Echo Beach, this hostel has a beautiful pool and offers a restaurant, free WiFi, an outdoor swimming pool, plus garden and pool view terraces. Beds start as low as $9 USD per night.
Kos One Hostel: This is a very trendy and design-centric hostel — it has a beautiful pool and a stunning buffet breakfast. A dorm bed starts at $25 USD per night.
Ubud Area
Run House B&B: A simple B&B with air-conditioned rooms and free WiFi, and close to the Ubud Palace and Monkey Forest. Double rooms start at $14 USD per night!
WW Backpackers: A high-rated budget hostel in Ubud, very central to all the sites.
Suka’s House B&B: This Bed & Breakfast features an outdoor pool and private rooms starting at $28 USD. Daily breakfast is served on the private terrace overlooking the garden.
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Flying to Bali
Is Bali cheap to fly to?
It really depends on where you’re flying from, what time of year you’re going, and how far ahead you book. While Bali isn’t the cheapest destination to fly to from every corner of the world, there are definitely ways to find a deal if you’re flexible!
If you’re flying from the States, expect return flights to sit around $1,200–$1,500 USD, usually with at least one layover. It’s a long haul, but worth it.
Flights from Europe tend to hover around $1,100 USD return when booked in advance. You’ll usually get the best prices by flying through major hubs like London Heathrow or Amsterdam Schiphol. In low season, one-way flights can dip below $400 if you’re lucky (and quick!).
Aussies, you’ve got it easy. Round-trip fares from Perth can be as low as $300 AUD, while Sydney and Melbourne are usually closer to $400–$600 AUD.
Helpful Tip:
Tips for saving on flights:
- Use flight comparison sites like Skyscanner or Google Flights to track deals and compare airline prices.
- Be flexible with your dates and departure cities; sometimes flying out of a different country or major hub can slash prices.
- Look out for airline sales or use your airline miles.
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Getting Around Bali on a Budget
Taxis are the most expensive way to get around Bali, and if you’re not using a metered service like Blue Bird, you risk being overcharged or scammed.
Many local taxi drivers set inflated fixed prices for tourists, especially in busy tourist areas like Seminyak or Ubud.
Renting a motorbike or scooter is the go-to for budget-conscious travelers and locals. It’s cheap, flexible, and ideal for exploring at your own pace.
Expect to pay 48,000–150,000 IDR ($3–$10 USD) per day, depending on the location and length of rental.
Not keen to drive? Apps like GO-JEK and Grab are Bali’s answer to Uber. They’re widely used and let you book a ride on the back of a motorbike (ojek) or in a car with transparent, upfront pricing, so no haggling required.
Quick tips for getting around Bali on the cheap:
- Always wear a helmet (it’s the law!).
- Check that your travel insurance covers motorbike use.
- Inspect the bike before riding.
- Stick to reputable taxi apps or metered cabs to avoid scams.
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Budget Meals in Bali
Even if the hotels were insanely expensive in Bali, the cuisine alone would make it worth the visit. Mouthwatering dishes like nasi goreng (fried rice), mie goreng (noodles), satays, martabak pancakes, and noodle soups are abundant.
Local food and street food are very affordable—a plateful of chicken, rice, and veggies might only set you back a few dollars. Look for local ‘warungs’, which are local restaurants with typical Indonesian cuisine.
The best warungs usually have a crowd of locals, that is a great sign the food is not only tasty, but being turned over quickly and made fresh to order.
Restaurants owned by westerners have started marking up their prices a bit compared to five-ten years ago, but typically, you can budget between $20-$35 USD a day on food and drink and eat quite well. Bali is full of casual cafes, and is very accommodating to vegans and vegetarians so make sure to set aside a little extra budget!
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Spa Services in Bali
One of the biggest attractions of Bali is the affordable spa services.
Affordable Spa Options
Massage houses can be found on nearly every corner, offering one-hour massages for as little as $10-30 USD. There are also more boutique spas popping up that offer budget-friendly treatments.
- Goldust Beauty Lounge in Canggu: Offers a range of treatments in a chic setting. A 60-minute relaxation massage starts at IDR 320,000 (Indonesian Rupiah), which is approximately $19.69 USD.
