Author: Irina
Actual numbers plus effective ways to save money. How much does a month of living on the island of the gods cost?
One of the discoveries of our wintering in Asia was the fact that independent rest in Bali is not at all expensive. The Indonesians themselves say that the country is one of those where you can live on $ 1 a day. And although our budget came out much more, the final amount turned out to be quite acceptable.
We will tell you how much the trip for a month cost us, and we will detail the prices for Bali in 2021.
Bali Food & Grocery Prices - 2021
The cost of such a salad is 80-100 rubles
The cost of living in Bali is directly related to the cost of food. A pleasant moment - to eat cheaply in Bali is great outside the home 🙂 Local cafes - varungs - allow you to spend only 600-800 rubles a day for two!
Food in Bali is quite expensive because many import. Of course, with the exception of local "popular" items - rice, eggs, chicken, fruits, etc. But you cannot hold out on them alone, and the usual European ingredients "bite", and cooking at home is not particularly advantageous.
- Water, 1.5 liters - from 2500 rupees (13 rubles)
- A liter of milk - 30,000 rupees (160 rubles)
- Mozzarella cheese, 200 gr - 50,000 rupees (250 rubles)
- Butter, 225 gr - 45,000 rupees (245 rubles)
- Eggs, 10 pieces - 30,000 rupees (160 rubles)
- Loaf of bread - 30,000 rupees (160 rubles)
- Sandwich bread - 15,000 rupees (80 rubles)
- Pasta, 500 gr - from 25,000 rupees (130 rubles)
- Rice, 500 gr - 18,000 (95 rubles)
- Whole chicken - 35,000-40,000 (185-215 rubles)
- Breast fillet, 1 kg - 95,000 rupees (500 rubles)
- Local cucumbers, kg - 8000 rupees (43 rubles)
- Tomatoes, 1 kg - 20,000 rupees (105 rubles)
- Avocado, 1 kg - 25,000 rupees (130 rubles)
- Granola, 400 gr - from 65,000 rupees (350 rubles)
- White Marlboro cigarettes - 28,000 rupees (150 rubles)
It is better to buy everything you need in supermarkets. The most famous networks:
- Carrefour
- Nirmala
- Cocomart
- Pepito
- Papaya
- Bintang
We ranked them in order from reasonable to expensive, but this is very average and subject to a large purchase. For us, Pepito turned out to be beneficial for our daily hikes.
Roadside shops - Alfamart, Indomaret, Circle K. Here you can shop for little things - water, bread, chips, manufactured goods.
Prices fruits in supermarkets (Cocomart, Carrefour, sometimes Pepito) it is not at all wildly more expensive than the local markets offer (there are many of them in Ubud), and it makes little sense to go from Kuta or, moreover, Bukit for a profit of a couple of thousand.
Comparison - the price of fruit in the store and in the markets
| rupees / kg in store | rupees / kg on the market | |
| Mango | 12 000-13 000 | 10 000 |
| Papaya | 8000-10 000 | 8000 |
| Dragonfruit | 12 500 | 10 000 |
| Baltic herring | 15 000-17 000 | 10 000-12 000 |
| Passion fruit | 37 500 | 33 000 |
| Mangosteen | 40 000-55 000 | 38 000-40 000 |
| Coconut | 10 000-15 000 |
How we saved on products:
- In Pepito supermarkets there is a corner with goods whose expiration date is running out, and there is a 30-70% discount. Usually cereals, pastas, cookies, juices are stored there. Separately there is for milk. We took granola (instead of 155,000 rupees for 42,000) - she had a month to live, that is, the timing was not critical
- In Papaya, after 21:00 at the checkout, a 40% discount on all ready-to-eat meals is offered
- Stopping in Ubud and bumping into the vegetable and fruit markets (and they sell all the good by 9 am!), We stocked up thoroughly, especially with bananas. They were also torn from trees with green bundles when they explored the north of the island
Our rating of cafes (varungs)
We have formed the opinion that all establishments in Bali are divided into the following:
For local
1. Varungi for the locals. Usually this is the part of the house where the owners live, decorated with shabby plastic tables and chairs as a place for eating. There are 5-8 items in the menu, and all of them are extremely penny.
Food prices:
• Fried rice / noodles with chicken and egg (in the local language - nasi goreng / mi goreng) ≈12,000-15,000 rupees
• Soup ≈10,000 rupees
• Fried rice with vegetables and additives of your choice of soy / tofu ≈15,000 rupees
Yes, I must say that Bali is paradise for vegetarians. Even in the most primitive eateries, there are dishes to suit.
