Bali

TL;DR

Bali is still one of Southeast Asia’s best-value islands — the site’s hand-verified dataset (September 2026) puts mid-range at IDR 1.3–2.4M/day (~$84–155), flights ~$900 from major hubs. Surf breaks, rice-terrace treks, and temple ceremonies cost a fraction of Western equivalents. Go in May–June or September to dodge the July–August peak crowd and price spike ([inferred] peak months Jul–Aug in the dataset’s seasonality model). The rupiah held steady around 15,800/USD through 2026, so USD buying power is roughly flat versus 2025.

Who it’s for

• Budget surfers and beach lovers: world-class waves at Canggu/Uluwatu for less than a European ski pass
• Digital nomads: Canggu and Ubud are the region’s coworking capitals, with villa-from-$400/month deals still possible
• Culture travelers: temple ceremonies, rice-terrace hikes, and Balinese Hindu rituals are free or donation-based
• Not for: travelers who need Bali to be “cheap” the way it was in 2015 — Canggu rents climbed ~18% YoY in 2026, and the tourist levy adds $10 per entry

Quick Facts

Currency	Indonesian rupiah (IDR) — cards in tourist hubs; cash for warungs, markets, scooters
Time zone	WITA (UTC+8)
Visa	Visa on Arrival (VoA) IDR 500,000 for many nationalities; B211A otherwise via evisa.imigrasi.go.id
Entry	Ngurah Rai (DPS) — Grab/Gojek to Canggu ~IDR 60–100k; taxi to Ubud ~IDR 250–350k
Transit	Scooter rental IDR 60–80k/day; Grab/Gojek ride-hail; private driver ~IDR 400–600k/day
SIM/eSIM	Telkomsel, XL, Indosat prepaid tourist SIMs at airport/city stores [inferred]
Tourist levy	IDR 150,000 (~$10 USD) per person per entry — mandatory, separate from visa
Peak months	[inferred] Jul–Aug
Daily mid (verified)	IDR 1,300,000–2,400,000 (~$84–155) — hand-verified September 2026, breakdown below

Getting there

Flights into DPS (Ngurah Rai International). Grab and Gojek ride-hail work at the airport; a scooter rental (IDR 60–80k/day) is the cheapest way to get around once you’re settled.

Where to stay

Canggu for surf and coworking, Ubud for culture and jungle, Uluwatu for clifftop views, Sanur for a quieter beach base. Hostel dorms from IDR 150–250k; budget guesthouses IDR 300–600k; private villas IDR 800k–2M+ (Ohana Agency, Asia Lifestyle Magazine).

Where to eat

• Warungs — nasi campur (mixed rice) IDR 25–50k; mie goreng IDR 20–40k. The real budget win.
• Canggu cafés — smoothie bowls IDR 60–90k; not cheap, but cheaper than home.
• Ubud markets — babi guling (suckling pig) IDR 50–80k; go before noon.
• Bintang beer — IDR 25–40k at a warung, IDR 45–70k at a beach club.

Itinerary sketch (7 days)

Mirrors the site’s itinerary dataset (src/data/itineraries.ts):

Day 1: Canggu arrival — Settle in, scooter pickup, sunset at Batu Bolong Beach (IDR 10k donation). Warung dinner on Jl. Pantai Batu Mejan.

Day 2: Tanah Lot + rice terraces — Tanah Lot temple at dawn (IDR 60k foreign adult) → Tegalalang Rice Terrace near Ubud (IDR 25k) → Ubud evening for a legong dance performance at the palace (IDR 100k).

Day 3: Ubud deep-dive — Ubud Monkey Forest (IDR 80k) → Campuhan Ridge walk (free) → Tirta Empul water temple purification (IDR 50k) → dinner at a Ubud warung.

Day 4: Mount Batur sunrise trek — Pre-dawn jeep/trek to the summit (IDR 350–550k with guide and breakfast) → natural hot springs at the base (IDR 35k) → back to Ubud for a late massage (IDR 100–150k).

Day 5: Nusa Penida day trip — Fast boat from Sanur (~IDR 200–300k round-trip) → Kelingking Beach cliff viewpoint → Angel’s Billabong and Broken Beach → snorkeling with manta rays (IDR 200–400k).

Day 6: Uluwatu cliffs — Uluwatu Temple at sunset (IDR 50k) → Kecak fire dance (IDR 150k) → Padang Padang Beach (IDR 15k) → seafood grill at Jimbaran Bay.

Day 7: Sanur + departure — Morning walk along Sanur’s beachfront path (free) → last warung lunch → DPS for the flight home.

Cost guide (from dataset, hand-verified September 2026)

Item	Budget	Mid	Comfortable
Daily (per person)	IDR 500k–900k (~$32–57)	IDR 1.3M–2.4M (~$84–155)	IDR 3.5M–6.5M (~$226–419)
Flights (round-trip, major hub)	$900 [inferred baseline]	$900 [inferred baseline]	$900 [inferred baseline]

Hand-verified against three published sources — shown side by side, NOT averaged:

• Budget $35–50/day (IDR 540k–775k) per Ohana Agency; mid $80–150/day (IDR 1.24M–2.33M); luxury $300+/day (IDR 4.65M+).
• Kala Surf brackets budget $30–50/day, mid $80–150/day, luxury $300+/day — consistent within range.
• AirAsia MOVE quotes budget IDR 50k–150k/day (transport + food + attractions only, no accommodation); mid-range IDR 200k–450k/day — lower because it excludes lodging.

Cross-checked against Explore Indonesia and Bali.com. Use the Trip Planner with your dates.

Safety

Bali is broadly safe for tourists — petty theft (bag-snatching from scooters, phone grabs) is the most common crime, especially in Canggu and Kuta (Australian DFAT). Real risks: surf rip currents (swim between the flags, never alone at remote breaks), scooter accidents (wear a helmet, get an international driving permit — police checkpoints are common), and tap water (don’t drink it; bottled water is cheap). Rabies is present in Bali’s stray dogs — avoid contact, and get vaccinated before you go if you plan to cycle remote areas. Emergency number: 112.

Good to know (2026)

• Tourist levy is mandatory — IDR 150,000 (~$10 USD) per person per entry, paid separately from your visa. The official portal is lovebali.baliprov.go.id — ignore copycat sites.
• Rent a scooter, but get the permit — an International Driving Permit (IDP) with the motorcycle endorsement is required by law. Police checkpoints in Canggu and Ubud are common; fines for no IDP run IDR 250–500k.
• Canggu is not “cheap Bali” anymore — 2026 asking rents for a one-bedroom villa with pool hit IDR 12–18M/month (~$760–1,140), up ~18% YoY (Asia Lifestyle Magazine). Ubud and Sidemen are still 30–40% cheaper.
• Temple dress code — cover shoulders and knees; sarongs are usually lent at the entrance (IDR 25–50k donation). Don’t enter if you’re bleeding or menstruating (enforced at some temples).
• Bali is not a “visa run” base — VoA is extendable once (60 days total) but not indefinitely. The new 5-year digital nomad visa requires a different application path.
• Eat at warungs — a plate of nasi campur for IDR 30k ($2) is the single biggest budget lever. Three warung meals a day can keep you under IDR 150k ($10) for food alone.