Cost of Living in Bali with Kids: A Realistic 2026 Family Budget

How We’d Budget for Bali

We haven’t lived in Bali, but we’ve come close enough to price it properly. When we looked seriously at going, we built our budget the way we do everywhere: rent first, then school, then everything else.

Rent was the easy part to pin down. A villa in a decent location came in at around €1,400 a month. You can pay less, but you have to go further out, which usually means more time in traffic.

School was the bigger question. The Wood School near Ubud was our first choice for Louie, because families can join for a few weeks instead of a full year. We tell that story in our guide to worldschooling in Bali. Anywhere else on the island, we’d keep worldschooling Louie ourselves, and Leo, at two, wouldn’t go to daycare yet.

Food would look different too. In Da Nang we chose a place with only a kitchenette, so we ate out almost every meal. In a Bali villa with a proper kitchen, we’d cook at home much more. That suits us. We love local markets and cooking vegetarian food.

So this guide isn’t a generic average. It’s the budget we’d actually plan for our family of four, with every figure labelled and dated. 🌴

The short answer

• Worldschooling in Ubud: expect roughly €2,500 to €3,300 a month (about A$4,100 to A$5,400) for a family of four.
• With one child at school: add roughly €380 to €1,000+ a month, depending on the school.
• The biggest variables: rent, school fees and how often you eat out.
• Upfront costs catch people out: yearly leases are often paid in advance, and schools charge enrolment fees.

Rent: Around €1,400 for a Decent Location

Rent is where a Bali budget is won or lost. When we searched, a family villa in a decent location came in at around €1,400 a month. Cheaper places exist, but they’re usually further out, and that means more time in traffic for every grocery run and outing.

Current listings tell a similar story. In September 2026, 3-bedroom pool villas on monthly leases started from about €1,470 in Umalas and €1,715 in Canggu. For comparison, Numbeo’s crowdsourced average for a 3-bedroom outside the centre is IDR 26.8 million, about €1,315.

Things to know before you sign:

• Yearly leases can work out around 10 to 17% cheaper per month, but the full amount is usually paid upfront.
• Electricity is often charged on top of the rent.
• Ask what’s included: pool cleaning, garden care, drinking water and Wi-Fi.
• Bali is cracking down on unlicensed villas, so ask whether yours is licensed.

Areas, prices and safety checks are covered in our family accommodation in Bali guide.

Food: Cheaper When You Cook at Home

In Bali, we’d cook at home most days. Villas usually come with a proper kitchen, and local markets make vegetarian cooking easy and affordable.

A few prices from Numbeo give a feel for everyday costs:

• A meal at an inexpensive local restaurant: about IDR 50,000 (€2.45)
• A cappuccino: about IDR 40,000 (€2)
• A dozen eggs: about IDR 36,000 (€1.75)
• A litre of milk: about IDR 26,500 (€1.30)
• Local cheese (450 g): about IDR 135,000 (€6.60)

Imported food is where costs climb. Cheese, cereal and familiar snacks from home cost far more than local produce. Wine is the big one for us: a mid-range bottle averages IDR 386,500 on Numbeo, about €19. 🍷

Tap water isn’t safe to drink, so budget for large refillable water bottles delivered to your villa.

Our estimate: €400 to €550 a month for groceries and water, plus €150 to €250 for eating out.

School and Childcare: The Biggest Variable

School fees can change a Bali budget more than anything else, so it’s worth deciding early how your kids will learn.

Wood School

Wood School in Pejeng, near Ubud, takes children aged 3 to 18. Short stays of one to five weeks are possible when space allows. Longer enrolments are billed per term, with a one-time enrolment fee of IDR 15,000,000 (about €735). Tuition isn’t published, so ask for current fees.

It’s a non-formal learning centre (LKP), not a formal school. Families who want recognised qualifications can use Indonesian equivalency exams or sit Cambridge exams as private candidates. More on the school and other short-stay options is in our guide to worldschooling in Bali.

International schools

Numbeo’s crowdsourced average for international primary tuition is IDR 93.3 million a year, about €4,575 (roughly €380 a month). At the top end, Green School’s 2025/26 fees for Grades 4 and 5 are IDR 245,420,000 a year, about €12,000, plus a one-time admission fee of IDR 40,000,000 for new students. Popular schools often have waiting lists, so apply early.

Preschool, nannies and worldschooling

A full-day private preschool averages about IDR 7.9 million a month on Numbeo, around €387. Leo won’t go to preschool yet, so it isn’t in our budget. A nanny for a few hours a day is the more likely extra for us, so ask local families for current rates.

Worldschooling costs far less in fees, but more in parent time. Our routine is in Homeschooling on the Move.

Getting Around: No Scooters with the Kids

Many families in Bali ride scooters, often with kids on board. We wouldn’t. Traffic is the biggest everyday risk on the island, so our budget uses Grab, Gojek and a private driver for longer trips.

Ride-hailing is cheap, but car seats aren’t standard. Bring your own, or book a driver who can provide one. If you plan to drive or ride yourself, you’ll need an International Driving Permit alongside your licence.

Walking isn’t always easy either. Footpaths are often narrow or missing, which is why a pram made us choose Chiang Mai this time. The full story is in our Chiang Mai vs Bali guide.

