Bali for Nomad Families: Where We’d Live, What It Costs and the Visa We’d Choose (2026)

Why Bali Is Still on Our List

Growing up in Queensland, I always had Bali on the doorstep. Funnily enough, that made it easy to put off. The full story of why it never topped our list is in our honest guide to the downsides of Bali.

When we planned this stretch of Southeast Asia, we looked at Bali properly. The villas genuinely impressed us. But with Leo still in a pram, the patchy footpaths tipped us towards Chiang Mai instead.

So Bali is a later chapter for us, possibly once we’re back in Australia. And when we do go, we already know what we’re looking forward to.

Louie wants to learn to surf. He’s nine, fearless in the water, and Bali has gentle beginner breaks. I want the markets. In a villa with a proper kitchen, we’d cook vegetarian food at home most nights. Marty and I want to cycle the back roads between Ubud’s rice fields. 🚲 And we’d base ourselves near Ubud, so Louie could try nature-based learning for a while.

We haven’t lived in Bali yet. This guide is built on official sources, current prices and what families in our groups share. When we’ve been, we’ll update it with what we got right and what we didn’t.

Could Your Family Live in Bali?

Yes, many families do, but Bali suits some far better than others.

Bali tends to suit families who:

• want an established family and worldschooling community from day one
• are happy to pay for a private driver, or confident on the roads
• work for an overseas employer and can apply for the one-year remote worker visa
• want nature, surf and culture close to home

It’s a harder fit if you:

• rely on a pram or walkable streets
• need a tight budget in the popular areas, where rents have climbed
• were hoping to work on a tourist visa, which isn’t allowed
• have a child with health needs that call for specialist care nearby

The rest of this page gives you the overview, with links to our detailed Bali guides on each topic.

Where to Live in Bali with Kids

Bali looks small on a map, but traffic makes distances feel much longer. Where you live shapes your whole routine, so choose the area for your kids’ days, not for the photos. Our guide to the best places to live in Bali goes deeper.

Calm Beaches for Little Ones

Sanur

Calm, shallow water and a long beachfront path, which is rare in Bali. Sanur is quieter and more traditional than the west coast, with international schools nearby. The trade-off is fewer cafés and less social buzz.

Nusa Dua

Resort-style streets, gentle beaches and tidy paths. Life in Nusa Dua is easy and predictable, but it costs more and feels further from local life.

Jimbaran

A fishing-village feel close to the airport, with a calm bay. Jimbaran works for families who want quiet but still need the south’s services.

Nature, Culture and Alternative Schools

Ubud

Rice fields, temples and the island’s strongest alternative-school scene. It’s where we’d start. Ubud’s roads are narrow, hilly and busy, though, and there’s no beach. Our Ubud guide covers it in detail.

Tabanan

Space, rice terraces and village life, west of Canggu. You get more house for your money, but most errands and schools mean a drive.

Sidemen

A green valley in East Bali beneath Mount Agung. Sidemen is beautiful and very quiet. Internet is less reliable, and there are no international schools nearby.

Munduk

Cool mountain air and waterfalls in the north. It suits a short creative stay more than a long base, and the wet season is very wet.

Surf and a Social Scene

Canggu

The busiest nomad hub, with coworking spaces, cafés, schools and lots of families. Canggu also has the worst traffic and some of the highest rents on the island.

Pererenan

Next door to Canggu and a little calmer, with the same schools and services within reach. It’s growing fast, so expect construction noise.

Seminyak

Central, with shops and restaurants, and villas often start cheaper than in Canggu. Seminyak is touristy, and evenings can be loud.

Uluwatu

Cliffs, surf beaches and space on the Bukit Peninsula. Many of the beaches are reached by steep stairs, and services are spread out.

A Slower Coast with Fewer Services

Amed

A quiet east-coast village with snorkelling straight off the beach. Rents are lower, but schools, hospitals and big supermarkets are far away.

Lovina

Calm black-sand beaches in the north and a lower cost of living. Lovina is around three hours’ drive from the airport, and the dolphin-watching boats can get crowded.

What It Costs to Live in Bali with Kids

Our estimate for a family of four is €2,500 to €3,300 a month (about A$4,100 to A$5,400). That assumes worldschooling, a three-bedroom villa near Ubud on a monthly lease, and cooking at home most nights.

School fees come on top, and they vary hugely. Green School, for example, charges around €12,000 a year for Grades 4 and 5.

What catches families out:

• Yearly leases are often paid upfront in one lump sum.
• Electricity is often not included in the rent.
• Visa fees, the tourist levy and insurance add up quickly for four people.
• Drivers become a daily cost if you don’t ride a scooter.

These are estimates based on Numbeo and current listings, checked in September 2026. Prices change quickly, so check current details. Our Bali cost of living guide has the full line-by-line budget.

