Bali on a Budget 2026: Real Daily Costs
Bali costs around £25 to £40 per day on a backpacker budget, £60 to £120 per day for mid-range travel, and £200 or more per day for luxury. Eat at local warungs and hire a scooter and you can live very well here for very little.
One of the questions I get asked most is whether Bali is still cheap in 2026. The honest answer is yes, if you travel smart. Bali can be one of the best value destinations in the world, or it can empty your wallet fast. It all comes down to how you eat, where you sleep and how you get around. This is my full breakdown of what a trip to Bali actually costs, and how to keep it cheap without missing the good stuff.
💳 Sort your money before you fly
Before the fun part, sort how you actually spend money here. Bali runs on cash, and local ATMs charge a fixed fee every single withdrawal. Those fees add up over a two week trip.
Get a Wise card before you travel. It gives you the real mid-market exchange rate with tiny fees, and it works in the ATMs that charge the least. I use mine every day on the road.
🛏️ Where to stay cheap
Accommodation is where most people overspend in Bali. The trick is to stay a few streets back from the main beach strips in Canggu, Ubud or Uluwatu, where prices drop by half for the same comfort.
Dorm beds and social hostels start from around £8 a night, and they are the fastest way to meet other travellers. Hostelworld is the best place to find sociable budget stays with honest reviews.
If you want your own room with a pool, private guesthouses and small hotels sit between £20 and £50 a night. Compare the same room across Trip.com and Hotels.com before you book, because the price often differs for no reason.
🍜 Eating for next to nothing
This is where Bali shines. A plate of nasi goreng or mie goreng from a local warung costs around 25,000 to 40,000 rupiah, which is roughly £1.50 to £2. The food is fresh, generous and delicious.
Eat where the locals eat and you can feed yourself well for under £6 a day. The smart cafes in Canggu and Ubud are lovely, but a single brunch there can cost more than a full day of warung meals. Mix the two and your budget stretches a long way.
🛵 Getting around
The cheapest and most fun way to explore Bali is on a scooter. Hire costs around 70,000 to 90,000 rupiah a day, less if you rent by the week. Make sure you have a licence that covers motorbikes and insurance that does too, because this is the one thing people get caught out on.
For longer journeys, the Gojek and Grab apps give you fixed fares with no haggling, for both cars and bikes. To reach the Gili Islands, Nusa Penida or Lombok, book your fast boat or shuttle through 12Go so you have a real ticket and a set departure.
🏝️ Tours and day trips
The day trips are what people remember most about Bali. A sunrise trek up Mount Batur, a day around the Ubud rice terraces and waterfalls, or a boat trip to Nusa Penida are all worth doing.
Book them through GetYourGuide so you get verified guides, real reviews and free cancellation if your plans change. Use code ALLCHECKEDIN5 at checkout for 5% off every booking worldwide.
📱 Stay connected and covered
Two things to sort before you fly. First, data. Airalo is the simplest eSIM for Indonesia. Install it at home, switch it on when you land, and you have data the moment you step off the plane.
Second, insurance. SafetyWing is my pick for Bali because of the rolling monthly plans, which are perfect for longer trips and anyone planning to ride a scooter. Do not travel without proper cover here.
💰 Realistic daily budget
Here is what to expect in 2026.
Backpacker: £25 to £40 per day. A hostel bed, warung meals, a shared scooter and a mix of free beaches and the odd paid trip.
Mid-range: £60 to £120 per day. A private room with a pool, a blend of warung and cafe dining, your own scooter and a day trip most days.
Luxury: £200 or more per day. A private villa, fine dining, drivers and premium experiences with nothing left out.
Whatever your budget, Bali gives you far more than you pay for. Eat local, ride a scooter and say yes to the sunrise treks, and you will come home with a full memory card and most of your money still in your pocket.
Join the free community
For more honest travel tips, exclusive discount codes and weekly guides, come and join my completely free travel community. It is full of solo travellers swapping real experiences and helping each other plan better trips.
Join here: skool.com/solo-travel-thailand-3085/about
Happy Travels! ✈️🇹🇭