For tourists
2. Tourist-oriented Varungs - economy option... These are full-fledged establishments, also budgetary, but already pleasantly furnished and beautifully serving food. We ate, for the most part, in such and just below we give a list where we were sooo tasty 🙂
How much does food cost in places like this? (recall that 10,000 rupees ~ 45 rubles)
• Nasi goreng ≈18,000-25,000 rupees
• Sate ayam (rice and chicken skewers with peanut sauce) ≈18,000-24,000 rupees
• Roti (flatbread) with mozzarella ≈18,000-20,000 rupees
• Fruit smoothie ≈10,000-20,000 rupees
3. Varungs for tourists - middle variant... Not yet a top-notch restaurant, but not a street cafe either. Food prices are higher, plus, in some, a 10% tax and a 5% service charge are added to all items in the check (the latter may be more).
• Nasi goreng / mi goreng ≈45,000-50,000 rupees
• Vegetable salad ≈30,000-35,000 rupees
• Babi guling (rice with fried pork) ≈50,000-60,000 rupees
• Cup of cappuccino ≈35,000 rupees
And the price of such a set is about 230 rubles.
For hipsters
4. Hipster / Vegan / Raw / Organic cafes. In short, with a claim to originality and pp. And they do it great! 🙂 Rush hour starts from opening until lunchtime - healthy Instagram-style breakfasts are very popular.
• Bali Bowl / Smoothie Bowl (hyper-photogenic bowl containing blanched fruits or berries, a handful of granola, pieces of fruit and coconut / chia seeds, and further in increasing creativity) ≈50,000-75,000 rupees. The cheapest bowl we found at Crate Cafe in Canggu
• Toast with avocado, salmon / ham and poached egg ≈39,000-50,000 rupees
• Nasi goreng ≈30,000 rupees
• Breakfast set (scrambled eggs, bacon, mini sausages, mushrooms, spinach, beans, toast) ≈40,000-55,000 rupees
• Smoothie ≈22,000-40,000 rupees
Bali bowl with coffee - 300 rubles
Fast food
5. Fast food. McDonald's, KFC, Burger King are all available alongside local burger shops. Prices for Bali in this segment, by the way, are very democratic. In McDuck, prices are excluding 10% tax.
• Big Mac ≈30,000 rupees
• Large fries ≈19,000 rupees
• Combo lunch (double cheese, medium fries, medium cola) ≈50,000 rupees
• Cappuccino vents in Starbucks - from 49,000 rupees (the price tag depends on the area, the cheapest is on Sunset Road)
• Burger with beef in a burger shop ≈35,000-99,000 rupees
Restaurants
6. Restaurants. Gourmet cuisine, tasting rooms, masterpieces from chefs - there are many luxury establishments in Bali, and each is sophisticated both in the menu and in the locations.
• Nasi Goreng ≈160,000 rupees
• Beef medallions with potatoes and mushrooms ≈280,000 rupees
• Glass of red wine ≈150,000 rupees
• Caesar salad ≈100,000 rupees
So, the rating of our favorite and, in general, cheap cafes in Bali.
| Average check / 2 | What to try | |
| On Waroeng, Canggu | 70 000 | delicious necks roti with mozzarella |
| Hungry Bird, Canggu | 100 000 | the coolest nasi goreng latte breakfasts |
| Gourmet Sate House, Kuta | 60 000 | best satay and papaya salad |
| Warung Bintangbali, Ubud | 85 000 | ribs and Balinese salad |
| Moana Fish Eatery, Canggu | 155 000 | tuna (especially tataki) coconut cheesecake |
| Crate Cafe, Canggu | 140 000 | bowls and smoothies |
| Roti Canai, Canggu | 70 000 | roti with nutella with banana and chocolate |
| Warung Campung, Kuta | 46 000 | nasi goreng |
| Warung Pondok Madu, Ubud | 85 000 | ribs, curry |
| Balangan Cafe, Balangan | 95 000 | pizza, hummus salad |
Saving on food is strictly individual, but still, as we did:
- in the cafe we ate for lunch and dinner, had breakfast at home with granola with fruit and yogurt
- rarely took drinks, in the heat I wanted ordinary water, which was always with me
- having gone to a more expensive restaurant in the afternoon, ate in a budget place in the evening
Prices in a cafe in Bali - menu
Crate Cafe
Fruit and berry bowls at Kreith are great, but other breakfast versions (toast, burritos, omelets) are also good.
