One expat's cost of living in Bali

SusanSydney

Not my definition of an expat, but useful anyway. How about some more examples from actual people who live there? Come on, you know you want to share!

balinews

People have been asking me what it costs to live in Bali, so I put together this post to breakdown the numbers for inquiring minds that want to know. Keep in mind, I didn't go there to travel, I went there for three main reasons: 1. To live like a local. A local expat I guess? 2. To learn about the culture through food and people watching. 3. To build something. Build something bigger than me. I'm not that big, so that sentence has no merit. Because Bali was home, not a place I toured, I can give you a legitimate breakdown. A one month breakdown that is. The Cost Of Living In Bali: A One Month BreakdownÂ*|Â*Deepi Harish

Markit

Susan I eat and drink more than I should but come nowhere close to this total. Housing sama sama... But the question occurs that if I tell the truth then I will be responsible for a flood of "lotus eaters" swarming to the island like locust. Like it like it is so I'm gonna go for "Cheap" as my standpoint.

Dick Rector

Ridiculous this list, we (2) eat out at least 4 times a week and not in the cheapest places, I come not even near that $900 p/m not even close including food/drink shopping for the home. Maybe the person who made the list has a large lobster-eating family.

SusanSydney

Yes, if you get time to read the whole article, she was actually what I think of as a "Hubud Tourist", having spent two months in Bali. But I still love to read stories about costs of all kinds. Especially the old question of building costs which haven't been revisited on this forum for a while now. Not game to try reviving that thread because you'll all kindly refer me to the old "how long is a piece of string" threads re building, all of which I've read about seven or eight times. Yes, perhaps I'm a slow learner! Or obsessed. Or both.....

Markit

Susan if you want to know building stuff - feel free to ask, but try and be specific about what you want to know- for instance, build a bamboo house 10 x 10 on a side with alang alang roof or price of a truck full of sand. People tend to ask "how much to build a house" without saying more. That's real difficult to answer. If you are ever in Candi Dasa area I'm happy to walk you around several I know of and give you the benefit of my immense knowledge and understanding (for cheese). In fact I know of some properties that are going supper cheap because the owners have crapped out completely (divorced, wife gone lesbian/didn't realize living in Bali was another country/etc). Offer is good for anyone else too - here in the east we live quiet lives of meditation and contemplation (of our many past sins)

no.idea

Food and drink for $900 a month. Even with no food I could not stay at or under that price. However I could add the $407 for the gym. ( I have heard about them but other than that I have seen people come out of them all red in the face and covered in sweat). The $250 for entertainment could also go on the drink bill. I entertain myself by having a beer. This is starting to look better. Hubud Coworking Space now there is another $270 to go one the beer bill. I am feeling better about the budget now. Okay it is nearly 7AM time for a wander down the beach and a beer. Heading to Australia for the first time in 10 years at noon today. Going there for 27 hours to attend my brother's final barbecue. Cheers

Markit

Sorry to hear your only reason for going home is a death in the family. Be of good cheer, if you're lucky you get to come back to Bali with a cleansed palate (as all the artists say). Bon Voyage

SamD

Dick Rector wroteRidiculous this list, we (2) eat out at least 4 times a week and not in the cheapest places, I come not even near that $900 p/m not even close including food/drink shopping for the home. Maybe the person who made the list has a large lobster-eating family.

Let's see... 10 Bintangs per day @ $3ea x 30days = $900. Seems reasonable.

Normy

or 15 Bintangs @ $2 seems even more reasonable. lol.

modelt1826

Hope your brothers final barbeque went well cheers