7 Downsides of Living in Bali with Kids (and Why We Haven't Moved There Yet)

Why Bali Has Never Topped Our List

As an Aussie from Queensland, I’ve always had Bali right on the doorstep. It’s a short flight from home, and everyone seems to have a Bali holiday story. Maybe that’s exactly why it never felt exciting to me.

I also grew up with the Bali Nine case in the news. Like a lot of Australians, that left a grey cloud over Bali for me, and a clear sense of how strict Indonesia’s laws are.

When we planned our time in Southeast Asia, we looked at Bali properly anyway. The villas surprised us: spacious, calm and very good value. But with Leo still in a pram, the missing footpaths put us off, and we chose Chiang Mai instead. The full story is in our Chiang Mai vs Bali guide.

We’ve noticed something else in the family groups we’re in. Bali still comes up constantly, and families keep going. But more of those conversations are now about traffic, rising prices, crowds and mould. We tend to be drawn to places where fewer families have already set up, so Bali has slipped down our list.

That doesn’t make it a bad choice. It just means you deserve the downsides before you book. We haven’t lived in Bali, so this guide is built on official sources, our own research and what families in our groups share. 🌴

The short answer

• Bali can work well for families with a salaried overseas job, school-age kids who are happy in the heat, and a budget that can absorb rising rents.
• It’s harder with a toddler in a pram, a child with health needs or mould sensitivities, freelance income, or a tight budget with no buffer.
• Sort these before you book: the right visa, health insurance with evacuation cover, a school place if you need one, and a villa you’ve checked for damp.

1. Visas: Tourist Visits Don’t Cover Remote Work

Every member of your family needs their own permission to be in Indonesia, including babies. For short visits, most Western passport holders can get a visit visa on arrival or online. These visas don’t allow remote work, even for an employer back home.

The Remote Worker Visa (E33G) is Indonesia’s answer for nomads. It was introduced in April 2024 and gives you a one-year stay. You’ll need:

• An employment contract with a company outside Indonesia
• At least US$60,000 a year in income from foreign sources
• At least US$2,000 in your bank account over the last three months

Spouses and children can be added as dependants for the same period. The catch for many nomad families is that freelancers may not qualify, because the rules name an employment contract. If you’re self-employed, check before you apply.

Tax is a separate question. Holding an E33G permit can make you an Indonesian tax resident, with a tax number (NPWP) and an annual return. Speak to a cross-border tax adviser before you go.

Don’t forget the tourist levy. Bali charges every international visitor IDR 150,000 per trip, children included. That’s about €30 for a family of four at current rates, paid through the official Love Bali portal.

💡 Rules and visa codes change often. Check current details on Indonesia’s official e-visa site, and only use licensed visa agents.

Our Bali visa guide covers every option in detail.

2. Health: Good Private Clinics, Real Tropical Risks

Southern Bali has private clinics and international hospitals that handle everyday care well. Outside the main areas, options thin out quickly. For serious or complex treatment, families are often evacuated to Singapore or Australia, which is why insurance with evacuation cover matters so much.

The bigger surprise for many parents is the list of tropical health risks:

• Dengue is present in Bali, and cases rise in the wet season.
• Measles outbreaks have been reported in Bali, so check your children’s vaccinations.
• Leptospirosis can follow heavy rain, so keep kids out of floodwater.
• Zika: in August 2026, the CDC reported cases in travellers returning from Bali. This matters if anyone in your family is pregnant or planning to be.
• Rabies has been present in Bali since 2008. Monkeys and stray dogs are the main risk. Any bite or scratch needs medical care straight away.

Check the latest on Smartraveller’s Indonesia page before you go.

Mould

Mould is one of the complaints we see most often in the groups. Bali is hot and humid all year, and the wet season (roughly November to March) makes it worse. Villas with open-air designs, thatched roofs or poor airflow can get damp fast.

For most families it’s an annoyance: musty wardrobes and clothes that never quite dry. For kids with asthma, allergies or health conditions that react to mould, it can decide whether a stay works at all.