Single fin
The SingleFin Beach Bar menu isn't the cheapest place, but the view is worth it.
Hungry bird
As already mentioned, HangriBird has the best nasi goreng (about 30,000 rupees); breakfasts are normal.
On Waroeng
Our typical order at OnWarung was: mozzarella roti (Rs 18,000), strawberry milkshake (20,000) and nasi goreng (24,000).
McDonald's
Prices in Mak in Bali. The most interesting thing we tried was a regular cone, but in a chocolate glaze. Now, it seems, there is also a match-glaze.
Prices for excursions and attractions. 10 must-see places
Early morning at Tegenungan waterfall - free 🙂
What to see in Bali? You can talk endlessly, seriously! In a month we saw, probably, less than half of all that is beautiful on the island.
About excursions: this is justified only if you are accommodated on Nusa Dua, and you have 10 days left and unwillingness to rent a motorbike. Prices for excursions (sightseeing one-day trips) - from $ 30 per person. You will be taken to 5-8 locations with a special emphasis on places where you can promote yourself for the purchase of something, and not on the true merits of Bali.
In all other cases, get on a scooter / car / car with a driver and go ahead to incredible beauty!
| 1. Tegenungan, Kanto Lampo and Sekumpul waterfalls... In general, there are dozens of stunning waterfalls in Bali. The first two are closest to Bukit / Kut and therefore gather crowds of tourists (come by 7-8 am), and the third is far away, but it costs 2-3 hours on the way for all 200. Entrance cost: from 10,000 rupees per person. | 2. Uluwatu Temple... It itself is mediocre, but it sits on the edge of a picturesque cliff. You can walk along the edge and listen to the ocean, for which they come here, and gaze at the local owners - monkeys - who are striving to drag something away. Cost: 30,000 rupees per person + 2,000 per bike. |
Agung volcano should be in the background - we were out of luck with the weather
| 3. Pura Lempuyang Gate Temple... The gate and 1,700 steps to the sanctuary are the most notable parts of the temple. But the view and photos from here are really postcards. We were unlucky with the clouds, in theory, between the gates on a clear day, the Agung volcano looks through. Entrance fee: 20,000 rupees per sarong for both men and women + donation at your discretion. | 4. Hidden canyon... Climb the walls through rocks cut by water, wade along a mountain river, and sometimes swim - in a word, an unusual "hiking" in an unusual place. Cost: 15,000 rupees entrance + 100,000 per guide for a group of up to 4 people. |
There are few people early in the morning and admission is free 😉
| 5. Tanakh Lot Temple... Equally good at low tide and high tide. The temple itself is not allowed, but wandering around (at low tide) and watching huge waves break on the reefs in squalls of spray can take a long time. Cost: 60,000 rupees. Arriving at 6:30 in the morning (opens at 7-7: 30), we passed for free - the ticket offices were not open yet. | 6. Gili islands... Party Trawangan, rustic Meno or secluded Air - each washed by an impeccably azure ocean (a la Maldives) and covered with white sand. Island prices: speedboat ticket ≈450,000 rupees round trip. |
On the Batur volcano (ascent starts at 4 am)
| 7. Meeting dawn on the volcano Batur... This is the very place where the energy of the island covers your head! The ascent to the crater is not easy at all, it lasts about 2 hours upward and the same amount back. What's on top? Just look at the photo 🙂 The island at a glance, Agung and the sun rising from the clouds between the gates. Cost: by ordering an excursion - 700,000 rupees per person (transfer from Ubud + guide + breakfast). Arriving and agreeing with the local mafia on the spot - 250,000 rupees (guide only). | 9. Nusa Penida... An island nearby, "discovered" just a few years ago, with broken roads and ferry-delivered groceries in makeshift shops. But what nature is there! The water is deep blue, which is not found in Bali, as well as the famous dinosaur cliff. Unfortunately, the rains prevented us, but we still saw a part of the wild beauty. Cost: Rs 31,000 per person one way by ferry. Bike transportation + 50,000 rupees. |
| 8. Ubud... The heart of Bali, where you don't want to leave. Rice fields, all the colors of greenery, an atmosphere of inspiration and tranquility - colorful Ubud is very different from coastal Bali. It is worth either to live here during the whole vacation, or to stay for at least 3 days. | 10. Bukit beaches (Melasti, Dreamland, Balangan, Bingin, beach with natural jacuzzi). Bali's natural attractions are indescribably beautiful, and the beaches in the south are the most proof of this. Hidden at the foot of cliffs and rocks, it is cool to admire them (and the might of the ocean) from above. |
Considering the "worldly" entertainment, Bali has a lot of spas (the cost of Balinese massage from 70,000 rupees), a decent number of nightclubs and, of course, surfing. Renting surfboards on most beaches in 2021 - 50,000 rupees per hour; on Nusa Dua - 200,000 rupees.
