Bali is not as cheap as it used to be, but it is still excellent value by Western standards. What you spend per day depends almost entirely on where you eat (warung vs cafe vs restaurant), where you sleep (homestay vs villa vs resort), and how much you drink. Here are honest 2026 daily numbers for three travel styles.
Backpacker day: $30
Room: shared dorm $8-12 or basic private room $15-22.
Food: warung nasi campur $2, mie goreng $2, fresh fruit $1. Three meals: $6-8.
Transport: scooter rental $5-7/day + $1-2 fuel.
Drinks: 2 Bintang at a warung $3, or skip.
Activities: free beaches, $2 temple, 1 surf lesson every few days ($25).
Mid-range day: $80
Room: boutique private room or villa with pool $40-60.
Food: warung breakfast $3, mid cafe lunch $8, nicer dinner $15-20.
Transport: scooter or half-day driver ($20-25).
Drinks: 2-3 drinks at a nice bar $15-20.
Activities: yoga class $10, surf lesson $30, or entry fees $5-10.
Comfort day: $150-250
Room: nice 4-star hotel or private pool villa $100-180.
Food: full-day dining out, mix of warung and mid-high restaurant $30-50.
Transport: private driver full day $45-50.
Drinks: beach club day (minimum spend $40 per person).
Activities: spa $30-60, sunset tour, private surf lesson.
Where to save
Eat at least one warung meal a day. Buy bottled water in bulk from Indomaret (Rp 4.000 vs Rp 25.000 at your hotel). Refill water at Refill My Bottle stations. Book scooters weekly, not daily. Negotiate taxi fares before getting in. Book private drivers for groups of 2+ instead of multiple Grabs.
Where to splurge
One fine dining dinner (Locavore, Merah Putih, Mozaic). One beach club sunset. One spa treatment. Private villa for 2-3 nights. A surf camp for serious progress. A night on Nusa Penida or the Gili Islands.
Cash vs card
Most restaurants and hotels in south Bali take cards but warungs and small shops are cash only. Withdraw in bulk (Rp 2.000.000 = ~$130) from bank ATMs to reduce fees. Avoid private exchange stalls advertising suspiciously high rates - some still do short-change scams. BCA, Mandiri and BNI bank ATMs are safe.