Before you book:

• Ask the host for recent photos of ceilings, bathrooms and inside wardrobes.
• Ask how the villa copes in the wet season, and whether air conditioning or a dehumidifier is provided.
• Book the first week or two only, so you can leave if something smells off when you arrive.

Our family accommodation in Bali guide has a full safety checklist.

💡 See a travel doctor well before you leave, and read our guides to travel vaccinations for families and health insurance for nomad families. There’s more on day-to-day health in staying healthy in Bali.

3. Education: Waiting Lists and Real School Fees

Bali’s best-known international schools are popular, and waiting lists are common. Apply before you book flights, not after you land.

Fees are high. Green School’s 2025/26 fee schedule lists IDR 245,420,000 a year for Grades 4 and 5, roughly €12,000 at current rates. New students also pay a one-time admission fee of IDR 40,000,000, around €2,000. Fees are charged in rupiah, so your costs shift with the exchange rate. With two children, school can easily become your biggest monthly cost.

Local public schools teach in Bahasa Indonesia, which rules them out for most visiting families.

Homeschooling and worldschooling are popular alternatives, especially around Ubud. They also put the whole load on parents who are often working at the same time. We worldschool Louie as we travel, and our routine is in Homeschooling on the Move. Before you rely on it, check the rules in our worldschooling legal guide.

More options in schools and childcare in Bali.

4. Internet: Fine in the Hubs, Patchy Elsewhere

Internet in Canggu, Ubud and Sanur is good enough for most remote work, especially in coworking spaces. Step outside those areas and it gets less predictable. Heavy rain and power cuts in the wet season can drop a connection mid-call.

Rental listings don’t always tell the truth either. “Fast Wi-Fi” can mean fibre, or it can mean a slow shared line. And a parent on a video call while a child does online school will stretch most home connections.

What helps:

• Ask for a live speed test before you book.
• Keep a local SIM or eSIM with data as your backup.
• Book a coworking space for important calls.

Compare cities in our Internet Speed Guide.

5. Getting Around: Traffic, Footpaths and Strict Laws

Traffic is Bali’s biggest everyday risk. The roads are narrow and crowded with scooters, and scooter accidents are one of the most common causes of serious injury for visitors. Many families ride with their kids on the back. We wouldn’t.

Walking isn’t always the easy alternative. Footpaths in much of Bali are narrow, broken or missing, which is hard going with a pram. It’s the main reason we chose Chiang Mai this time.

Ride-hailing apps like Grab and Gojek are cheap, but car seats aren’t standard. Bring your own, or book a private driver who can provide one.

Natural hazards: Bali sits in an active earthquake zone. Volcanic ash, from Bali or neighbouring islands, can cancel flights at short notice. Flash floods are possible in the wet season.

Petty theft, such as bag snatching from passing scooters, happens in busy areas like Kuta and Seminyak.

Strict laws: Indonesia’s laws are strict, and ignorance won’t help you. Smartraveller notes that penalties for drug offences can include long prison sentences and the death penalty. Indonesia’s revised criminal code also covers cohabitation between unmarried couples. If you’re travelling as unmarried parents, read the current advice before you go.

Methanol poisoning from fake spirits is a documented risk, so parents who like a drink should buy sealed bottles from supermarkets or duty free.

6. Costs: Bali Isn’t the Budget Option It Used to Be

Rents in Bali’s most popular areas have climbed, and it’s one of the complaints we see most in the family groups. The villas we looked at still felt like good value.

But a family budget in Bali is shaped less by rent and more by the extras that come with it.

7. Community: Finding Your People, Then Saying Goodbye

Bali has one of the biggest nomad family communities in Asia. It’s also one of the most transient. Families arrive, find their people, then watch them move on a few months later.

That revolving door is hard on kids, who often make friends fast and feel goodbyes deeply. Our guide to worldschooling and socialisation covers how families handle it.

English is widely spoken in the tourist areas, but less so outside them. It’s easy to live in an expat bubble without ever really meeting the Balinese community around you.

💡 Join family groups before you arrive, so you land with a few names rather than none. Start with community and connection in Bali.

