- Per Propertia's August 2026 data, one person in Bali fits roughly $950–2,000 a month depending on the area: Ubud and the outskirts are cheaper, Canggu and Uluwatu more expensive. A couple spends about $1,800–2,800, a family without school from $1,400 for a modest option.
- The main line item is rent. A one-bedroom villa runs from $500–700 on the outskirts of Ubud to $900–1,300 in Canggu and Uluwatu. Food $250–400, transport by scooter $50–80, coworking $80–150, utilities $60–100, basic insurance $40–100.
- The biggest budget multiplier is an international school: $1,000–1,500 a month per child. A family with children in school easily reaches $4,500–7,000 and up.
- This is a personal cost of living, not the cost of running a rental villa. If you buy a villa to let, an owner's budget is calculated separately, and it should not be confused with a relocant's budget.
Before buying a villa or moving to Bali comes a simple question that is hard to find an honest answer to: how much does it really cost to live here. Figures online jump from a spartan $700 to a luxurious $5,000, because it all depends on the area, the lifestyle and the family size. We break down a monthly budget by area using fresh Propertia data for August 2026, separately for one person, a couple and a family.
Budget for one person
Per Propertia's August 2026 data, one person in Bali fits roughly $950–2,000 a month. The area sets the spread.
| Scenario | Area | Monthly budget |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | Ubud or Sanur outskirts | $950–1,350 |
| Mid | Uluwatu | $1,300–1,900 |
| Comfortable | Canggu | $1,500–2,000 |
The sum covers rent, food, transport, coworking, utilities and basic insurance. Next we break these items down one by one.
Rent: the main line item
Housing eats up most of the budget, and it is the item that depends most on the area. Propertia's August 2026 data for a one-bedroom villa.
| Area | 1-bedroom villa per month |
|---|---|
| Ubud outskirts | $500–700 |
| Canggu | $900–1,200 |
| Uluwatu | $750–1,300 |
| Sanur (3 bedrooms, family) | $1,200–2,000 |
| Seminyak | one of the most expensive |
The price depends on distance from the ocean, how new the villa is, and the season. In the dry season from May to October demand and rates are higher. Which area to choose for living and for letting is covered in Ubud or Canggu and the Bukit and Uluwatu.
Food, transport and the rest
| Item | Per month, one person | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $250–400 | local warungs cheaper, Western cafes dearer |
| Transport | $50–80 | scooter rental and fuel, a car noticeably more |
| Coworking | $80–150 | if you work remotely |
| Utilities | $60–100 | electricity, water, internet |
| Insurance | $40–100 | basic international cover |
The main fork is in food and transport. Someone who eats at warungs and rides a scooter lives noticeably cheaper than someone who goes to Western cafes and takes a car with a driver.
A couple and a family
A couple. Per Propertia's August 2026 estimate, about $1,800–2,800 a month. In Pererenan a two-bedroom villa plus living comes to $1,800–2,500, a more comfortable scenario closer to $2,800–3,800. Two do not spend twice as much as one, because the rent is shared.
A family. Here the main multiplier is school.
An international school in Bali costs $1,000–1,500 a month per child. It is the one item that turns the whole family budget over.
A family of four with a three-bedroom villa in Sanur spends about $2,200–3,300 before school. With an international school in Canggu or Sanur the budget reaches $4,500–7,000 and up. Without school a modest family can fit $1,400–1,950. So for families an honest school calculation comes first.
What not to confuse: living and villa upkeep
An important distinction buyers get confused about. There are two different budgets.
- The cost of living is your personal budget: rent or your own villa, food, transport, school, health. This article is about that.
- Rental villa upkeep is an owner's spend on a property for letting: a management company at 15–25 percent, cleaning between guests, pool and garden service, taxes, property insurance. That budget is covered in villa upkeep in Bali.
If you buy a villa to let and live on the island at the same time, you have two independent budgets. Rental income covers the second, while you fund the first yourself. How a villa's net yield is calculated is covered in villa yields in Bali, and the everyday life and atmosphere of Ubud in life in Ubud.
Bottom line: living in Bali in 2026 costs roughly $950–2,000 a month for one person, $1,800–2,800 for a couple, from $1,400 for a family without school, and $4,500–7,000 and up with an international school. The main variables are the area, food and school. An honest personal budget is calculated in advance and separately from a rental villa's upkeep budget, if you buy it for income. If you would like us to help bring your relocation and purchase scenario into one clear picture, write to us.
This material is for information only and is not financial advice. Figures are given as ranges per Propertia's August 2026 data and depend on the area, lifestyle and exchange rate. Check current prices before planning a budget.
Sources: Propertia, August 2026 data (budget by area for one person, a couple and a family, rent, food, transport, coworking, insurance, international school), DOMA client support practice 2024–2026.
FAQ
How much does it cost to live in Bali for one person in 2026?
Per Propertia's August 2026 data, one person fits roughly $950–2,000 a month depending on the area and lifestyle. A budget option on the outskirts of Ubud or Sanur is about $950–1,350, a comfortable one in Canggu or Uluwatu $1,500–2,000. The sum covers rent, food, transport, coworking, utilities and basic insurance.
How much is rent in Bali by area?
Per Propertia's August 2026 data, a one-bedroom villa runs roughly as follows: Ubud outskirts $500–700, central Ubud higher, Canggu $900–1,200, Uluwatu $750–1,300. A family three-bedroom villa in Sanur $1,200–2,000. Seminyak is one of the most expensive areas. Prices depend on distance from the ocean, how new the villa is, and the season.
How much does a couple spend in Bali?
Per Propertia's August 2026 estimate a couple spends about $1,800–2,800 a month. In Pererenan a two-bedroom villa plus living comes to $1,800–2,500, a more comfortable scenario closer to $2,800–3,800. The main variable is rent and how often you eat out and at Western cafes versus local warungs.
How much does it cost a family with children to live in Bali?
The main multiplier is an international school: $1,000–1,500 a month per child. A family of four with a three-bedroom villa in Sanur spends about $2,200–3,300 before school, and with an international school in Canggu or Sanur the budget reaches $4,500–7,000 and up. Without school a family can fit $1,400–1,950 in a modest option.
What can you save on in Bali and what not?
You save on food (local warungs instead of Western cafes), on the area (Ubud outskirts instead of Canggu) and on transport (a scooter instead of a car rental). You do not save on insurance or on housing in the rainy season, when the quality and condition of the villa matter. School and health are items better calculated honestly in advance.
Is the cost of living the same as villa upkeep?
No, these are different budgets. The cost of living is your personal budget: rent, food, transport, school. Rental villa upkeep is an owner's spend on the property: management, cleaning between guests, pool service, taxes. If you buy a villa to let, the second budget is calculated separately, covered in the article on owner costs.
Where is it cheaper to live, Ubud or Canggu?
Per Propertia's August 2026 data Ubud is on average cheaper: one person's budget there is $950–1,350 against $1,500–2,000 in Canggu. Ubud is culture, nature and a calmer pace, Canggu is a dense scene, cafes and surf at a higher price. Choosing an area is covered in a separate article.