What you need to know about travelling Bali on a budget

How do you travel Bali on a budget? Bali, the “Island of the Gods,” is a dream destination for many travellers. Known for its stunning beaches, green jungles, and the vibrant culture: Bali is on the list of many. While it’s easy to associate Bali with luxury resorts and expensive beach clubs, it’s also a fantastic place to visit on a budget. But despite being located in South East Asia, where travelling is very cheap, Bali seems to be more expensive. But with affordable accommodations, cheap local food, and countless free or low-cost attractions, you can experience the beauty of Bali without breaking the bank. This guide will show everything you need to know about travelling Bali on a budget and how to make the most of your trip while keeping your expenses low.

Eat local & enjoy the delicious cuisine

One of the standard budget tips on how to travel (Bali) on a budget is to eat local. Even though Bali is famous for its delicious food at the fancy restaurants, the best way to avoid high costs is to avoid these places.

Surely, allow yourself to try the food in one of those vegan restaurants in Canggu, Seminyak or Ubud. And yes, these bowls, burgers, wraps and smoothies are incredibly delicious. But don’t worry, the traditional Indonesian food is exactly as tasty and a meal will only cost you about two to three euros. The local restaurants are called “Warung” and can mostly be found outside the tourist center. But there are even options in the main areas, where the prices are not as cheap but still cheaper than the Western-style places offer. Just ask a local for a good Warung or search on the internet for a place in close distance.

Some Warungs even serve a buffet where you can choose between delicious vegetables, vegan goodies and rice. Basically, the Indonesian cuisine offers something for any taste and diet – you’ll be surprised! And most importantly: Nasi and Mi Goreng are my favorite thing in Indonesia. So make sure to fill your bellies with it!

Share your accommodation with friends or book a hostel

Another tip you need to know about travelling Bali on a budget, is the accommodation. It is fairly easy to spend a lot of money for accommodation in Bali as there are many beautiful hotels and Airbnbs. Actually, Bali is the ideal opportunity to stay in luxurious villas and hotels for a relatively small amount of money.

But how can you actually save money on accommodation? And how do you make sure you travel Bali on a budget regarding the accommodation? One tip is to share a place with a group of friends. Have you always dreamt of staying in a Bali villa? Have you always imagined yourself in an infinity pool in the middle of the rice fields in Ubud? As most of the villas have two or even more bedrooms, it is best to share it with a group of friends. This will not only help you to save money but as well guarantees an unforgettable time!

And of course, Bali has some good hostels which allow you to stay for a cheap price. This is best for solo travellers who are exploring Bali on their own and still want to stay in the main area. Hostels in Bali are sometimes pretty nice, with a pool and pretty common areas.

Avoid the tourist attractions you need to pay for

Bali has many beautiful attractions to visit. Temples, waterfalls and beaches – but be aware of entry fees! If you plan to travel Bali on a budget, it is best to avoid some of the main places for tourists. Especially temples can be fairly “expensive” and they even charge you for entering a waterfall. Of course, you should be able to find a good compromise between saving on attractions and visiting the most important places in Bali.

Good tip to save money while exploring: Choose one or two temples to visit and skip on the others. Explore a waterfall distant from the tourist roads and save the money from the entry fee. There are multiple ways in saving money but still exploring Bali to the fullest!

Rent a scooter: The ideal transportation for budget travellers in Bali

Transportation in Bali can be a huge cost factor as well. When it comes to how to travel Bali on a budget, the transportation is crucial. Especially taxis are fairly expensive, compared to other countries in South East Asia where you can get a TukTuk for just one euro. Bali is different and taxis cost you, depending on the distance, from six to 20 Euros. If you are travelling by yourself, you can always call a grab motorcycle.

But there is one way to save more money and still be able to see many places in Bali: Hire a scooter and drive on your own.

This is ideal for couples and solo travellers who are familiar with driving a scooter. It will not only allow you to go where and whenever you want but as well it is much cheaper. You can rent a scooter for a longer period (two weeks or even a month) and save money. In Bali, the scooter is the number one mean of transportation and it gives you all the freedom you need to explore the best of the island. Plus, it is super budget friendly. Fuel costs you about one or two euros.

Grab your beer at a supermarket instead of the beach bars

The ultimate experience in Bali is to watch the sunset at the beach while enjoying a Bintang – the number one beer in Bali and Indonesia.

Of course, there are multiple restaurants and bars directly at the beach which offer a great place to sit and enjoy the colors of the sky. While this is a great and comfortable option, there is an even cheaper way: grab your beer at your way to the beach at a supermarket. The Bintang costs only about 50 cents in the supermarket, while you pay about two euros at the bar or the restaurant.

There are even some supermarkets in close distance to the beach, which makes it easy to get a cold booze just in time for sunset!

When shopping: bargain, bargain, bargain

One of the main tips to save money in South East Asia is the art of bargaining. If you want to know how to travel Bali on a budget and still shop a bit, bargaining is important.

If you buy from local seller on the market or next to the street, be ready to negotiate. Saving money in Bali does as well include the shopping and the souvenirs. Bali can be an absolute shopping paradise. Both the boutiques and the small sellers are offering a great amount of clothes, accessories, shoes and decoration. If you buy from the typical Asian seller, make sure to suggest a fair price. But as well pay attention to not being scammed. As most of the products are not the best quality, it is advised to shop consciously and smart.

It is best to find a seller who is willing to negotiate and can make a fair offer. If you see a nice shirt, try to bargain. And if you get rejected, try a different seller.

Choose one beach at a day

The beach itself does not cost an entry fee (at least if it is not a private beach), but be aware of the parking spots. Especially in Ulutwatu and Canggu, they charge you for parking close to the beach. As you are not able to park next to the street you are depending on their service and therefore, it is fair to pay.

In order to keep your expenses for the daily parking as low as possible, try to stay at one beach a day. If you are planning to relax at the beach, surf or watch the sunset, plan your day and chose one beach. This avoids double-paying for the parking lot.

Surely, this is a tip for the backpackers and those travellers on a tight budget. But be aware that especially these small expenses sum up pretty quickly and you exceed your budget faster than you think – a fact to always keep in mind while travelling!

Travel During the Off-Season

If you are flexible on your travel dates, you might want to consider travelling in the Off-Season. Prices for flights, hotels, and activities are lower during the rainy season (November–March). Yes, this does mean that there are rainy days and you might not get to spend every day in the sun exploring. But it’s still a huge tip on how to save money in Bali.

Watch out for scams

And last but not least, another tip to know about travelling Bali on a budget: scams. The scams are a common problem in all of South East Asia and Bali doesn’t get spared either. Scams to happen in all kinds of situations – from taxi drivers to road blocks where you need to pay in order to continue driving or tour guides who charge you a ridiculously high price. Always pay attention to these situations and do not agree on a high price on tours or in taxis. Make sure to set the price before you enter a car or before you agree on a guided tour!