Expenses in Bali: How Much Does it Really Cost to Visit Bali?

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Expenses in Bali: How Much Does it Really Cost to Visit Bali?

Most tourists overlook the importance of budgeting for expenses in Bali when planning a vacation, and thus, end up with unexpected costs and in stressful situations.

To make your trip planning easier, we’ve put together a comprehensive guide breaking down all expenses that you may encounter in Bali.

Pick out the options and facilities of your choice, that fit your budget, and set yourself up for a stress-free trip!

You Might Also Like: Do’s and Don’t in Bali as a Tourist!

1. Flight Cost to Bali

The first, and likely the biggest, expense for your trip to Bali will be the plane tickets. Flight costs vary depending on where you depart from, the kind of flight you book, and when you book it.

However, for a general overview, take a look at the pointers below.

Travel from the U.S. or Europe typically costs more due to the distance.

Tips to Save:

1. Book early

2. Be flexible with dates

3. Use online comparison websites to find the best flights. These include Skyscanner, Smarter Flyer, and FareCompare among others.

4. If you can, plan your trip to Bali in off-peak months (October-November and February-April) when tickets can go as low as $350 from the United States.

2. Accommodation Costs

Bali’s diversity ensures that irrespective of where you’re from or how much you can afford to pay, there will be good accommodation options for you.

A great place to stay in Bali is Ubud which not only offers peace and natural beauty but will also keep you close to the island’s cultural heart. Ubud is perfect for unique experiences like Ubud Story Walks, which will allow you to explore Balinese traditions deeply.

Tips to Save:

1. Book in advance, and as early as you can.

2. Like airfare, accommodation costs, too, will be cheaper if you’re traveling off-season.

You Might Also Like: 12 Best Hotels in Ubud [Updated 2024]

3. Food and Dining

You can try rich local dishes like Nasi Campur and Sate for just a few dollars from Warungs (small local eateries) as well as visit luxury restaurants for a blend of national and international flavors.

Tips to Save:

A good idea to manage expenses in Bali without compromising on experiences would be to mix up your meals between local warungs and mid-range cafes to balance flavor and budget.

4. Transportation

Travel Smartly:

Choose the best mode of transportation based on your itinerary. For example:

1. If you have to visit a single site on a given day, go with local transport.

2. However, if you plan on making multiple stops at sites that can each only be reached by car, it would be best to hire a private driver to save yourself from the headache of finding/booking rides repeatedly.

Not sure how to fill your itinerary? Check out our suggested itineraries here.

5. Activities and Tours

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A post shared by @ubudstorywalks

Travel Smartly:

A good tip to make the most of your trip would be to cut down on your everyday expenses in Bali and instead, invest in memorable experiences like heritage tours and scuba diving.

However, if you’re tight on budget,

1. Go for free or low-cost temples for visits.

2. For tours and other activities, book with local guides like Ubud Story Walks.

3. Rent gear like snorkeling masks and quad bikes instead of booking whole tours, if you have previous experience with such activities.

You Might Also Like: 15 Best Activities in Ubud [Things to Do]

6. Shopping and Souvenirs

Ubud is a fantastic place with lots of local shops to buy traditional Balinese items and high-quality handicrafts.

Tip to Save:

Unless you’re buying from a souvenir mall like the Krisna Mall, bargaining is quite common in Bali and prices are usually negotiable. So, don’t hesitate to politely negotiate for the best deals to reduce expenses on your Bali trip.

7. Essential Purchases and Miscellaneous Expenses

It is important to carry around bottled water and bug spray at all times. Costs for general everyday essentials aren’t too much and range from $0.20 to $3. However, these items often require frequent repurchasing, which can increase your trip expenses in Bali, so it’s best to buy several at once.

Sunscreens in Bali are generally quite expensive. Costs range from $15 to $50+ for small to mid-size bottles/tubes. It is recommended to bring extra sunscreens from your home country.

You can easily get prepaid SIM cards from airports as well as convenience stores in Bali. e-SIMs can also be purchased online.

Costs depend on the data package. However, for an estimate, check out the details of two e-SIMs’ packages below,

a. Unlimited data (1-day validity) – $6, by Holafly

b. 10GB data (30-day validity) – $24.75, by Airalo

These typically cost $1-$3 per kg of clothes at local laundromats and can go higher at $5-$10 for hotel laundry services. Places like Ubud and Canggu are full of great laundromats that offer exceptional services, including pick-up and delivery, at low costs.

Costs for travel insurance plans differ greatly based on the coverage you want and your time of stay. For insurance, it is ideal to get a quote based on your particular needs.