And also beach clubs! I have not been to the beach club - I have not traveled to Bali. This is such a party space on the ocean shore with a swimming pool, music, lights and food-alcohol. It is nice to meet the sunset there, make acquaintances (you already determine the goals yourself) and take beautiful pictures. Most often, tourists go to:
- La Brisa (Changu) - from 500,000 rupees (2,700 rubles) for a sunbed
- Cafe del Mar (Canggu) - from 150,000 rupees (800 rubles) per table
- Omnia (Uluwatu)
- Finns Beach Club (Changu) - a subscription for the day from 550,000 rupees (3,000 rubles.)
From personal experience - it is better to take an instructor for the first times
Rent a bike
Our bike for 2500 rubles 🙂
In order not to complicate our life, for a quick translation of local price tags into rubles, we took as a basis that 10,000 rupees ~ 55 rubles. |
Bali is not at all sharpened for walking, and a bike (scooter) is a vital thing on the island if you want to see at least part of what he "falls in love with". The main thing that two wheels help with is traffic jams. Crazy, exhausting queues of cars that have stood firmly, which can only be bypassed by squeezing along the sidewalk or sidewalks.
By the day bike rental in Bali: from 60,000-90,000 rupees (depending on the model / capacity).
Rent a scooter for a month (unpretentious 110 cc): 700,000-850,000 rupees. If you take a more powerful one, it will exceed 1,000,000. Always bargain!
A liter of gasoline for the bike: 8000-9000 rupees. A full tank costs 20-25 thousand rupees.
Official fines: riding without a helmet - 250,000 rupees, crossing the stop line - 500,000, lack of license - 1,000,000, lack of bike registration documents - 500,000 (make sure you get them).
You do not need a license to rent a scooter. International police are needed for the raids. The fines are impressive, but the law enforcement officers in Bali are completely dishonest: on-site auctions can reduce a million to 100,000 rupees (a very good outcome).
How to save on a fine if you don't have an IDP:
- level "basic" - keep a small amount of 50,000-100,000 rupees in your wallet / pocket and say that there is no more money
- level "advanced" - for 300,000 rupees in Bali, you can make a certificate of loss of license, valid for a month (only for bikes!). The difficulty is that for registration you need either acquaintances (in our case, it was a kind host), or go directly to the station and declare the loss
Transport prices
Public transport in Bali, one might say, does not function. At the disposal of the tourist - rent of transport, taxi, motorcycle taxi.
Rent a Car by the day: 200,000-250,000 rupees (without insurance) or 300,000-350,000 (insured).
Car for a month: from 4,000,000 rupees. We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the price list for car rental from online rental companies - as a rule, there are more choices, and there are good discounts.
Car with driver: from 700,000 rupees / day.
Taxi ride from the airport to the Kuta-Seminyak area: 70,000-100,000 rupees. Balinese taxi drivers, especially those on duty at the airport, are extremely unpleasant people. They deceive, scoff, become impudent before our eyes.
Drive Uber from the airport to Kuta-Seminyak: 42,000-45,000 rupees. IMPORTANT - boarding takes place exclusively at Parking G at the Domestic Arrival (200 meters to the left after exiting International).
Unfortunately, the Uber drivers are also not distinguished by their honesty: we were charged an additional 30,000 rupees for "increased risk" (Uber is banned on the island). Fortunately, the locales explained what was happening, and we weren't leaving so naive. Pay the price shown by the application (from additional fees, only a couple of thousand rupees are possible for parking).
Pre-arranged transfer from the airport: 1100-2200 rubles (depending on the area) - by KiwiTaxi
Mototaxi Go-Jek: transported around the island, do not go to the airport. From Kuta to Changu ~ 20,000 rupees. You can find out the prices by downloading the application of the same name. Here are 13 of the best phone assistants.