Family Accommodation in Bali

Villas are Bali’s biggest drawcard for families. When we looked, around €1,400 a month got you a decent location. Cheaper places exist, but usually further out, which means more time in traffic.

Before you sign, ask about:

• pool fencing, especially with toddlers
• stairs and balconies without railings
• mould and leaks in the wet season
• mosquito screens on the bedroom windows
• a recent internet speed test
• whether the villa is licensed

Book a week or two first, then look around before committing. Our Bali accommodation guide covers areas, leases and the safety checks in full.

Schools and Childcare in Bali

Bali has more education choice than most places in Southeast Asia. Fees, waiting lists and short-term options differ a lot, so contact schools directly.

Around Ubud

• Pelangi School follows the International Primary Curriculum.
• The Wood School, in Tampaksiring, is the nature-based school we researched for Louie. It also takes short-stay worldschooling students when space allows.
• Green School is inland, between Ubud and Canggu.

Canggu and Kerobokan

• Canggu Community School offers the International Baccalaureate (IB).
• Sunrise School, in Kerobokan, takes children up to about 14.
• Open Flow Bali, in Mengwi, says it is designed for families who travel part of the year.

Sanur and Denpasar

• Bali Island School is an IB school from age three.
• Dyatmika School is bilingual, teaching in English and Bahasa Indonesia.

Childcare

Nannies and babysitters are usually found through expat groups and word of mouth. Ask for references, and agree hours and pay in writing.

If you’d rather not use a school, see worldschooling below. More options are in our guide to schools and childcare in Bali.

Worldschooling in Bali

Bali is one of the easiest places in Asia to worldschool, which means learning through travel and daily life rather than in a classroom. The island is full of things kids can see, touch and ask about. And around Ubud and Canggu, you’re rarely the only family doing it.

If we went, we’d worldschool Louie unless we lived close enough to a nature school like the Wood School. Leo, at two, would simply come along for the ride. Our usual routine, with Marty and Louie’s Dutch schoolbooks during Leo’s nap, is in Homeschooling on the Move.

What Kids Can Learn in Bali

• Geography and engineering: the subak system, a centuries-old way of sharing water between rice farms. It’s UNESCO-listed, and Jatiluwih is a good place to see it.
• Geology: Bali’s volcanoes, including Mount Agung, which erupted in 2017 and closed the airport.
• Marine science: snorkelling over the reefs around Amed.
• History: the USAT Liberty, a Second World War shipwreck off Tulamben, close enough to shore to snorkel over.
• Arts and music: gamelan, Balinese dance and the woodcarving villages near Ubud.
• Culture: daily offerings, temple ceremonies and the ogoh-ogoh parades the night before Nyepi.
• Everyday maths: paying for snacks in rupiah, where prices run into the thousands.
• Language: a few words of Bahasa Indonesia at the market.

Co-ops, Groups and Short-Term Options

Worldschooling co-ops and meetups run mainly in Ubud and Canggu. They come and go, so check a group is still active before you plan around it. Our worldschooling hubs directory is a good starting point.

Some schools also cater for travelling families. The Wood School takes short-stay worldschooling students when space allows, and Open Flow Bali is built around families who come and go. Contact them directly for current details.

The Legal Side

Indonesia doesn’t clearly set out homeschooling rules for visiting foreign families. In practice, your home country’s rules often matter more. Families still registered in the Netherlands, for example, may need a school exemption.

One friend’s seven-month Bali exemption came on the condition that her kids attended a physical school there. That story, and why we deregistered, is in our unschooling guide.

If your child enrols at a school in Bali, ask the school which visa they need. You can check your own country’s rules in our worldschooling legal guide.

The Honest Part

Worldschooling puts the whole learning load on the parents, often while you’re both working. Bali makes it easier, with co-ops, classes and babysitters close by, but it doesn’t make it effortless.

Friendships can also be short-lived, as families move on when their visas end. Expect to say goodbye more often than you would at home.

Working Remotely in Bali

Bali has a mature coworking scene. Outpost has one space in Canggu and two in Ubud, and one membership covers all three. Other well-known options include Tropical Nomad and BWork in Canggu, and Ubud Co-Working. Check current hours and prices before you go.

Two things to know:

• Remote work needs the right visa. It isn’t allowed on a tourist visa.
• Nyepi, the Day of Silence, shuts the island for 24 hours once a year. The airport closes, and mobile internet is often switched off. The date changes each year (it was 19-03-2026), so plan deadlines around it.

Before you book, compare connection speeds in our internet speed guide.

Getting Around Bali with Little Kids

This is the part that changed our plans. Footpaths in much of Bali are narrow, broken or missing, so a pram often isn’t practical. A carrier works better.

