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Countries / Bali
Bali
The remote-worker capital of Asia: villas, surf, temples and a huge expat scene at a low cost, with traffic, visa churn and thin hospital cover as the trade-offs.
RegionSoutheast Asia
CapitalDenpasar
CurrencyIndonesian rupiah
LanguageIndonesian, Balinese
Expat saturationLow (1% foreign born)
Living cost · Mid-rangefrom $1,550/mo
Drone reel · 4K · muted loop
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🇮🇩 Bali from aboveBali in 60 secondsAerials of Canggu, Ubud, Sanur. Replace this slot with the video element; the text stays overlaid.
Ad
HHarbor & Vale Health
Cover that follows you to Bali.
International health insurance from $89/month. Pre-existing conditions considered.
See plans →Rated 4.8 · 12,000 reviews
Sample creative · fictional advertiserAd
AAtlas Language School
Speak Indonesian before you land.
Live online classes with native teachers. 30-minute placement, then a plan built for your move.
Free trial lesson →Classes from $14
Sample creative · fictional advertiserAd
✎Cedar International Schools
Find the right school in Canggu.
IB, British and American curricula compared. Free placement help for families moving to Bali.
Compare schools →Free for parents
Sample creative · fictional advertiserYour moveSets your plan and the listings on flights, hotels, rentals, furnishings, moving and retirement.
Your plan for Bali checklist · timeline · cost breakdown
Affordable move$8,000estimated first-year setup · about 33 weeksMid-range move$15,950estimated first-year setup · about 28 weeksLuxury move$45,700estimated first-year setup · about 20 weeksRetirement move$23,150estimated setup incl. visa, insurance and advice · about 48 weeks
Estimates for one adult before ongoing rent and living costs; couples and families scale up. Tap a plan for the full breakdown.
Bali by the numbers editorial estimates in US dollars
Worth of the dollar$1 ≈ Rp16,9001 Indonesian rupiah ≈ 0.0059¢ · snapshot, changes daily · Current rate ↗
Utilities · 85 m² flat$80/moElectric, water, sewer & garbage
Home internet$30/moBroadband, typical plan
Wi-Fi & connectivity score62/100Median fixed broadband ≈ 45 Mbps
Internet reliability60/100Variable; a backup connection is essential
English day-to-dayModerateHow far English gets you
Remote-work time zoneHard for USHard for US, partial EU (early)
Phone & eSIM$8/moLocal plan · travel eSIM ≈ $12/10 GB
Walkability of cities30/100Car-dependent outside a few districts
Air quality60/100Moderate in Denpasar and Canggu from traffic and burning; better in Ubud's highlands and the north
Healthy food & food safety60/100BPOM regulates; halal mandatory; produce excellent, hygiene varies (Bali belly is real)
Severe weather & hazards70/100 riskEarthquakes, Mount Agung volcano, tsunami risk, seasonal flooding and rip currents
Drive on theLeftRight-hand-drive cars · Licence & vehicles →
Time zoneWITA (UTC+8)WITA (UTC+8), no DST; 13 hours ahead of New York in winter
Literacy96%Adult literacy rate
Cost to give birth(BPJS) low-costPublic (BPJS) low-cost / private $2,000–5,000 at Siloam or BIMC
Rural land$10,000–40,000per acre · $10,000–40,000 rural; foreigners lease (Hak Pakai) rather than own
Beauty of cities90/100Architecture, setting, upkeep and green space
Petrol / fuel$0.75/L≈ $2.84 per US gallon
Doctor visit$30Basic clinic visit, paid privately
Emergency room$250Uninsured visit, before treatment
Dentist$30 / $45Check-up & cleaning / one filling
Life expectancy72 yrsAt birth
Unemployment5%National rate
Remote work & digital nomadsWelcomedRemote Worker (E33G) visa, one year, foreign income untaxed
🌤️ Climate
Tropical; wet season Nov–Mar, dry season Apr–Oct. Coasts hot and humid; Ubud and the highlands cooler and wetter.
Winter · Jan27°C81°F
Spring · Apr28°C82°F
Summer · Jul26°C79°F
Autumn · Oct27°C81°F
Mean temperatures for Canggu.
🌧️ Rain & snow
Rainfall about 1,900 mm (75 in) a year.
Snow None.
⚖️ The law
Official legislationPeraturan.go.id (Indonesian legislation) ↗
OverviewLaw of Bali on Wikipedia ↗
Driving On the left. Licence rules →
🏛️ Taxes
Property tax PBB ~0.1–0.3% of assessed value.