Prices for rental housing in Bali in 2021. Where to look?
The choice of accommodation is huge - from villas to rooms near the locals - and, best of all, housing prices in Bali are quite democratic. Search algorithms, in principle, are standard - either to bother in advance, or to sort it out upon arrival.
- You can profitably rent accommodation of any type for a short time on RoomGuru - the service is looking for the lowest cost across all booking systems. It can also be inexpensive on Booking.
We and our friends booked on the site for 1-3 days these budgetary, but excellent options (price for two):
Ubud
Kubu Bali Baik Villa & Resort ≈2500 RUB / night in the season, ≈1800 RUB / night in the off-season - definitely a huge like! Spacious villa (no kitchen) with panoramic views of the rice fields, pool and breakfast.
Yasa Asri Villa ≈ $ 13 per season, ≈800 rub. in the off-season (having agreed on the spot for an extension, we lived for ≈600 rubles / night) - for that kind of money, this is a godsend - a nice room with a bathroom and a shared kitchen in a two-storey building that looks like a palace. Plus, the friendly host, the gym and Agung looming on the horizon.
Jimbaran
Bali Yuris Apartment ≈ $ 16 per season, ≈1200 rubles. in the off-season (by contacting directly, friends rented for a month for 13,000 rubles + a communal apartment) - a solid apartment with a mini-kitchen, laundry and a swimming pool on the roof.
Changu
4 * Aston Canggu Beach Resort ≈ £ 65 per season, ≈3000 rubles. in the off-season - the hotel fully complies with 4 stars - breakfasts on the roof, cool pool, clean and modern cozy.
Nusa Dua
5 * Inaya Putri Bali ≈6000 RUB in the season ≈5500 rubles. in the off-season - in the expensive resort of Nusa Dua, this hotel is marked as providing quality corresponding to its rather big price. Very nice beach.
- Long term rentals in Bali are even more profitable. Here another site comes to the rescue - Airbnb (using the link a promo code from us up to $ 54 for the first booking), which is full of options for private accommodation (also of any kind) directly from locales, and often ≈30% discount for stays longer than 30 days is offered.
We found our base for a month (December-January 2018) on Airbnb. I wonder how much it cost? 13,000 rubles for two, and this is a house rental in Bali. The price always drops in the low season, and you can grab some truly worthwhile offers. For example, a villa in Bali - the price is from 17,000 rubles. in 30 days.
- Our friends chose a different path - they booked a hotel for a couple of days, rented a bike and stopped at the places they liked “for rent”. The outcome is similar - an apartment for 13,000 rubles a month, but the search took two days. Perhaps we will do the same on our second trip to Bali, but we will check the options available online for sure.
Cozy courtyard near our house
Where is the best place to live in Bali?
Boldly dividing the island into three large areas - above the airport (Kuta, Seminyak, Changu), below the airport (Bukit) and central Ubud - we will say the following.
Changu
Canggu is a clear favorite. The place where to rent a house in Bali is ideal for a long stay (from a month or more), and for a 2-week vacation (if the goal is not lazy beach relaxation).
• the number of trendy, tasty and budget cafes is off the charts (while living in Seminyak, we visited Changu every day)
• a scattering of designer shops (clothes of sufficient quality), massage parlors and beach clubs
• traffic and traffic jams are not as hellish as in Kuta / Seminyak / Jimbaran, and, they say, there are no money-hungry "traffic cops"
• many Russians (which is a plus for those who are not friendly with English)
• great beach for beginner surfers
• relaxed and slightly hippie atmosphere, not touristy at all, but "our own"
Ubud
Ubud is a direct rival to Chang, but still loses for us, because we love surfing. The area is good for wintering, but for a short and first trip to Bali, it is probably not suitable - it is better to stay closer to the ocean and book a hotel here for 3-4 days.
• the most convenient point to get to the main attractions of the north and nearby islands
• you can rent luxurious accommodation inexpensively (a house overlooking Agung or a villa in the middle of rice fields)
• other Balinese, more peaceful
• fruit markets!
• very beautiful and luscious nature, but the same solitude / inspiration / enlightenment is felt only on the outskirts - the center of Ubud is too tourist-oriented
Bukit
Bukit is perhaps less attractive for extended vacations due to the lack of large supermarkets and poorly developed infrastructure. However, many families with children live here. If you are planning to fly to Bali for 10-14 days, Bukit is a good choice of place to stay, you can leisurely run all the cool beaches.
