Nick8081

New Member
Dec 15, 2013
5
0
1
Hi, I have looked through lots of threads about the cost to live in Bali, but it is hard to come up with a realistic budget. I can see a few decent family prices, but again it's hard to determine what I should budget for depending on location too.

I a single male, plan to live quite cheaply by eating local food and not living an extravagant life.

I plan to base myself somewhere near or on the edges of Seminyak. I will hire a scooter so don't need to be too close to the action and hoping to find just an average 1-2br place to rent for 6-8months (realise I may have to pay a 12month lease).

Going out wise, I would plan to go out 1-2nights per week and again heading to average places and trying to drink cheaply (i.e. no big sepnds at cocktail bars charging near aus prices).

My business will pay for phone, internet, gym etc so I do not need to include those prices.


Could anyone advise how much per week I should budget for with current costs of living? One of the reasons I'm interested in Bali is to save money so very keen to get a better idea.

My initial thoughts were it may be under 280-350max $aud, but after different bits of info I've read I'm worried that may not be enough.

Thanks in advance,
Nick
 

Smoke

Active Member
Dec 3, 2011
1,395
1
36
Sanur
100k a day for food is easily done, as you can get sate, cop coi and nasi goreng all for under 20k with a water or juice if you shop around ! A few(3) Bintangs cost about 70k at most places but you can also pay 55k plus 17% tax for one at a bar or nite club.

you can also go to mall food courts and prices be higher, same with local restaurants and warungs

Really depends on what you fancy
 

Barekarma

Member
Jan 8, 2012
94
1
6
Denpasar
Hi Nick. Setting a budget is a good idea, but be aware that inflation is (depending on what you buy) usually around 15%. For Seminyak, you should allow at least Rp 1,500,000 a week but you really need to look around to get a good idea of prices. You may be able to get cheaper, but the quality of accommodation can drop very fast. If you use an Estate Agent expect to pay an extra 20% (yes, 20%!). My advice is to stay in a hotel for the first 2 weeks, and look round. Just mention that you are looking for a place... and you will get lots of people helping (taxi drivers, especially) as it quite common for 'finders' to ask for 5% of the rental price.

Use this forum to get advice..... and it should only cost you a beer or two when you meet the members, who can advise of the best places to get almost anything (legal, that is).
Regards, Barekarma
 

gtrken

Active Member
Nov 4, 2007
384
160
43
66
Perth W Australia
At the risk of sounding like a shameless plug for our Kost ( which it is .. ) might I suggest you check out www.kennethakost.com

I know it is not Seminyak but could be a good start until you get on your feet. It includes motorbike , basic laundry, airport transfers and more so check the website.
Cost for this fine Kost is 5,000,000rp per month .

Cheers
Ken
 

Mark

Well-Known Member
Apr 19, 2004
874
313
63
Good luck Nick, but with that budget in South Bali hopefully you are prepared to remain single...
 

ronb

Well-Known Member
Aug 14, 2007
2,241
56
48
Ubud, Bali
Many bars charge 25,000 for a small beer. So 4 beers a day for the month cold use all of the 3,000,000. You would then be hungry and homeless, and without wheels - but maybe happy.
 

gtrken

Active Member
Nov 4, 2007
384
160
43
66
Perth W Australia
Many bars charge 25,000 for a small beer. So 4 beers a day for the month cold use all of the 3,000,000. You would then be hungry and homeless, and without wheels - but maybe happy.

Haha RonB but his budget is 3 Juta per week.

So he will be hungry, homeless , without wheels and a massive hangover so probably not happy :)

Cheers
Ken

Kennetha Kost - Home
 

ferdie

Member
Apr 4, 2013
677
2
16
Near Ubud
Yup, 12 mill a month is enough as long as you can keep the rent low and your hang out in a modest level:friendly_wink:
 

matsaleh

Super Moderator
May 26, 2004
2,471
145
63
Legian, Bali
I live on about Rp10 to 12 mill a month, including rent (1 bedroom bungalow, no pool, in Legian), visa extensions and trips to Singapore. That's on quite a tight budget. I drink very little (one or twice a week), I eat at home at least 4 nights a week and I own my own scooter.