Local & regional income tax None.
🎓 University
Udayana University public ~$1–2k/yr; international programmes in Denpasar $3–6k.
📱 Phone & eSIM
Carriers Telkomsel, Indosat, XL.
Average cost Local SIM or eSIM with generous data about $8/month; a 30-day travel eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, Saily and similar) around $12 for 10 GB.
🎁 Schemes to attract expats
- Remote Worker visa
- Second Home visa
- Retirement KITAS from 55
- Foreign remote income untaxed
Figures are national averages for planning, not quotes; big cities run higher. Tax schemes change often and carry conditions. Verify before you rely on them.
Official sources for Bali embassies, warnings, law and reference
US Embassy in Bali↗All embassies and consulates in Bali↗US State Department travel advisory↗UK FCDO travel advice↗Peraturan.go.id (Indonesian legislation)↗Law of Bali (Wikipedia)↗Bali on Wikipedia↗Wonderful Indonesia (official tourism board)↗World Health Organization country profile↗Numbeo cost-of-living data↗
Government, intergovernmental and reference sites only; no reviews or opinion. Links open in a new tab.
Ratings & warnings independent
Visa informationTypes, step-by-step application, where to applyPassport renewalOfficial renewal links and timingLiveability scoreThe rating and what drives itSafety ratingCrime, stability and what the number meansTravel warningsState Department and UN advisories, liveRegional information & cuisineWhere to live and what you'll eatCommunity & meetupsFinding your people
Follows your Mid-range tier partner listings match your budget
FlightsGateways, routes and fares for your research tripHotels & accommodationWhere to stay while you scout, with videoRental propertiesNeighbourhoods, prices and how renting worksFurnishings & home setupFurniture, appliances, utilities and internetMoving & shippingGetting your life across the oceanRetirementVisas, costs and where retirees settle
Services & daily life one labelled partner per page
Airport taxis & transfersOfficial cabs, apps, rail links and faresTransportationGetting around, driving and licencesTrains, buses & ticketsIntercity travel and where to bookSchoolsInternational, bilingual and local optionsChild care & nanniesNurseries, nannies, au pairs and costsUniversitiesDegrees, fees and student visasPets: vets, boarding & relocationBringing animals, finding a vet and careLanguage classesLearning before and after you landBest restaurantsWhere locals and expats actually eatHospitals & healthcare accessHow to see a doctor, hospitals, insuranceBanking & money transferAccounts, transfers and currencyTax & legal helpResidency, treaties and who to hireJobs boardRoles open to foreigners, updated weeklyCoworking & remote workWork rights, spaces and freelancing
Rated & officialPartners in three tiersOne labelled partner
Life in Bali faith, wellbeing, shopping and play
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Interested in where astrology says you should live?Click here for more info on astrocartography and Bali.
Click here →🕊️ Religious servicesChurches, mosques, synagogues, temples and more🧘 Wellness & spiritualityYoga, retreats, meditation, spas and practitioners🛍️ Retail recommendationsWhere to shop for clothes, tech, homeware and gifts🧺 Groceries & marketsSupermarkets, local markets and what things cost🥾 Recreation & tour guidesOutdoors, sport, day trips and licensed guides📱 Phone & eSIMCarriers, eSIMs, plans and what they cost⛴️ Boats & ferriesFerry routes, marinas, boat rental and ownership🏖️ Beaches, lakes & riversSwimming, water quality and the best spots🚗 Vehicles & driving licenceRent or buy a car, and how to get a local licence🖼️ Art galleries, museums & librariesWhat's free, what costs, and where to start Holidays & festivalsNational holidays, closures and the festivals worth planning around
Holidays & festivalsNational holidays, closures and the festivals worth planning aroundJobs board · Bali
Search for jobs for free, or post a job for $100 USD.
Roles open to foreigners in Bali: remote work you can do from Canggu, and in-person jobs with employers who hire from abroad. Free for job seekers, always. Employers pay a flat $100 per listing, live for 60 days.
Latest listings. Example listings shown until the first real posts go live.
Example · Senior Software Engineer (React / Node)Northwind Labs · Remote, US or EU hours
$95,000–130,000USD
Example · English Teacher (adults & business)International Language Centre · Canggu · in person
Rp37,000,000–Rp54,000,000/moIDR