Complete Guide: Moving And Living In Bali As An Expat

Are you thinking of moving to Bali, Indonesia?

Here’s a complete guide with everything you need to know on how to move to Bali, how much you can expect to spend and how to make yourself comfortable out here (finding the right accommodation, coworking space, visas, etc.).

Whether you’re planning on relocating to Bali for a month or long-term, here’s all I could think of to help you have a smooth transition.

In 2017, I moved to Bali and I was living there for about two years.

Bali has a huge expat community in places such as Ubud, Canggu, and Uluwatu.

There’s so much to love about Bali that it’s understandable that most people want to live there or even stay longer.

Living in Bali is a great idea for those who have freedom (hello digital nomads). It’s affordable, the food is good, the locals are kind, and you can live a good life out here.

If you’re unsure if Bali is a good option for you, read our post to find out all the pros and cons of living in Bali.

Canggu is where I decided to base myself and where I could see myself living for a long time.

Being closer to the beach was important to me – I’m a sunset sucker, and I want to become better at surfing!

There’s just a special something about the vibes out here!

🛬 Arriving In Bali Denpasar Airport

As soon as you arrive at Bali airport (Denpasar), it’s already the beginning of your adventure. You are going to need a lot of patience, a reserve of fake smiles, and a lot of skills.

Taxi drivers will harass you, and they will ask for insane rates to trick the ones who aren’t aware of the conversion yet.

The best way to avoid being ripped off is to download apps like Go Jek or Grab.

They can pick you up if you’re willing to walk around 5 to 10 minutes away from the airport. If you can’t use the wifi or if you don’t have any data, you can always walk directly to find your driver outside.

You simply have to avoid the taxi drivers, walk straight forward until you cross the car park and then you’ll cross the street, head left until you’ll find a path to turn right.

You should find Go Jek and Grab motorbike drivers (which works fine if you have a backpack!)

📱 How To Get A Bali SIM Card

The quickest option to get an Indonesia SIM card would be directly at the airport. However, it’s definitely not the cheapest.

As I was based in Canggu, I always got my SIM cards at Happy Cells, but you can generally find many shops in Kuta, Seminyak, Uluwatu, Ubud, or Canggu.

You can expect to pay between 27,000 and 70,000 depending on the data plans or companies you’re looking for.

The most popular one is Telkomcel which has the best signal in Bali, but the cheapest one is XL which works okay but isn’t the fastest one. That being said, if you’re more impatient, don’t go for XL.

Alternatively, if you wish to get a SIM card before your arrival, we suggest getting an eSIM instead. If your mobile device supports eSIM, you could get a virtual SIM card.

You can browse the options for Indonesia on Airalo.

Want to learn more about this first? Read our Airalo review or learn about the best eSIMs for Indonesia.

🛵 How To Rent A Scooter In Bali

If you’re planning on staying in Bali for a while, you should get your own scooter. You can either buy or rent a scooter in Bali.

You can find ones for sale in Facebook groups such as Canggu Community or Bali Expats.

If you’re planning on renting a scooter monthly, you can expect to pay around IDR 600,000-700,000 per month or IDR 800,000 for a scoopy.

Now, it’s important to note that Bali plans to ban tourists from renting scooters.

🛏️ Getting An Apartment, Villa, Or Private Room In Bali

Where do expats live in Bali? They live in guest houses or villas in the expat hot spots.

Finding a room, a villa, or an apartment is super easy. You can either look for opportunities directly on Facebook or simply hop on a scooter and stop everywhere you can see rooms with monthly rates.

I, personally, opted for a monthly room in a homestay which includes a private bathroom, a shared kitchen, and a pool for a tiny IDR 4,500,000 per month.

Regarding Bali expat housing, you’ll find long-term accommodation for every budget.

For example, some expats prefer the cheapest option possible, and others want to rent a dreamy villa – it’s up to you.

You’ll find accommodation regardless of your budget!

📍 Best Areas To Stay In Bali

If you’re wondering where to live in Bali or where to live in Bali as an expat, you should know that depending on your personality/interests, you might find that a spot suits you better than another.

Most expats live in Canggu, Ubud and Uluwatu.

Canggu is famous for digital nomads, surfers, and backpackers, and it’s not the quietest spot around Bali. If you’re into beach bumming and partying, you will likely be pleased in Canggu.

If you’re into surfing, peaceful vibes, and fun, Uluwatu could be a great option.

Any intermediates or experts in surfing will likely prefer Uluwatu over Canggu. It’s a small town, but the vibes are also great over there.

If you’re into yoga, healthy food, and boho vibes, Ubud could be a better option.

Read more about the best places to live in Bali.

🛂 Do You Need A Visa For Bali? | Visa And Visa Runs

Moving to Indonesia isn’t that easy in terms of a visa. If you are wondering how to live in Bali – this should be one of the first steps.