So, if you want to live comfortably I'd suggest a budget of at least Rp15 to 20 mill a month (AU$1400 to 1800) would be more in keeping with the lifestyle you envisage.
 

kiteman

Member
Sep 13, 2013
108
0
16
I agree with matsaleh although it does depend on your after hours habits. I drink a lot more than 4 beers a day but I don't touch spirits which are very expensive. If you are staying in a hotel you will spend more on entertainment than if you have a villa. You just don't stay in at night in a hotel unless you are sick! In a villa you will have probably have a TV and watch endless cheap (and often low quality videos) or hopefully have a half decent sound system so you can read and relax.
I eat at the night market once or twice a week as it's great fun and very cheap but I would tire of it if I went every night. At $15 a night for my room I found I spent an average of another $45 a day which includes say $60 odd for monthly visa renewals, $60 a month for a scooter, petrol, occasional taxis, arrival tax, departure tax, paying too much for dinner because you went out with friends(!!), cold drinks for day time. A mie bakso for lunch is only 60 cents. Without a doubt my biggest expense is beer however it is worth every rupiah due to the excellent people I have met in restaurants and bars and the good live music in many places.
 

Joe Writeson

Member
Jul 30, 2013
591
3
16
Indonesia
We exist on Rp1mill a month with no friggin' choice in the matter, so it can be done, just don't expect 'luxuries' like food and reliable utilities...
 

Markit

Well-Known Member
Sep 3, 2007
9,317
1,110
113
Karangasem, Bali
I hope you are kidding! My staff can't exist on that and they are Balinese with a large family.

If you are telling truths I would be very interested in your budget? If you care to share it...
 

mimpimanis

Active Member
Nov 4, 2003
2,100
0
36
Kuta, Lombok
www.mimpimanis.com
10/12 years ago or so there was a woman living here who used to live off 4 million per month. Even back then she had a very frugal life. I can't see how it is possible for one million. Certainly not on an ongoing basis.
 

Joe Writeson

Member
Jul 30, 2013
591
3
16
Indonesia
Why would I not tell the truth (s) ? Well obviously there are occasions like but ...no we live on a million a month because we have to, I don't drink, I don't smoke, I never leave the house or use transportation, so there's three big expenses gone straight away.
We have a no frills lifestyle, no meals out, no entertaining, no extras, no takeaways, pizzas, KFC. We don't shop at supermarkets, only at the Pasar.

We own our house lock stock and trellis, so no rent or outlay.

Outgoing.
Rice.
Mie.
Vegetables.
Eggs.
Milk.
Chicken once a week, my wife makes an incendiary curry which lasts a few days.
Bread from the Chinese bakery, two loaves a week.

Utilities handled and utilised with extreme care.
Electricity. (our biggest outlay)
Internet.
LPG.
HPs used sparingly and text rather than speech.
Water.
No home telephone line.
My wife uses a motorbike for getting around and taking the kids to school.

Every cent is counted and the question always asked 'is this essential'?

The big problem is the kid's school fees, uniforms and extras, currently if I pick up some freelance writing the fee goes direct on these items, not part of the monthly budget, but still a regular outlay.

The kids are just used to 'no extras' now, my daughter still has all her 'essential items' from the days when we 'had money' and knows she will have to make do with older models of HP, laptop etc. until things improve, she has been good as gold about it because she knows there is bugger all we can do about it at the minute. Like all teenagers she has her 'moments' but easily overlooked when she gets stuck in to household chores that our Housemaids used to handle.
My son is like any nine year old and has no idea of the value of money, he has his bike, footballs (UK and Aussie Rules) and at present that seems to be enough, but he has never known anything but our current way of life and so does not demand gameboys, PSPs or anything like that. He has access to the desktop for games for an hour every day but spends a lot of time drawing and 'inventing' games and weapons. He has a huge collection of football shirts that I bought years ago on ebay and they are coming in very handy now.

The thing is we get by, and that is the main thing...although I do know that I will have a lot of making up to do once my literary work starts earning regularly.

....what was the question again Markit?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jerry Johnson

Joe Writeson

Member
Jul 30, 2013
591
3
16
Indonesia
10/12 years ago or so there was a woman living here who used to live off 4 million per month. Even back then she had a very frugal life. I can't see how it is possible for one million. Certainly not on an ongoing basis.

