Top picks from this guide
#1
Backpacker
Dorm bed $6–12, warung meals $1.50–3, scooter $4–6.50 a day. Comfortable if you eat local and stay off beach clubs.
#2
Mid-range
Boutique hotel or small pool villa $28–56, a mix of warungs and cafes, a driver for the long days and one paid activity every couple of days.
#3
Comfort and luxury
Resort or multi-bedroom villa from $185, restaurant dining throughout, private driver daily and spa treatments at hotel prices.
#4
Accommodation
Hostel dorm $6–12, guesthouse $12–28, mid-range hotel $28–56, private pool villa from $56, luxury resort $185–500+. Seminyak and Canggu run 40–60% above inland equivalents.
#5
Food and drink
Warung nasi goreng $1.30–2.60, mid-range restaurant dish $5–15, western cafe breakfast $5–9. Beach club daybeds carry minimum spends from $31 up past $125.
#6
Getting around
Scooter $4–13 a day, private driver for 8–10 hours $35–65, Grab or Gojek car for a short hop $3–5, airport to Seminyak $8–12.
#7
Activities
Temple entry $3–8, waterfall $1.20–2, Mount Batur sunrise trek around $31, surf lesson $28–35, Ayung rafting $35–55, full-day tour with driver $25–65.
💸 The two costs almost everyone forgets
First: nearly every restaurant, cafe and beach club adds 21% on top of menu prices — 10% government tax plus 11% service, usually shown as "++" in tiny print. A menu that reads $40 for two settles at closer to $48. Warungs generally do not do this, which is part of why they feel so cheap.
Second: every foreign visitor pays a one-time Bali tourist levy of IDR 150,000 (about $10, roughly £8) per entry. It applies to every age, including infants. Pay it only through the official lovebali.baliprov.go.id site or the Love Bali app — lookalike .com and .org sites charge IDR 300,000 and up.
🧮 A real 7-day budget for a couple
Mid-range, land costs only, excluding international flights. This is the shape of a typical week rather than a promise — your own number will move mostly with accommodation and how often you eat in restaurants.
- Accommodation, 6 nights at about $85: ~$510
- Food and drink for two, 7 days: ~$630
- Transport — scooter, two driver days, airport transfers: ~$170
- Activities — volcano trek, day tour, surf lessons, entries: ~$240
- Spa, two massages each: ~$80
- SIM cards and tourist levy for two: ~$38
- Total: roughly $1,670 for the couple, about $835 each
📅 What season does to the price
Only accommodation really swings. Food, scooters, spa treatments and entrance fees stay broadly flat all year.
July, August and the Christmas–New Year window push mid-range rooms 15–25% above shoulder season, and in-demand villas considerably more. May, June and September are the value sweet spot — similar weather, 20–30% cheaper. The January–February rainy months run 30–40% below peak.
💳 Money, ATMs and avoiding overcharges
- Use BCA or BNI ATMs — they generally do not add a foreign-card fee. Mandiri now charges IDR 50,000 per withdrawal
- Always decline "conversion" (DCC) and choose to be charged in rupiah
- Machines cap withdrawals around IDR 1,250,000–3,000,000, so take the maximum to spread any fee
- Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants, often with a 2–3% surcharge. Warungs, scooter rentals, temple entries and boat counters are cash only
- Tipping is not customary — service is usually inside that 21%. Round up, or IDR 50,000–100,000 a day for a private driver
- Photograph a rental scooter from every angle in daylight before you ride off, to head off "damage" claims
FAQ
How much money do I need for a week in Bali?
Roughly $250–350 per person for a backpacker week, $700–900 mid-range, and $2,000 and up for comfort or luxury travel. That covers accommodation, food, transport and activities, but not international flights.
Is Bali expensive?
Bali is cheap to eat and move around in, and can be expensive to sleep in. Warung meals run $1.50–3 and scooters $4–6 a day, while beachfront villas and beach clubs sit at Western prices. Your accommodation choice drives most of the difference.
What is the 21% charge on Bali restaurant bills?
Most restaurants, cafes and beach clubs add 10% government tax plus 11% service on top of menu prices, shown as "++". Budget for it when reading menus. Local warungs usually charge the price as listed.
How much is the Bali tourist tax?
IDR 150,000 per person, about $10, paid once per entry by every foreign visitor of any age. Pay through the official lovebali.baliprov.go.id site or the Love Bali app — unofficial sites charge far more.
Should I bring cash or use cards in Bali?
Bring both. Hotels, malls and mid-range restaurants take cards, often with a 2–3% surcharge, but warungs, scooter rentals, temple entries, markets and boat tickets are cash only. Withdraw from BCA or BNI ATMs to avoid fees.
Recommended Bali tours for this guide
Private Car with Driver in Bali
This is one of the most useful products in Bali because so many plans become easier once transport is flexible. It is perfect for custom sightseeing, shopping days, family pacing, and travelers who already know roughly where they want to go.
- Duration
- Flexible daily use
- Area
- All major Bali regions
- Format
- Private transport service
- Best for
- Travelers who want total route flexibility
From $59 per car No prepayment
View tour
Ubud Rice Terrace, Temple & Volcano Tour
This all-inclusive Ubud and Kintamani day tour is built for travelers who want Bali culture, scenery, and soft adventure without managing tickets, transport, or lunch separately. It works especially well for first-time visitors because the route moves from craft villages and temples to volcano views, rice terraces, and the Ubud center in one organized flow.
- Duration
- 10 hours
- Area
- Kintamani, Ubud, and central Bali
- Format
- All-inclusive private day tour
- Best for
- First-time Bali visitors
From $65 per car No prepayment
View tour
Nusa Penida West Tour
If your priority is bold scenery over snorkeling, the west route is the cleanest and most iconic Penida choice: one car, one driver and the island's four most photographed stops in a single day. It is especially strong for couples and first-time visitors who want the headline views with transport handled professionally.
- Duration
- Full day
- Area
- West Nusa Penida
- Format
- Island day tour
- Best for
- Cliff viewpoints and first-time Penida sightseeing
From $49 per car No prepayment
View tour