Thread: How to live in Bali short term on a budget?

Hello! I am a young twenty something female full of grand ambitions on a very limited budget.
I am looking to relocate to Bali (or even another part of Indonesia if necessary) but I am coming over with little cash on hand. I have no qualms, in fact i would prefer, in working while there. Whether it be as a nanny, a bartender, a waitress, I don't care!
I don't want to come there to live the dream life of a beached hippy but more to find some simplicity and peace in my life. I have lived in other countries before but never have I gone to a place I know absolutely no one in. And I'm o.k. with that. My only problem is the fear of running out of money. Like I said, I really want to work. But I plan on coming over with under 4k US dollar. I want to live as simply as possible, and I would be just fine with living in a hole in the wall if necessary. I want to live as the people do! But is it POSSIBLE to do? In most these forums people speak of living at a much higher rate of cost, but then I hear that it is possible to do if you are careful. I would plan on staying for a year, then see what can happen after that. Can I get by without getting a long term visa? Any pieces of advice on costs to plan for once getting there (ie a bike, health insurance, etc)?
I really want to make this a reality for me, I need to find a new way in life and I want to take a big leap of faith. No one can ever blame me for not being able to put the work in that is necessary...but this is something I want to make happen sooner rather than later. ANY thoughts would be greately appreciated!

Hi and welcome to the forum.

The GOOD news is:
you can live cheaply in the same style as the locals if you are adaptable

The BAD news is:
tourist and short-stay visas have a "no work" condition. All the work you mention is work that locals can do very well.

Ok good to know! Are there visas you can get that allow you to work without spending a fortune? What about working "under the table"?

Visas that permit work are expensive and impose conditions that aim to prevent you from taking jobs that locals could do. Arrangements "under the table" are hardly a good topic on a public forum.

But the skills you have to offer are English and an understanding of the mind-set of would be travellers. So imagine if you were corresponding with intending travellers (phone, skype, email, chat, facebook, whatever) and then directing them to accommodation and other services where you could collect a commission. Maybe you could manage to do this without trouble - but I am not sure.

Originally Posted by Markit

The visas will eat your money - pity you can't eat visas.

Go to India you have a much better chance of staying long term and surviving - your budget allows for no sickness or other emergencies like eating so forget the year.

Now if you want to stay for 6 months you might just manage it. Try that first and learn all you can and see what happens.

Frankly I've yet to meet an independent 20 something young woman that can't turn a few tears into a long vacation...

I concur with this view and advise you to consider a holiday first and make your contacts in that regard. Working in any other part of indonesia is not as easy as you may percieve? (aceh province has sharia, jakarta your first issue is work visa, sulawesi is the same) remember you are taking a job the locals may want or need
Further, on your limited budget find suitable accomodation and work your way upwards so to speak.

Well thanks everyone for your input. It's good to hear the perspective of people who have been there. I'm taking all ideas and comments into my brain bank and will process them before making any decisions. I would love to take a trip over before coming, and most likely I'll have to find a way to make that work. The only issues with that is that I was hoping to cut the cost of 2 sets of plane tickets. But we will see...I may do a tour of a few other countries first then come to Bali from there. I guess we will see! Can you recommend any great little villages to go and stay? Places where you will find the everyday life of locals? Thanks again for the input...

Originally Posted by Markit

All except Denpasar, Kuta, Seminyak, Sanur, ... basically everything that isn't south Bali.

Hi! whilst we on this subject , I was thinking of staying in sanur(we coming in end jan) BUT after markit comment I am thinking of elsewhere, my daughter has to go to school in Kerobokan so we need something close-ish. (20/30 min drive) any ideas - not cannggu, somewhere else to look?????

thanks