How to Make Bali Work for Your Family

From what families in our groups share, the ones who settle well in Bali tend to do a few things differently:

• They sort the paperwork first. The visa, insurance and a school place are arranged before the flights are booked.
• They try before they commit. They rent short-term for the first few weeks and explore a few areas. That’s what we’d do too.
• They pick the area for their kids, not their Instagram. Sanur is calmer, Ubud is greener and slower, and Canggu is busier and pricier. See our guide to the best places to live in Bali.
• They keep a buffer. A medical bill or visa problem is much less stressful with a few months of savings behind you.

Start with the basics in our Bali guide for families.

Frequently Asked Questions About Living in Bali with Kids

Is Bali safe for families with young children?

Mostly, with sensible precautions. Traffic is the biggest daily risk, so avoid riding scooters with kids and bring your own car seat. Keep children away from monkeys and stray dogs because of rabies, and protect everyone from mosquitoes.

How much does it cost to live in Bali as a family?

It depends mostly on school fees and where you rent. International school fees are charged per child and can pass €12,000 a year, and long-term rent is often paid months upfront. See our Bali cost of living guide for estimated figures, and check current prices.

Can digital nomad families legally work in Bali?

Not on a tourist visa. The E33G Remote Worker Visa is designed for people employed by a company outside Indonesia and earning at least US$60,000 a year. Family members can be added as dependants, but freelancers may not qualify. Check the official e-visa site before you apply.

What are the best areas in Bali for families?

Sanur and Ubud are the areas families mention most. Sanur is calmer, with a flat beachfront path, and Ubud is greener, with a strong alternative education scene. Canggu has the most nomad facilities, but also the most traffic and the highest rents.

Are there good international schools in Bali?

Yes, but popular schools often have waiting lists, and fees are high. Green School’s 2025/26 fees for Grades 4 and 5 were IDR 245,420,000 a year, roughly €12,000, plus a one-time admission fee. Apply before you book flights.

Is the internet in Bali good enough for remote work?

In Canggu, Ubud and Sanur, usually yes, especially in coworking spaces. Outside those areas it’s less reliable, and wet-season power cuts happen. Ask for a speed test and keep mobile data as a backup.

How do nomad families handle healthcare in Bali?

Most use private clinics and international hospitals in the south for everyday care. Serious cases can mean evacuation to Singapore or Australia, so family insurance with evacuation cover is essential. Don’t rely on basic travel insurance for a long stay.

Is mould a problem in Bali villas?

It can be, especially in the wet season and in older or open-air villas. Ask for recent photos, check the ventilation and book a short first stay.

Is Bali good with a toddler or pram?

It’s harder than many Asian cities. Footpaths are often narrow, broken or missing, so a carrier and a driver help a lot.

Do children pay the Bali tourist levy?

Yes. The levy applies to every international arrival, including children, and is paid once per trip. Check the current amount on the official Love Bali site.

Is Bali easy for vegetarians or kids with food allergies?

Bali is one of the easier places in Asia to eat vegetarian. Allergies take more care, because peanuts appear in many sauces and kitchens are often small and shared. An allergy card written in Bahasa Indonesia helps, and a villa with a kitchen gives you a safe fallback.

Is it worth moving to Bali as a nomad family?

It can be, if your visa, schooling and budget fit before you arrive. Families with a salaried overseas job and school-age kids tend to find it easier. With a toddler, a freelance income or a tight budget, it’s worth comparing other places in Asia first.

Our Takeaways

Bali isn’t off our list forever. One day we may be living back in Australia, with Leo walking everywhere on his own two feet, and it’ll be a short hop away. If we go, we’ll rent short-term first and try a few areas before committing to anything.

For now, it’s the place everyone talks about that we’ve chosen to skip. That’s not because families can’t make it work. Plenty do. It just asks more of you than the photos suggest: a visa that fits, a school place sorted early, a villa that stays dry and a lot of patience in traffic.

If you’ve weighed all that and Bali still feels right, go with your eyes open. If it doesn’t, our Asia guide covers places where family life might be easier right now. 🌏