Most people get free entry for 30 days in Indonesia. Of course, you should check if your passport is from one of the 140 countries that don’t require you to get a visa.

If you choose this option, you cannot extend your time in Indonesia. This means you would have to leave the country and return (which we call a visa run).

You can ask for an extension if you get the visa on arrival. This means you would have a total of 60 days.

You must find the right counter when entering Denpasar Airport to get the visa on arrival. You will pay USD 35, but your visa is still not extended yet.

You will have to go to the immigration office 3 more times, pay another USD 35, and then you should get your visa extension.

If you can’t be bothered with this process, you could also consult an agency, pay a bit more, and then you won’t have to worry too much as they will handle most things for you.

You will still have to get to the immigration office once so they can get your fingerprints.

I did many visa runs, and I never had any problems re-entering the country (even on the same day).

Another option that could also suit your needs is a social visa. This option requires a sponsor letter from an Indonesian living in Indonesia.

Many agencies can provide letters for you, but be sure to pick the right one to avoid scams.

If you are wondering how to live in Bali permanently, you might want to look into long-term visas such as the KITAS.

💻 Coworking Spaces In Bali

Bali is becoming one of the main hubs for digital nomads in Asia. When finding the perfect Bali place to live, you should remember that you might need a coworking option while you’re there.

There are coworking spaces in a few spots in Bali, such as Ubud, Canggu, Kuta, Seminyak, and Legian. Read more about being a digital nomad in Bali.

You should also know that many cafés and restaurants provide fast and reliable WiFi, an excellent alternative if you don’t want to spend money on coworking spaces.  

Coworking Spaces In Canggu

In Canggu, there are currently a few popular coworking spaces.

I chose Tropical Nomad, where most people focus on work, and it’s pretty relaxing!

Dojo recently closed, but there are still plenty of coworking spots around Canggu and Pererenan.

Best Coffee Shops With Good WiFi In Canggu

My all-time personal favorite is Hungry Bird. The staff is lovely, the WiFi typically works fine, and many people work from there, too, making it easy to meet new friends.

You could also check out Milk and Madu, Milu by Nook, Alter Ego, Revolver, Two Tree Eatery, or Café Cinta.

👚 Laundry In Bali

You can find laundry shops pretty much everywhere, and it’s super cheap. Some places charge per kilo and some others per piece.

Most of the time, you can expect your laundry to be ready by the next day (during the afternoon for most cases).

🥗 Health, Food And Bali Belly

There are so many great options in terms of restaurants and cafés all around Bali (and a lot of Western options too!). Although, you should know that many of us will handle the famous “Bali Belly”.  

The great news is you can find many natural options when it comes to health, and you can also get antibiotics (without prescriptions) in many pharmacies.  

Kindly note that I’m far from being a doctor. These tricks and tips are only based on my own experiences, so try at your own risk!

Here are the two things you should know if you’re feeling sick or weak: Kombucha and Jamu.  

Happy Kombucha is a brand of drinks with different abilities to help you boost your immune system. You can order a delivery or find their products in many restaurants and cafés.

Jamu is a pretty popular drink or shot you can also find pretty much everywhere. It’s a turmeric and ginger drink (which doesn’t taste very good in my opinion) that is considered a home remedy.

I got sick many times during my time in Bali. My immune system has suffered a lot, from Bali Belly to an ear infection, to a throat infection to stomach issues!

Another good thing about Bali is Go-Jek and Go-Life; two apps that provide excellent services, such as massage, meds, rides, and even food delivery.

Don’t hesitate to use them; everything is affordable and professional!

Food Poisoning And Bali Belly  | What To Do When It Hits You

Let me share a “dirty” story with you guys. After a few months of living in Bali, I thought my stomach was finally used to the food out here.

One day, I woke up and was struggling with the thought of eating. I was forcing myself to eat, but I didn’t feel hungry at all. The whole day was a big “I don’t want to eat this” kind of day.  

The next day, I woke up feeling pretty dizzy and not very well. My first thought was “Wow, I could definitely throw up right now”, and there I was, running for the toilet.

For the next 30 hours, I was vomiting, dealing with diarrhea, and handling a fever on top of it. I couldn’t keep anything in – even a sip of coconut water.

As I’m lucky, I had great friends who went to grab some stuff for me, such as rehydration powder, coconut water, a lot of water, and some fruits.

Obviously, I didn’t manage to eat on the first day and had a few banana bites for the next couple of days. I spent most of my time sleeping for four days.

I started to feel better on day 4. I had more energy, felt hungry again, and learned about charcoal tablets which help with poisoning as it absorbs everything.  

