Living in Bali
What it really costs to live in Bali, what you can earn, the visas that get you in, and the taxes you'll pay — for Indonesia, updated 2026. Bali is the most expensive of the 5 Indonesia cities we track, so it can be a smarter base than the capital if budget matters. Bali lies in South-Eastern Asia. Indonesia's capital is Jakarta. The main language is Indonesian. The currency is the rupiah. Indonesia borders East Timor, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea.
Cost of Living in Bali
Full Monthly Breakdown for Bali
How Bali Compares to Other Indonesia Cities
Bali is not the only option in Indonesia. Here is how its single-person monthly cost (€1 300) stacks up against the other cities we track — Yogyakarta is the cheapest, Bali the priciest.
| City | Single / month | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Yogyakarta | €800/mo | -38% vs Bali |
| Surabaya | €850/mo | -35% vs Bali |
| Bandung | €900/mo | -31% vs Bali |
| Jakarta (capital) | €1 100/mo | -15% vs Bali |
What You Can Earn in Indonesia
Typical gross annual salaries in Indonesia by sector (entry · median · senior). Bali pay usually sits around the national median.
| Sector | Entry | Median | Senior |
|---|---|---|---|
| it | €5 000 | €8 000 | €15 000 |
| retail | €3 000 | €4 000 | €6 000 |
| finance | €8 500 | €12 000 | €17 000 |
| education | €4 500 | €6 500 | €9 000 |
| healthcare | €3 000 | €5 000 | €8 000 |
| engineering | €7 500 | €11 000 | €15 000 |
| hospitality | €3 500 | €5 000 | €6 500 |
| construction | €5 000 | €7 000 | €10 000 |
Living in Bali: Safety, Health & Climate
Bali shares Indonesia's wider quality-of-life profile. Bali has a tropical climate. Here is what daily life looks like on the things that matter most when you relocate.
Visa Routes to Indonesia
Affording Bali is only half the question — you also need a visa that lets you stay in Indonesia. The main routes:
- A job offer is normally required for the main work route.
- Permanent residence after about 5 years.
- Citizenship after ~8 years.
- Investment route from about €130 000 (USD).
Taxes in Indonesia
Top marginal rate 35%, VAT 11%.
Settling into Bali
- Foreigners can open a local bank account in Indonesia.
- Budget around €950 for first-month setup in Bali.
- Regulated professions needing credential recognition: Medicine, Law, Engineering, Nursing, Architecture.
Get Your Indonesia Emigration Report
Personalised visa options, costs and a 90-day plan for Indonesia.
Get Essential Report — €5or start the free assessmentBali FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Bali?
A single person in central Bali should budget about €1 300/month, roughly €1 105 outside the centre. A family of four needs around €3 250/month.
Can I get a visa to live in Indonesia?
Yes — the main route usually needs a job offer, with permanent residence reachable in about 5 years. See the full Indonesia visa comparison for the route that fits you.
Sources: salaries, taxes, safety, healthcare and visa data from World Bank, OECD, the Global Peace Index and official government portals. Cost-of-living figures are community-sourced benchmarks — a guide, not a quote. Last reviewed 2026-05.
Related: Indonesia Guide · Visa Comparison · All Countries