Salary expectations in Bali

Teresa_Sar

Hi, I'm keen to move and work in Bali, but wondering about the salary expectations there. What's the local salary like and what's the locally hired foreigner's salary like? I'm in my 20s and single, so I don't need an expat package (nor do I have the experience for one, I think), but I'm wondering if the salary range in Bali is something I can accept?

mat

You will need a work visa. Not easy to get unless you have a firm that will act as your sponsor and offer you a job. Wages are very low here with skilled workers earning under 2 million IDR a month, [some less than 500,000]. Working here without a permit may well end you up in prison and a big fine on top, so take care!

Jimbo

Good luck in your search but without specialist skills and little experience the chance of finding work of any description is very small.

JoanNadia

You're best bet is to get a teaching position. Not a whole lot of jobs other than that here. Also can check out Bali Advertiser's employment section. Worth a look sometimes: Employment Ads in Bali Advertiser - Advertising for the Expatriate Community For a teaching position here, you need to have your TEOFL certification. Google it. You'll find some places that can offer it. I work at English First, and they handle all the work visa permit issues. I get about 7mill IDR a month. Not enough to rent a beautiful villa, but defiantly enough to get by.

Jimbo

Defiantly :icon_biggrin: On 7 million a month I hope you are not in Ubud as you will only get a shack for that :icon_mrgreen:

ronb

Hi, I'm keen to move and work in Bali, but wondering about the salary expectations there. What's the local salary like and what's the locally hired foreigner's salary like? ?

Here's an article, 2 years old now, Education International that said a pay increase at that time was getting teacher pay up to Rp2,000,000 per month. Let's guess that they have since got another increase to Rp2,200,000 - that is US$242 per month - or about $8 per day. Sometimes poverty is defined as less than $2 a day, so you can see that on that basis teachers are doing OK. But I guess that few people from western countries would be happy with that pay level.

Jesse

Here's an article, 2 years old now, Education International that said a pay increase at that time was getting teacher pay up to Rp2,000,000 per month. Let's guess that they have since got another increase to Rp2,200,000 - that is US$242 per month - or about $8 per day. Sometimes poverty is defined as less than $2 a day, so you can see that on that basis teachers are doing OK. But I guess that few people from western countries would be happy with that pay level.

I couldn't agree more. That's why some people think that moving and working in Bali to live a simpler life and to cut some from your regular lifestyle.

cabaicabai

What ever happened to that guy PakBruce. He is making decent living teaching English and was living in Ubud.

Jimbo

Er No. He was in Lombok. He has now retired and is living in Bali. He was also a Phd not just an ordinary english teacher. His salary was also not that high.

JUDY

Jimbo, I believe cabaicabai is referring to Bruce Briscoe who is currently back again in Ubud, however, he was teaching English first in China, then in Jakarta, and presently back in Ubud. The guy you are takin about is Dr. Bruce forget his last name who I thought taught school in Silawasie (spelling) now retired in Bali with his family.

Jimbo

Only saw the bit about Bruce so I am sure you are correct. The point of this thread has been lost however as it had little to do with teaching and was just about any job. The teaching part came about as the only viable job but the original questioner did not necessarily have any teaching qualifications. :icon_e_sad:

dedoo

If you mean Professor Doctor Bruce Pohlmann he taught in Sumbawa.

cabaicabai

$1500 is our budget for two including renting a Kijang and eating at home most of the time. Neither of us drink or smoke or eat animals.

Jimbo

Not sure about renting a Kijang as you will need a driving licence but otherwise I thing you will be fine on $1500 a month. The big problem with all of this is accommodation. To get something reasonable in price and quality you need to rent for at least a year in advance. On a monthly basis the price can rocket. In the north of the island you can get a nice property for 30 million a year for a 3-4 bedroom house or less for a smaller one. I am not taling a "villa" here however. In the south I do not know as I have made no enquiries there. Ubud also I am told is quite expensive. You should however sit down and make a list of all expenses per month to make sure you have enough for what you need and this should include visa fee's etc

leandra

[b]2 million salary in Bali?[/b] hi all there just read this blog and even though i am a little bit delayed i needed to comment to this! i do not believe that you can life in bali for 2 millions a month- i mean a decent living. it starts with searching a house or room- my experience is that under 5 million a month you will not get a normal house- unless you want to rent a koskosan( local small room rented with nothing inside, outside balinese shower and no kitchen but many people next to you and 0 privacy.( approx. 50$ a month). the room should be equipped with matras, a fan, plates and glasses etc. food and normal living costs in bali are not that cheap anymore- not mentioned if you want to eat some butter, yoghurts or good bread sometimes. you need to have an insurance- would be wise- and they are quite expensive. renting a motorbike is currently approx. 50 us$ a month excluding petrol. so half of the 2 millions are gone for bike and small room rented. not to mention if you have kids and have to sent them to school here. i personally thnk that a normal western person not owning a house or villa here should at least have 1500 us$ a month for a decent, comfortable and save living. my opinion. kind regards, tell us when you made it to Bali Leandra.

BKT

leandra wrotehi all there just read this blog and even though i am a little bit delayed i needed to comment to this! i do not believe that you can life in bali for 2 millions a month- i mean a decent living. it starts with searching a house or room- my experience is that under 5 million a month you will not get a normal house- unless you want to rent a koskosan( local small room rented with nothing inside, outside balinese shower and no kitchen but many people next to you and 0 privacy.( approx. 50$ a month). the room should be equipped with matras, a fan, plates and glasses etc. food and normal living costs in bali are not that cheap anymore- not mentioned if you want to eat some butter, yoghurts or good bread sometimes. you need to have an insurance- would be wise- and they are quite expensive. renting a motorbike is currently approx. 50 us$ a month excluding petrol. so half of the 2 millions are gone for bike and small room rented. not to mention if you have kids and have to sent them to school here. i personally thnk that a normal western person not owning a house or villa here should at least have 1500 us$ a month for a decent, comfortable and save living. my opinion. kind regards, tell us when you made it to Bali Leandra.

I agree you can't live on 2 millz a month but you can definitely get a house for under 5 million a month if you're renting for a year. In fact most of the houses in Bali are well under that price. Im living in a new 2 bedroom house now which was only 12.5 millz for the year. for 5millz a month (60juta) you could probably find yourself a jelek little Villa

winged

Here's an article, 2 years old now, Education International that said a pay increase at that time was getting teacher pay up to Rp2,000,000 per month. Let's guess that they have since got another increase to Rp2,200,000 - that is US$242 per month - or about $8 per day. Sometimes poverty is defined as less than $2 a day, so you can see that on that basis teachers are doing OK. But I guess that few people from western countries would be happy with that pay level.

If it's $8 a day, that's working everyday... Is this expected or would it more likely be 5 days a week? What sort of hours would you expect?