• area for pro-surfers - steep spots with big waves
• at the same time, it is here that the best beaches for swimming are concentrated
• there are no traffic jams on the roads of the peninsula (but they certainly appear at the exit)
• in the evenings, and in the afternoon, quiet and calm, a little rustic
Average prices for hotels. 5 best options
Speaking specifically about hotels, the pricing in Bali is something like this:
- 5 * ~ from 3300 rub./night
- 4 * ~ from 1500 RUB / night
- 3 * ~ from 1000 rub./night
- 1-2 * ~ from 600 rub./night
The best hotels (highly rated by guests):
- 4 * Amadea Resort & Villas (Seminyak)
- 5 * Wapa di Ume Resort & Spa (Ubud)
- 4 * Ossotel Legian
- 3 * PinkCoco Bali (Uluwatu)
- 5 * The Haven Suites Bali Berawa (Canggu)
How to get there? Flights to Bali
There are only two options for getting to Bali: a flight from Russia (with or without a transfer) or a direct flight from South Asian countries.
The minimum price for air tickets from Moscow to Denpasar (airport) and back is from 30,000 rubles. The Low Price Calendar informs that the most favorable months to travel in 2021 are March-May, September-November.
The flight from the capital is carried out by the following airlines:
- Russia (direct flight)
- Qatar Airways (connecting in Doha)
- Singapore Airlines (connecting in Singapore)
- Emirates (transfer in Dubai)
- China Southern (transfer in Shenzhen, Guangzhou or Wuhan)
- Thai Airways (connecting in Bangkok)
The whole way in one direction takes from 12 hours and depends on the time of the transfer. Waiting at an intermediate point, as a rule, is short - on average, 1.5-2 hours. However, you can always choose a connection of a longer duration - 10 or more hours - and take a walk around the city. In addition, many of the above do not require a visa.
The countries of Southeast Asia, due to the short distance and the popularity of low-cost airlines, offer very cheap tickets to Bali. One-way fares start at:
- ≈2100 rubles from Kuala Lumpur
- ≈2700 rubles from Singapore
- ≈5000 rubles from Bangkok
Usually, AirAsia, a well-known low-cost airline, organizes flights from these cities. We flew them several times, including the Bangkok-Bali route, and overall everything is ok except for the terrible food on board.
How to save:
- not to be tied to dates and to catch stocks (recently the Qataris announced a short-term sale Moscow-Bali-Moscow for 26,000 rubles!)
- arrange holidays in low season when ticket prices are falling
- book separately the segment Russia-Southeast Asia (for example, Moscow-Kuala-Lumpur) round trip and between these dates to accommodate a trip to the island of Bali
Currency exchange and bank cards in Bali
The national currency in Bali is the Indonesian rupee (the island is part of the state of Indonesia, just a note 🙂)
Indicative exchange rate:
- rupees to ruble 220 IDR ~ 1₽
- rupees to dollar 14,042 IDR ~ $ 1
Currency exchange in Bali is one of the first areas where a tourist is perceived as a chance to earn money sent by the gods.
- ALWAYS change cash ONLY at official offices. Not in a store, not in a cafe, not in a shop, but in a separate institution, from the inside like a post office, where authorized money changer is written in large letters
- You are the last person to count the rupees received. Don't let the employee count them again or stack them in a convenient pile.
- NEVER get fooled by a super-profitable course - 99.9% of the time it's a divorce. Either the commission will be added, or the bills will stick together and slip under the table imperceptibly
While we were on the island, the rate jumped from 14,600 rupees per dollar to 14,250 and vice versa, and in the "gray" places it was stable at 15,300.
Using a bank card (withdrawing cash, paying in shops, cafes) is also often fraudulent. Based on local horror stories and reviews on the Internet, life in Bali is much easier with cash than with a card. Skimming is common here - a reader is installed on an ATM, a tourist performs an operation, and after a while, incomprehensible debits begin until the account is empty.
- Withdraw money from ATMs at banks
- For greater reinsurance, you can create a separate travel account, where you can throw a certain amount as needed (pay in a cafe / get cash)
- Be prudent and use cache in questionable situations
Add to the local "mafiosi" periodically raging Agung, the threat of tsunamis and earthquakes ... yes, the island of Bali is not the safest place. But still they go! Therefore, the list of the safest countries should be treated with a grain of salt 🙂 |
As for certain points, ATMs often have a limit on cash withdrawals (for example, 2,500,000 rupees) and the denomination of the issued bills (50,000/100,000). Plus, in many shops and cafes there are restrictions on the minimum payment (in supermarkets - from 100,000 rupees, in Starbucks - from 50,000).