Ready to make the most of your trip? Follow Ubud Story Walks on Instagram to get a taste of Bali before you even set foot on the island!

Kelly Williams

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Read what people say about Ubud Story Walks...

Ubud Story Walks is something different. It’s a fun, entertaining and refreshing way to delve into Ubud’s past. The knowledgeable guides place as much emphasis on how they tell a story as they do on what they’re sharing, which means all sorts of magical and mystifying details are revealed. I believe the best way to get to know a place is to walk its streets, which makes Ubud Story Walks one of the best ways to get to know Ubud.

Julia Winterflood

We had a fantastic time walking around the historical centre of Ubud! Even though we've been based in Bali for a few years, we'd never had an actual tour of some of Bali's most iconic landmarks and learning about the history was fascinating. Our guide was hilarious and full of information and it was a lovely and relaxing way to learn so much. The tour was early in the morning which was perfect timing as the temperature was still cool and we were able to witness the morning bustle of Ubud's famous markets. 10/10 would recommend!

Rahima Saikal

     Excellent  
     Based on 163 reviews 
    
 
 
   
 
 
        
   Vicky Ilankovan 
 2024-12-13
 
 
  A great way to get to know Ubud, past and present. Win and Kelly were fantastic tour guide: knowledgeable, friendly, and open. I’d just landed in the country and this was the best welcome to immerse myself in some of the culture and historic as well as get a bit of a lay of the land. It was great to visit historic sites as well as the museum, and here fun stories. Bonus points for traditional sweets! Many thanks to both. Would definitely recommend this walking tour
  
 
       
   LH Sim 
 2024-12-10
 
 
  Joe was our guide for the Ubud Story Walk Tour : Past To Present.  He is very professional and knowledgeable who has many interesting stories to share.  During the tour, he showed pictures related to the history for our better understanding. Besides pictures, he also showed us coins that were used in the past. Apart from being proficient in conducting the tour, he is also a very caring guide as he offered us sunscreen, mosquito repellent prior to his tour and brought us snacks and water when we had our short break during the tour.  Thank you Joe for the excellent commentary. Will definitely join the other Ubud Story Walks on my next trip to Bali.
  
 
       
   Jessica Hübner 
 2024-12-05
 
 
  Ubud story walk  past to presents was one of our favorite things to do in Ubud. Our guide Joe was super fun and very informative! Thank you Joe for the great time we had. I highly recommend this tour
  
 
       
   Andrea Slosar 
 2024-12-03
 
 
  I was on two tours and I really liked them. They are beautifully and comprehensively designed. Old black and white photos are  an interesting addition. I was especially impressed by Windari with her communication skills and knowledge of the English language and Balinese culture. I wish the whole team much success in their future business and on discovering and solving pieces of the puzzle of Balinese culture.
  
 
       
   Neeraj Goswami 
 2024-12-01
 
 
  I went on two walking tours, loved both! The guides Ira and Win shared excellent insights on Balinese culture, history and traditions - helping me understand local context, beyond the usual pics on social media.
I hope they add many more such interesting tours in the future!
  
 
       
   Vinay Kashyap 
 2024-11-26
 
 
  It's an essential part of a traveller's journey to know the history of a place he visits and my decision to choose Ubud Story walks was a good one. Joe, the guide took us through Ubud, the past to present and the walk was very informative.

Its a good initiative done by a small team and I am happy to learn the efforts that the team is putting.

Those who are coming to Ubud must consider opting for their guided tour.
  
 
       
   tamara fields 
 2024-11-26
 
 
  Enjoy a lovely morning with Ira as she expland the story of Bali, Ubud, Hinduism, the style of the houses and much more. Would recommend this walk to anyone that is interested in connected with the history and culture of bali while having someone who can answer your questions to have a deeper look into the life of the people living here.
  
 
       
   David Hodgins 
 2024-11-25
 
 
  We had a lovely and informative morning walk with Win. Her perfect pace, both physically and with information sharing , provided us with a rich understanding of Bali’s history and culture
  
 
       
   Jill Boulter 
 2024-11-22
 
 
  Great walking tour of Ubud. Ira was very knowledgable and spoke good English. Nice places to stop, little alleyways and quieter parts of Ubud. Very well looked after. Would recommend 👍.
  
 
       
   Shafiga Elshan 
 2024-11-15
 
 
  It was an amazing experience to learn more about Bali's history and culture. Our guide, Ira, was incredibly knowledgeable, positive, and caring. Thank you for such a wonderful experience!

Expenses in Bali: How Much Does it Really Cost to Visit Bali?