- Zahra Spa in Nusa Dua: Enjoy a traditional Balinese massage for only IDR 350,000 or around $22 USD.
- Hot Bamboo Spa: Experience a range of Balinese treatments, including their signature hot bamboo massage for IDR 350,000.
Mid-Range and Luxury Spa Experiences
For those looking to splurge and get incredible value, Bali has numerous high-end spas offering comprehensive wellness packages.
- Fivelements Retreat in Ubud: Known for its holistic treatments, with 90-minute sessions starting at IDR 1,550,000, around $100 USD.
- OmTara Spa by Clarins at Kappa Senses Ubud: Offers a range of treatments, including aromatherapy massages starting at IDR 950,000 (approximately $60 USD).
- Spa at Maya Ubud: Set amidst lush greenery, their 60-minute relaxing Balinese massage is priced at IDR 1,160,000 (about $72 USD).
Many spas at luxury hotels also often offer a day pass with pool access!
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Budget Activities in Bali
There’s so much to see and do in Bali. Hanging out at the beautiful beaches will cost you nothing, and most of the beach bars offer affordable drink prices, so you can hang out in their loungers for a few hours!
For tours around the island, hire a local driver for the day, and split the cost with fellow travelers to save money. You can hire a driver for around $35 USD for the day and visit sites like Ubud Monkey Forest, Mt. Batur, Uluwatu, and the Pura Gunung Kawi Temple.
Free or low-cost things to do in Bali:
- Visit Ubud Monkey Forest (around $5 – $8 USD entry)
- Walk the Campuhan Ridge trail at sunrise or sunset (free)
- Explore Tegallalang Rice Terraces (small donation/entry fee)
- Swim at waterfalls like Tegenungan or Tibumana ($1–3 USD)
- See temples like Uluwatu, Tirta Empul, or Ulun Danu Beratan (typically under $3 USD)
- Join a drop-in yoga class in Canggu or Ubud (around $8–10 USD)
- Browse local markets like Ubud Art Market or Love Anchor Market
- Hike Mount Batur for sunrise (guided hikes start from $25 USD)
- Visit Lempuyang Temple (entrance is under $5 USD)
- Relax on the beach in Kuta, Seminyak, or Cangg
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Shopping on a Budget in Bali
Bali is an amazing place to buy from local artisans. The Ubud market is one of the best locations for shopping.
For mass-produced items, you’ll find that you can haggle for less than half the initial price most vendors ask. As a benchmark, the typical, vibrant, and loose-fitting pants for sale at nearly every vendor can usually be brought down by about $5-7 USD.
Tips for shopping on a budget in Bali:
- Head to markets early in the morning—locals believe the first sale of the day brings good luck, so you may get a better deal
- Bring cash in small denominations; it makes bargaining easier and vendors may not have change
- Don’t accept the first price—smile, be polite, and negotiate with confidence
- If you’re buying multiple items, ask for a bundle discount
- For fixed-price shopping, visit shops with clearly marked tags or look for collectives that support fair-trade practices
I hope you found my guide helpful in planning your Bali budget and itinerary!
Don’t miss my Ultimate Bali Travel Guide for more tips and recommendations!
Thanks for the great tips— we’re planning a ladies trip to Bali in about a month from California. What are your recommendations on bringing money to Bali for 10 days— I’ve heard bringing $100 bills would give you a better rate of exchange, rather than using an ATM.
I recommend withdrawing money from an ATM upon arrival (there are ATMs right when you enter the Arrival area in the Bali Airport), for a better exchange rate, unless your bank/card charges high international fees, in which case exchanging cash is the next best option. Bringing $100 bills makes no difference. It’s still just an exchange rate and I wouldn’t risk carrying that much cash on you. Best to withdraw from an ATM as you need it!
Keep in mind there are usually bank fees on top of the ATM fee depending on your bank ($5 is pretty typical). I prefer Schwab because they reimburse you for ATM fees and don’t charge for withdrawals anywhere in the world.
Hi, Kiersten!
My bf and I are trying to get a budget trip to Bali for Christmas, and you recommended staying in a villa which is cheaper than I thought!
It would be nice if you could tell me your recommendations!
Cheers 🙂
Yep! A villa is totally the way to go. Check Airbnb 🙂