Our estimate: €150 to €250 a month. More on traffic and safety is in our guide to the downsides of living in Bali with kids.

Internet, Phones and Utilities

Numbeo puts basic utilities for an apartment of about 85 m² at IDR 1.46 million a month, around €72. A villa costs more, because air conditioning and pool pumps use a lot of electricity. We’ve budgeted €100 to €180, and it’s worth asking whether electricity is included in the rent.

Connectivity is cheaper than most families expect. Home broadband of 60 Mbps or more averages about IDR 333,000 a month (€16), and a mobile plan with 10 GB or more of data about IDR 116,000 (€6).

Advertised speeds aren’t always real, so ask for a live speed test before you book. Our Internet Speed Guide compares 50 cities.

Health Insurance: The Cost Not to Cut

Private clinics in southern Bali handle everyday care well. For anything serious, families are often evacuated to Singapore or Australia, so insurance with medical evacuation cover matters more here than in many places.

We’ve budgeted €200 to €400 a month for a family of four. That’s an estimate: real quotes depend on your ages, cover and excess, so compare several before you commit.

Our health insurance guide for nomad families explains what to look for, and staying healthy in Bali covers clinics and health risks.

Activities and Extras

Plenty of family life in Bali costs little or nothing: beaches, rice field walks, markets and temple visits (bring a sarong). Classes, entry fees and day trips are what add up.

We’ve budgeted €100 to €200 a month for Louie’s activities, outings and worldschooling materials. With two older children in regular classes, expect more.

Ideas for what to do are in Bali with kids: the best bits.

One-Off Costs Families Forget

The monthly budget is only half the picture. These are the lump sums that catch families out:

• Upfront rent: a yearly lease at €1,400 a month is around €16,800, usually paid before you move in. A discount for paying yearly helps, but it’s still a big sum.
• School enrolment: Wood School charges IDR 15,000,000 (about €735). Green School charges new students IDR 40,000,000 (about €1,960).
• Visas: fees apply to each family member, and the E33G Remote Worker Visa lasts one year. See our Bali visa guide, and check current fees on Indonesia’s official e-visa site.
• Tourist levy: IDR 150,000 per person per trip, children included. That’s about €30 for a family of four, paid through the official Love Bali portal.
• Flights, car seats and setting up: kitchen basics, kids’ gear and an International Driving Permit if you’ll drive.
• A buffer: we’d keep a few months of expenses aside for medical bills or visa surprises.

How Bali Compares

Our monthly costs in Da Nang came in lower than this Bali budget, even though we ate out almost every meal. The full breakdown is in our Da Nang family guide.

Rent is the main difference. Local food and transport in Bali stay cheap, but a family villa in a popular area costs far more than a comparable apartment in many Southeast Asian cities.

Weighing up other options? Our 50+ destinations cost comparison puts Bali side by side with other nomad family bases.

Money Tips for Bali

• Book short first. Rent monthly for the first few weeks before you commit a large sum to a yearly lease.
• Carry some rupiah. Markets, parking and small warungs often want cash.
• Use a low-fee card. ATM and conversion fees add up over months.
• Buy kids’ gear second-hand. Local family groups are full of car seats, bikes and toys from families moving on.
• Keep a buffer. A few months of savings turns a surprise bill into an inconvenience, not a crisis.

Planning more broadly? Our guide to what it really costs to live abroad with kids covers budgeting across destinations.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Cost of Living in Bali

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

For a family of four worldschooling near Ubud, we estimate roughly €2,500 to €3,300 a month, including a €1,400 villa. With one child at school, add around €380 to €1,000+ a month. Flights, visas and upfront rent come on top.

Is Bali cheaper than Australia or Europe?

Day-to-day costs like local food and transport are usually much lower. Family villas in popular areas and international school fees are where Bali gets closer to prices at home.

How much is rent for a family villa in Bali?

We found around €1,400 a month for a decent location. In September 2026, 3-bedroom pool villas on monthly leases started from about €1,470 in Umalas and €1,715 in Canggu. Going further out costs less.

How much are international schools in Bali?

Numbeo’s average for international primary tuition is about €4,575 a year. Green School sits at the top end, at about €12,000 a year for Grades 4 and 5, plus admission fees.

Can you live in Bali without paying school fees?

Yes, many families worldschool or homeschool. Some also use flexible options, like Wood School’s short-stay places near Ubud. Check the legal side in your home country first.

Do you have to pay rent upfront in Bali?

Often, for yearly leases. Monthly leases cost more per month but don’t need a large lump sum. Many families rent short-term first.

Is it cheaper to cook at home in Bali?

Yes, if you shop at local markets. Local meals out are cheap too, but imported food, cheese and wine push costs up fast.

What costs do families forget in Bali?

Upfront rent, school enrolment fees, visas for every family member, the tourist levy, car seats and electricity for air conditioning.

Our Takeaways

Bali isn’t the budget option it’s sometimes sold as, but it isn’t out of reach either. For us, the maths came down to two choices: where to live and where Louie would learn. Worldschooling from a villa near Ubud keeps it manageable. Add a school, and the budget climbs fast.

The upfront costs are what we’d plan for most carefully: a lease paid in advance, enrolment fees and a buffer for the things that always come up.

If Bali makes it back onto our list, this is the budget we’d start from. Then we’d check every number again before we booked. 🌏