Bali can be cheap or costly. The fixed government charges, the tax and service added to bills, what paying costs, and where the range in prices is widest.
Editorial Written and checked for American travelers
Bali can be cheap or expensive, and the difference is mostly in choices the traveler makes. For an American, the fixed costs are the long-haul flight and a short list of government charges; everything on the ground has a wide range. We quote no daily budget, because prices move and we have no official figures, and we set out the costs that are certain and the ones that surprise people.
The costs that are fixed
A few costs of a Bali trip are set by the Indonesian government and are the same for every American visitor. The tourist visa costs IDR 500,000. Bali's tourist levy is IDR 150,000 per person. Both are priced in rupiah, so the dollar amount moves with the exchange rate.
100 USD ≈ … IDR (enable JavaScript to see today's rate)
If you stay longer than 30 days
A stay beyond the first 30 days needs a visa extension, with an official fee of IDR 500,000 per application and a visit to an immigration office. Overstaying without one is charged at IDR 1,000,000 per day, which makes it the most expensive mistake on this page.
The flight
The flight is the largest single cost for most Americans, and it is the one Bali itself has no part in. There is no nonstop service from the United States, so every fare includes a connection. Fares change daily, and we quote none. When you compare Bali with a closer destination, the flight is where the comparison turns.
What gets added to prices
Prices in Bali's restaurants and hotels are often not the final price. In Badung regency, which covers Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, Uluwatu and Nusa Dua, the local tax on restaurant food and drink and on hotel stays is 10%. A separate service charge may be added on top.
Service charge
A service charge is a business's own addition, not a tax. Under an Indonesian labor regulation covering hotels and hotel restaurants, it must be distributed to the staff. The regulation sets no percentage, so the rate is whatever the business has chosen. Look for a line at the foot of the menu stating whether prices include tax and service.
Nightlife
Bars, nightclubs and spas fall under a different tax category. The 2023 tax regulations of Badung and Gianyar set a 40% local tax on that category, in force from January 2024. The rate was publicly contested and may have been amended, so look at how a venue states its prices instead of assuming a figure.
What paying costs
How you pay adds to what you pay. The State Department says Indonesia has ATMs that accept US-issued bank cards, and that they may charge a currency conversion or transaction fee. It advises checking with your card issuer or bank for international transaction fees before you travel.
Fees you can remove at home
A foreign transaction fee is set by your own bank, and it is the one cost on this page you can remove before leaving. Our advice is to carry a card that does not charge it. We have no official figures for ATM operator fees or withdrawal limits in Bali, so we quote none.
Changing money
Bali's rules for visitors say to change money only at authorized money changers, identified by a license number and a Bank Indonesia logo with a QR code. A rate that looks much better than everyone else's is a reason for caution. Count the notes yourself before leaving the counter.
Where the range is wide
Most of a Bali budget sits in three things with a wide range: where you sleep, how you get around, and what you eat and drink. Each can be done at a fraction of American prices or at something close to them. We give no price bands, because we have no official source for them and they change with season and location.
Accommodation
A room in a family-run guesthouse and a private pool villa are both normal choices in Bali, and they are far apart in price. Bali's rules require visitors to stay in licensed accommodation. Compare the final price including tax and service, since two listings can differ by that margin alone.
Transport
Getting around ranges from an app ride for a short hop to a car and driver for the day. The State Department notes that Grab and Gojek show the fare in the app before you confirm. A scooter is the cheapest option on paper; it also carries license and insurance questions that can make it the most expensive one.
Food and drink
Local food at a simple eating house and an international menu at a beach club are different budgets. Alcohol is the item that most often surprises Americans on the bill, particularly imported wine and spirits. A traveler aged 21 or over may bring 1 liter of alcohol into the country.
What a day in Bali costs
A day in Bali costs an American traveler roughly $30 to $50 on a budget, $80 to $150 at mid-range, and $240 or more for luxury, per person and not counting the international flight. These brackets are built from BudgetYourTrip's averages of what other visitors report spending, about $29, $80 and $239 a day for the three styles, and from 2026 travel-guide estimates, which run somewhat higher. They are planning ranges, not quotes.
What the brackets cover
The brackets cover a bed, meals, getting around and an outing or two. Where you land inside a bracket depends mostly on the two items above that vary most, the room and the transport, and on the season. Prices in Bali are set in rupiah, so the dollar figures move with the exchange rate.
Costs people forget
Three costs are missing from most Bali budgets. The first is travel insurance, which the State Department highly recommends for Indonesia. The second is medical care if something goes wrong: the State Department says hospitals often require payment or a sizable deposit upfront. The third is the connection at home, such as an airport hotel.
Is it cheaper than home?
Our honest answer is that day-to-day spending in Bali can be well below what the same style of vacation costs in the United States, and that the flight takes back part of the difference. A longer trip spreads the flight over more days. A short trip makes the flight the main cost.
The small percentages
None of the additions on this page is large alone. Tax, service, a conversion fee and an ATM charge are each a small percentage, and they land on the same dollar. How they stack across a whole trip is worked through in Bali, in Its Own Time.
FAQ
Is Bali expensive for Americans?
Day-to-day costs have a wide range and can be low. The long-haul flight is the largest fixed cost, and tax and service are added to many restaurant and hotel prices.
What fees do tourists pay to enter Bali?
The tourist visa costs IDR 500,000 and Bali's tourist levy is IDR 150,000 per person. The arrival card is free.
Is tax included in Bali restaurant prices?
Not always. In Badung regency the local tax on restaurant food and drink is 10%, and a service charge may be added. Check the foot of the menu.
Do ATMs in Bali charge fees?
The State Department says ATMs in Indonesia that accept US cards may charge a conversion or transaction fee. Check your own bank's international fees too.