Most families rely on private drivers or ride-hailing apps such as Grab and Gojek. In some areas, app pick-ups are restricted, so a regular local driver is often easier. Car seats are rare, so ask in advance or bring your own.

Many families ride scooters with their kids. Road accidents are one of the most common ways visitors get hurt in Bali, so think it through carefully, and check whether your insurance covers you.

Health and Safety in Bali

Bali has private clinics and international hospitals, mostly in the south and around Ubud. Serious cases may need evacuation, often to Singapore or Australia, which is why evacuation cover matters. Our health insurance guide explains what to look for.

The everyday risks for families:

• Dengue: use repellent and choose accommodation with screens.
• Rabies: keep kids away from dogs and monkeys, and get any bite or scratch treated the same day.
• Water: don’t drink the tap water.
• Mould: it’s common in the wet season, roughly November to March, which matters if anyone in your family is sensitive.
• Traffic: this is the biggest risk of all.

Check travel vaccinations six to eight weeks before you go. Read your government’s travel advice too, such as Smartraveller for Australians.

Things to Do in Bali with Kids

• Beginner surf lessons, which are top of Louie’s list 🏄
• Rice terrace walks at Tegallalang or Jatiluwih
• Snorkelling in Amed
• A sunrise hike up Mount Batur, best for older kids
• A Balinese dance performance in Ubud
• Cooking classes and local markets

At Ubud’s Monkey Forest, pack away food and sunglasses before you go in. The monkeys grab, and they can bite.

Finding Your People in Bali

Not knowing anyone is one of the biggest worries for families planning a move. Bali is one of the easier places to solve it, because so many families are already there.

Start before you land:

• Join local family Facebook and WhatsApp groups, and ask questions early.
• Look up co-ops and meetups in our hubs directory.
• Join our Worldly Tribe Facebook community and say hello. 🌍

Bali’s family scene is large but transient, so friendships can come and go with the visas. Our guide to community in Bali has more ideas.

The Downsides Families Should Know

• Traffic: short distances can take a long time.
• Rising rents: especially in Canggu and Pererenan.
• Overdevelopment and crowds: most noticeable in the south.
• Health risks: dengue, rabies and wet-season mould.
• Visa rules: strict, and they change often.

We cover each one honestly in 7 Downsides of Living in Bali with Kids.

Living Respectfully in Bali

Balinese Hinduism shapes daily life. Small offerings called canang sari sit on footpaths and doorsteps, so help kids step around them. Temples ask for shoulders and knees to be covered, and many lend sarongs at the entrance.

Plastic waste and water use are real pressures on the island. Shop at local markets, eat at family-run warungs, and carry refillable bottles. A few words of Bahasa Indonesia also go a long way.

Before You Arrive in Bali

• Check your visa and passport validity on the official eVisa site.
• Pay the tourist levy for everyone, including babies, on Love Bali.
• Book your first one to two weeks of accommodation before you land.
• Pre-book a driver from Ngurah Rai Airport, and share your WhatsApp number.
• Arrange an eSIM and some cash for warungs and markets.
• Check the Nyepi date if you’re arriving in March.

FAQs

Is Bali a good place to live with kids?

For many families, yes, especially for community, nature and school choice. Traffic, costs in the popular areas and health risks are the main trade-offs.

Can we work remotely in Bali on a tourist visa?

No. Look at the E33G Remote Worker Visa, and check the current rules on Indonesia’s official eVisa site.

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

We estimate €2,500 to €3,300 a month for a family of four worldschooling near Ubud, before school fees. It’s an estimate, so check current prices.

Which area of Bali is best for families?

Sanur suits toddlers, Ubud suits nature lovers and alternative schools, and Canggu suits families who want surf and a busy social scene.

Is Bali easy with a pram?

Not really. Footpaths are often missing, so a carrier and a driver work better.

Do children pay the Bali tourist levy?

Yes. Every foreign visitor pays IDR 150,000, including babies.

Can we worldschool in Bali?

Yes, and many families do, especially around Ubud and Canggu. Check your home country’s education rules before you go.

Can kids attend school in Bali short term?

Some schools take short-term students, including some nature-based schools. Ask each school directly.

Is the healthcare good enough?

It’s fine for everyday care in the main areas. Serious cases may need evacuation, so get insurance that covers it.

Our Takeaways

Bali isn’t the easy, cheap choice it’s often made out to be. It takes the right visa, a realistic budget and a careful choice of area, especially with a toddler.

But it keeps pulling us back. The idea of Louie paddling out for his first wave, a market haul on the kitchen bench and two bikes on a rice-field track is hard to let go of. 🌴

When we go, we’ll write the next version of this guide from Ubud. Until then, start with the downsides, then the visa, then the budget. If all three still work for your family, Bali might too.