Let's say the following about the commission: they were withdrawn from ATMs 3 times, 2 million each, the total was debited from the card by ~ 100 rubles more than at the rate of the Central Bank, i.e. in fact, there were no additional charges. Are you curious about the cards with which you can withdraw cash around the world without commission?
Our excursion to the island of Nusa Penida
Bali Visa (60 days)
Everything is as simple as possible if you are traveling for less than 30 days: a visa for Russians is not required. At the passport control, the entry stamp is put into the foreign country. A return ticket is compulsory, it is checked and, if not available, is forced to buy on the spot.
Please note that the visa-free period lasts exactly 30 days, not a month. Arriving, say, on January 2, you should leave the island on January 31, and not on February 2, as you might think. Every day of delay costs $ 80.
You will have to get a little confused if you stay up to 60 days: you need a visa on arrival. The cost will be $ 35 (for an airport sticker valid for 30 days) + $ 36 (for an extension for the next 30 days at an immigration office).
Visa insurance is not required, but we strongly recommend that you do it, and be sure to mark "active rest" if you plan to take a bike.
Bali Tour Prices 2021 - Early Booking
An alternative to an independent trip is a trip to Bali. The price can be reasonable (if you look well and in advance) - from 120,000 rubles in high season for two for 10 nights in a 3 * hotel with breakfast. In the "five" the cost of the tour in 2021 already starts at 165,000 rubles. But the prices for an all-inclusive vacation in Bali are completely unimaginable - from 250,000 rubles with accommodation in a 3-star hotel!
In principle, a tour package is a worthy option if from a vacation (for a period of 10 days / 2 weeks) a serene sipping of a coconut on a lounger near the ocean is expected, diluted with a couple of excursions. That is why most of the hotels working with tour operators are located in the Nusa Dua area. It has nothing to do with real Bali, but attracts with yellow sand, calm (!) Water and well-groomed, typical of a typical tourist reservation.
But the sensational video of 2020 about Bali is great for inspiration and motivation to go 🙂
How to save:
- early booking (3-5 months in advance) guarantees a 15-20% discount, or even all 40%. The closer to the date, the higher the price tag creeps, and last minute tours to Indonesia are rare
- the low season (November-April) directly affects the cost - in January, a voucher for two will be ≈15,000 rubles cheaper. But there is a chance that half of the vacation will take place within the walls of the hotel due to the rains (nevertheless, in our experience, the showers did not last more than 2 days in a row 🙂
- well, and find the most advantageous offers within the power of online tour search services
Where to look for tours in Bali?
- Travelata
- Level.Travel
- Onlinetours
Comparing the prices for tours to Bali for all tour operators at once, these three aggregators give out the cheapest options possible. Use filters, depending on your preferences, study the price chart for a month and read descriptions and reviews about hotels!
How much is 1 month living in Bali for two?
Well, now a little final mathematics, albeit very approximate, because everyone pays their expenses on one or another element of the trip.
So, IN TWO:
- Tickets from Moscow ≈70,000 rubles
- Insurance ≈4500 rubles
- Mobile communication (SIM card with 9 GB of Internet) ≈600 rubles
- Accommodation (apartments) ≈15,000 rubles + about 5 days of residence in other areas ≈5,000 rubles
- Bike rental ≈3000 rubles
- Meals / entrance to attractions / other expenses ≈2000 rubles per day (not very luxurious, but eating completely in a cafe and actively exploring the island is enough, and sometimes a lot. On average, we spent 1,500 rubles a day)
| Total summarized: budget for a month in Bali for two | ≈160,000 rubles |
| without tickets | ≈90,000 rubles |
| How much did we spend: no tickets | ≈65,000 rubles |
As you can see, the prices for holidays in Bali are even more than just reasonable - this is really one of the cheapest places for long-term stays.
What budget do you need for 2 weeks?
Let's calculate:
Budget for 2 weeks for two = 70,000 + 1,500 (insurance is 2 times cheaper) + 600 + 15,000 (3-star hotel) +2000 (2 nights on the road) +1500 (we divide the bike by 2) +28,000
Total: ≈120,000 rubles.