Of course, if it were to get worse, I would have gone and seen a doctor, but I managed to get better on my own, drinking loads of water, coconut water, and Pocari Sweat (ion supplement drink) while trying to eat bananas and plain rice.

🥊 Leisure & Fitness In Bali

If you’re looking for entertainment, there are gyms, yoga classes, and CrossFit gyms around Bali.  Of course, surfing should also be on your list.

You can join a surf camp or get surfing lessons while you’re there.

Dojo organizes many events, such as workshops and barbecues, which are great for meeting new people.

You could also join Facebook groups for expats in Bali or Canggu Community to know what’s happening and look out for signs for great parties or festivals.

💰 Is Bali Expensive? | Cost Of Living In Bali

Living in Bali is comparable to other hot spots in Southeast Asia. You can live a great comfortable life in Bali without spending too much.

While you could easily live in Bali for about USD 300 per month if you live in a hostel, you can have your own place for about 1000-1500 per month. It depends on the destination chosen and your lifestyle.

Bali is where you can live well without spending too much, but it can also be expensive if you’re tempted by expensive restaurants or bars.

Many expats living in Bali love it because you can live here on different budgets – from the very cheap backpacking style, to a more luxurious lifestyle.

You can find cheap monthly rent or stay in a hostel. It’s entirely up to you!

Same regarding the food, you could either cook your own food or eat local food to save money – or you could also appreciate great meals in one of those Western restaurants.

I managed to live for USD 10 a day for quite a long time, and I also lived on a more comfortable budget over USD 30 per day.

Bali Cost Of Living: Real Life Examples

A cheap meal starts as cheap as IDR 5,000, and an expensive one would be above IDR 100,000 (which is still relatively cheap by the way!).

The cheapest room in Bali starts at IDR 50,000 (it can be cheaper during rainy season), and you can also easily spend above IDR 150,000 per night.

Renting a scooter costs IDR 50,000 per day but can be cheaper with a weekly and monthly rate, as mentioned previously in this article.

Living In Bali On A Budget

If you’re planning on staying in Bali on a budget, you could also share a room or opt for a hostel in Bali until your financial situation improves.

You could also find a hostel job in exchange for accommodation.

Also, you should eat a lot of local food to save money!

✅ Is Bali Safe? | Safety In Bali

The situation in Bali changes quickly. It’s not always super safe, and I heard many stories and met many people who had to handle dodgy situations.  

Here are my top tips:

• Make sure you get money from a safe ATM. In some places, such as Gili T, or Nusa Penida, where the ATMs are limited, I heard many stories of people who got their cards skimmed.  It happens even in places like Canggu, where there are many ATMs! I, personally, always use the ATMs next to the Savage Kitchen (the Maybank one) and the Commonwealth one located next to Fish Bone Local Restaurant on Batu Bolong road. I’d suggest you get a Revolut travel card that you can freeze whenever you want to stay on the safe side.
• While you’re at the ATM, do not forget your card. Many people take their money and forget their cards because the order differs in their country. If it does happen to you, block your card and transfer your money straight away!
• If you’re driving at night time, ladies, put your purse inside your scooter. People could try to grab it while you’re driving. This also applies to your phone. People could try to take it off you.
• Using apps such as Go-Jek and Grab as drivers have reviews, meaning it’s safer than finding a random driver on the side of the road.
• Ladies, try to avoid walking on your own at night time! Many women get groped in Bali. I do not say that to scare you away, but it can happen. That being said, nothing has happened to me so far, and when I see ladies walking on their own in the dark, I always offer them a ride. Better be safe than sorry!
• Join Bali Expat Facebook groups to get more information about what’s happening. Usually, you’ll find info on visas, ATM scams, or dodgy areas. Living in Bali as an expat can be a fun experience, especially if you are entirely aware of what’s going on.

📅 When You Should Visit Bali And Rainy Season

The rainy season starts around the end of October and lasts until March-ish. I’ve been here during the rainy season, so here’s what you can expect.

It doesn’t rain all day long, but it does rain most days for a couple of hours. It can be either in the morning, afternoon or evening, but you will still enjoy a lot of sunshine during the rest of the day.

The rain can start quickly, so you might get stuck in a restaurant longer than expected!

I always brought my poncho inside my scooter to avoid surprises on the road!

The great news is that most accommodation is cheaper during the rainy season!

That being said, the best time to visit Bali would be between April-May and September, which would be pretty promising in terms of sunshine!

Here’s what to pack for Bali for the dry and rainy seasons.

💡 Final Thoughts On How To Move To Bali

By now, you should have a better idea of how to move to Bali, where to live in Bali, and how to stay safe in Bali!

It was a lot of information, wasn’t it?

Want to travel around Bali too? Read one of the following guides:

• How to get to Labuan Bajo
• How to get to Nusa Penida
• Bali surf camp for beginners