Been out of hospital eighteen months now so that is pretty much an 'ongoing basis' ...three years now since I have worked, anyone is welcome to share our life for a while if they think I am exaggerating ...heyyy mebbes make a good reality series 'The Writeson White Trash Experience'...in fact I'll come up with the cost later today.

@ SweetDreams - You can't see how it is possible, neither can I ... but there is NO ALTERNATIVE!
 
Last edited:

kiteman

Member
Sep 13, 2013
108
0
16
I have spent recent years trying to discover how a single Indonesian can live on the ballpark base wage of around 1 juta a month. How you manage to survive as a family on this amount is simply gob-smacking! I take my hat off to you Joe and I bet your kids grow up to be the finest that a man could ever hope for.
 

spicyayam

Well-Known Member
Jan 12, 2009
3,592
342
83
Joe, have you tried freelancing sites like odesk or elance? I know some people who have picked up some good writing gigs from the sites. I know it can be a little tough initially to build up some positive feedback, but it could be worth a try.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jerry Johnson

Joe Writeson

Member
Jul 30, 2013
591
3
16
Indonesia
Joe, have you tried freelancing sites like odesk or elance? I know some people who have picked up some good writing gigs from the sites. I know it can be a little tough initially to build up some positive feedback, but it could be worth a try.

On to it now, thank you so much.
 

Joe Writeson

Member
Jul 30, 2013
591
3
16
Indonesia
I have spent recent years trying to discover how a single Indonesian can live on the ballpark base wage of around 1 juta a month. How you manage to survive as a family on this amount is simply gob-smacking! I take my hat off to you Joe and I bet your kids grow up to be the finest that a man could ever hope for.

Reet a general response to those genuinely interested and who are also offering advice and support...oh and to those arseholes who sent emails calling me a lying bastard.

Surviving on bugger all.
As and expat in a foreign country, I know an oxymoron, you can't be an expat in your own country, although it has felt like it at times.

What is your biggest outlay?

In all probability, with my monthly costs in brackets :

Accommodation. (zero)
Utilities. (Rp300,000)
Transport. (Rp60,000)
Provisions (Rp500,000)
Communication, internet etc. (Rp75,000)

Now throw in a few extras .
Sat TV. (zero)
Smoking. (zero)
Socialising. (zero)
Household staff (zero)

Some cost saving factors, which may seem small, have a habit of building up,
We only use one AC at night, fans during the day.
The kids either watch local TV, the free cable connection that I don't ask about, or are still going through the eight 50x45x40cm storage boxes of CDs and DVDs I somehow accumulated.
I don't need stationery, about the only other storage boxes that weren't stolen from my office were the ones containing all the admin supplies.
I print out items only when absolutely necessary.
We use rechargeable batteries.
We don't pay any 'fees' on our Kompleks - I teach security polite English and dirty fighting tactics.

Items causing concern that will soon need attention - Kid's school fees, kid's clothes, they won't stop growing...
House needs a damn good overhaul.

Things we have avoided, thanks to Mr. Higher Power - medical costs, although my son constantly pushes the envelope the way he plays footy and rides his bike.

The kids never go short on essentials like good quality food, and it has to be said, they eat a lot healthier than before, if we are coming up short on supplies, the answer is easy, I stop eating and stick to tea and coffee for a few days, it does me no harm and sharpens the savage quill producing some very nasty prose...and lately some very dark poems.

So there we are, not an ideal situation by any means, but its temporary, we are still waiting for a lump sum from the sale of our other house, I am still currently in litigation over a USD55,000 invoice unpaid from 2010, I have a wad of GST claims outstanding that only I personally can collect, my UK pension is currently in process, my December Amazon royalties are due and thanks to some very positive assistance and advice from some forum members, I have cleared up a lot of previously very annoying items.

..what was the OP about again?
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: McAdoo

no.idea

Member
Feb 22, 2011
862
2
16
Sanur
Is any one interested in my monthly beer budget?
Shit, it would even scare me if I actually knew! I reckon it is somewhere between 12 and 16 million.
When I get old enough to collect the aged pension I will really be able to let loose.