How Much Does Bali Cost (2024)

Bali has long been known as one of the cheapest places to travel in the world. However, many people in the United States overlook the destination solely based on distance. The flight from North America to Indonesia isn’t necessarily ideal, but it’s still entirely worth it. And once you cover your flight, it’s one of the most affordable places to visit. 

Bali was my first real five-star vacation. I’m talking about private drivers, private chefs, private tours, the whole nine. The best part? It was about $1000. 

How Much Does Bali Cost to Visit in 2024

1. Airfare 

Flights will be the most expensive part of a trip to Bali if coming from North America. If you’re part of an airline's rewards program, I highly recommend using miles on a portion of your flight to reduce the overall cost. Beyond price - buckle up - it’s also about to be a long flight. If you take the quickest flight across the Pacific to Tokyo, it will still run at least 12 hours. Most flights will be closer to the 14-16 hour range. Flights round-trip from the United States to Bali can range from $1,000 - $1,300. This should honestly take about 50% of your trip budget. 

2. Accommodation

Villas with private pools can cost as little as $50/night. Hotel rooms go for closer to $20/night. The average cost of an Airbnb in Bali is around $32/night. Bali is famous for its bamboo villas and eco-friendly retreats. No matter what route you decide to go, there are sure to be many unique accommodation options. If there is any place to splurge, Bali is it. There are few places in the world where you’ll get more bang for your buck. 

Pricing for accommodation will also depend on what time of year you plan to visit. For example, we stayed at a two-story ultra-luxury bamboo villa with private staff and a front-row view of Mount Agung, the island's tallest volcano. We book it for around $180/night in October, the beginning of the rainy season. The $180 price point is considered extreme on its own, but peak season prices can rise to nearly $400/night. 

Our second villa on the neighboring island of Nusa Penida included an overhanging net hundreds of feet above the Indian Ocean where you could watch sea turtles and manta rays swim all day long. It was $120/night, but can run as much as $380/night. 

In total, a week in Bali, booking the most extra accommodation possible, the price tag was $1,340 ($670 each). 

When it comes to how much Bali costs for accommodation, it would be anywhere from $100 to $1300 for a week.

3. Transportation 

There are numerous transportation options in Bali, depending on your budget. Scooters are one of the most common transportation methods on the island and can be rented for $2/day. There is also an app called GRAB, which is southeast Asia’s equivalent to Uber but also includes rides on scooters, which can cost anywhere from .50 to a few dollars. In more remote sections of Bali, GRAB will not be available. The other option is private drivers, which are usually charged by the hour and max out at around $60 for the entire day. A quick two-hour trip will cost an average of $20-$25.

One of the only places you can get truly ripped off in Bali is with airport taxis. It is often cheaper to arrange a private driver for pickup than to trust a taxi driver. If you need to take a taxi because your accommodation is close to the airport, ask for the price beforehand. If it’s within a 5-minute drive, you should not pay over 100,000 rupiah ($6 USD). 

4. Activities + Food 

There are a few restaurants, especially in the ultra-popular area of Ubud, that charge higher amounts for food. Usually, you can tell from a mile away that it is built for tourists only. If you have a private driver for the day, specifically ask to avoid these restaurants if looking for cheaper and more authentic Balinese cuisine. Drivers often earn a commission when taking tourists to specific places, and the tourist spots tend to be on that list. 

Meals in local restaurants should run about $3-5 dollars per plate. Part of our luxurious accommodations included private chefs. The cost for two entrees and two desserts ran us about $14 total. The one touristy restaurant we visited ran a tab of $36. It is also important to note that wine is one of the most expensive items in the country. Unlike many places in North America, cocktails are typically much more affordable than a glass of wine. 

Much like food, activities should also be relatively cheap and inexpensive as well. Entrance into the monkey forest is $5, and ferries to neighboring islands are about $8 round-trip. The most expensive attraction for us was a private snorkeling boat that included snorkeling three different reefs and swimming with manta rays. It was $25/person. So how much does Bali cost for excursions and activities? Barely anything! 

How Much Does Bali Cost: Full Breakdown

I am not exaggerating when I say this cost breakdown includes going all out for just about everything: food, accommodation, experiences, etc. I honestly think it’s pretty hard to spend more money than we did in Bali, which is an incredible statement considering I am still a budget traveler. Putting Bali to the test to see if it really is a budget destination was fun, and it’s going to be difficult going back to ‘regular’ travel.

With that being said, if you could EASILY make Bali an under $2k destination if you are smart with flights and book villas under $100/night. There are plenty of incredible options available. Below are some examples. 

Under $100/night options in Bali:

Hut in Ubud $77/night (Note: Ubud is the biggest tourist center, but not my favorite area in Bali)

Hay House by Hideout $77/night

Private Room w/ Infinity Pool $86/night**

Ricefield Loft in Sideman $42/night**

Open Air Cottage in Sideman $38/night** 

Jungle Paradisa Villa $45/night

**In Sideman, which is the region of Bali where we stayed and highly recommend. 

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Seven Nights in Bali w/ International Flights:

Round-Trip Flights: $1,300/each 

Bamboo Villa: $982 (4 nights w/ fees) 

Tropical Glamping Villa: $682 (3 nights w/fees)

Private airport pickup& driver: $35

Private dinner + dessert $12

8 hour private driver & tour: $54

60 minute massage for two: $40

Private dinner + dessert: $18

2 hour private ricefield tour: $25

2 hour private waterfall tour: $25 

Floating breakfast: $20 

9 hour private tour East Bali: $65

Fresh smoothies and alcohol: $10

Manta ray & snorkeling tour: $55

8 hour Nusa Penida private driver: $40

2 boat tickets to Nusa Penida: $18

Private boat drop off: $19

TOTAL….$2,350 per person