Living in Bali : my experience + things you should know

Have you been day dreaming about living in Bali ? No wonder why, given the huge popularity of this destination and the democratization of remote jobs ! In this article, I will tell you about my personal experience as an expat in Bali : a genuine story of what motivated me to move here. I will also give you a bunch of practical tips to make your life easier in case you also plan to move to Bali ! Spoiler alert : you might pack your suitcase as soon as you’re finished reading this 🧳

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Moving to Bali : my story

Living in Bali has been on top of my bucket list for years. Everything was drawing me towards this place : the fact that it’s in Indonesia, my mom’s country which has a very special place in my heart, the magical connexion I developped with this island during the time I spent here as a volunteer, the way of living/thinking that fit my own… It was pretty obvious.

As I’m writing this, it’s been 3 months since I made the leap. I gave up on many things to come here : a flat in the heart of Paris, a permanent job contract that I’d been dreaming of, a financial stability, my friends, my mom. But still, I feel like I’ve gained a lot of things since I came here, because my life is just more fulfilling. I know, this sounds extremely cliché and straight out of “Eat, Pray, Love“, but what can I say – the little island has this effect on me🤷‍♀️

My current way of living wouldn’t be everyone’s cup of tea, that’s the least I can say. I accepted a job without having any idea of what to expect, I’m a 29 year old living with 2 roommates, I have vague working conditions and an even more vague salary, I work from anywhere – from boogie coffee shops to bamboo tables among dogs and chickens. But all of this doesn’t matter that much , because I feel free. Free to suggest any initiative I want to my boss, to plan my day as I like, to do all the things that bring me joy, basically.

You wouldn’t necessarily guess it today, but I had a very depressing time last year in Paris (mainly because of my old job). Before I came here, I was living someone else’s life and I was questioning myself every single day. Today I enjoy a more comfortable life for less money, I am my own boss, I live in the little paradise that is Uluwatu, I learn how to surf, I have lots a free time to explore the island, I make a lot of international friends who understand my lifestyle… You get the idea 😉

If I had to conclude this introduction section, I’d say this : whatever your motivation is to come live in Bali (or anywhere else !) and start a new life, just do it. Yes, it’s scary. No, not everything will go as planned. But if you’ve got that gut feeling that it’s the right decision, just follow that intuition. And if things gets messy, what’s the big deal ? At least you gave it a go and you’ve learnt some things along the way.

Can I live in Bali full time ?

If you think living in Bali as an expat is easy just because “everyone does it”, you’d be surprised ! If you’re coming here for a short period of time (=less than 2 months), you’re all good since you’ll only need a tourism visa on arrival. You can get this visa directly at Bali’s airport for roughly $37. It’s valid for 30 days starting from your arrival date and it can be extended once for a second 30 day period.

However, if you decide to stay longer here, you’ll need another visa in order to live in Bali. Expats in Bali usually have either one of those visas :

Limited visit visa (B211A or B211B), valid for 6 months in total
Limited stay visa (KITAS), valid as long as you have an employment contract here. Getting your KITAS is a pretty big deal, as you’ll be considered as a resident of Indonesia, making a lot of admin processes much smoother.

The indonesian government recently announced the launch of a digital nomad visa (with pretty rigorous acquisition conditions…), but the conditions to get it seem quite complex.

Not only will you have to pay an agent to deal with the paperwork for you, but you might also have to make visa runs (leave the country in order to renew your visa). Be aware of all those expenses if you decide to come live in Bali.

Things you should know before moving to Bali

Besides the visa, there are certain things here that might become a barrier for some people who wish to move to Bali. I am mostly referring to :

Infrastructures / transportation

Unlike Java that has great train and bus lines, Bali has no public transportation. If you decide to live in Bali, you can either take taxis (which can quickly get pricey) or drive a scooter. The second option is practical, very cheap and by far the most popular one. Except driving a scooter in your country is one thing – driving a scooter in Bali is an art😅 The roads are super narrow and badly maintained and the traffic in touristic areas is insane. Add to this list the fact that many “bules” (word used by locals to call the foreigners) don’t know how to drive and the result is real chaos. No need to be a Grand Prix rider, but you get it : unless you’re very confident on a scooter, maybe avoid becoming a public danger.

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My tip : if you decide to live in Bali and you’ve never driven a scooter before, start in quieter areas. Also : try to understand the locals’ behavior on the road before starting. Finally, try to always drive with a driver’s licence (when possible an international one), because a foreigner on a scooter never goes unnoticed = you’re more likely to get controlled by the police.

Health in Bali

Depending on when you come from, you might be used to a great health system in your home country. Well, it won’t be the case in Indonesia ! Finding a good doctor here (or at least one who speaks English) is not always easy if you’re not in a touristic area. Good doctors also get very pricey.

Also, people rarely think about this but the humid climate makes the healing of injuries very tricky. A simple scratch can quickly get infected and open wounds take forever to close again… Which can become a living hell. Good to know if you’re thinking about living in Bali.

The differences in work culture

If you’re not a freelance or a digital nomad, you’ll have to share your daily life in Bali with your indonesian coworkers / boss. This can turn out to be great challenge ! I’ve almost always worked in international environments and I’m already familiar with the indonesian culture, but if it isn’t your case some things in the local work culture might surprise you. That includes : the primacy of trust over written contracts, implicit communication (“between the lines”), the flexible sense of time…

Those are some of the things you should consider before moving to Bali. By the way, if you’re interested in the impact of culture on communication at work, I recommend this great book I just finished : The Culture Map, which actually mentions Indonesia quite a lot !

And if you want to be a freelancer in Bali, like most foreigners here… Well, be aware that working online as a freelancer can be quite a challenge ! Among other things: building a network, meeting other freelancers, finding your first clients and staying motivated to work when the beach is calling your name 😅

Homesickness

Although I feel at home here, maybe it won’t be the case for everyone. It isn’t very common, but I have met expats in Bali who felt very homesick. If your English isn’t that good or if you’re not an outgoing person, you might not meet many people or feel lonely. After all, making friends is a challenge for any expat ! The culture and climate are also very different from the ones in Western countries, which can put off some people after a while…

My tip: if you move to Bali as a digital nomad, try working in coffee shops or coworking spaces. It isn’t that expensive and it’s by far the best way to meet people / develop your network !

The cost of living in Bali

If you’re wondering how much money you need to live in Bali, here’s my honest answer : it all depends on your standards and way of living. It’s quite easy to claim that “the cost of living in Bali is 5 times lower than in the US or Australia” or “you can live in Bali for less than $500 per month”, but the real question is are you coming here to live a simple life with little money or do you want to make the most out of your Western buying power ?

To give you an idea, I can indeed live in Bali comfortably for about $600/month. That includes the rent for my apartment in the local area of Uluwatu, my gym membership, my daily expenses in coffee shops/resturants/bars and some occasional week-end trips. But I also know foreigners who spend more than $1 500/month here. The difference is that they have a villa with a pool, coworking spaces, they regularly visit the spa or massage place and they most likely eat in places “for foreigners” everyday. I’m not saying one lifestyle is better than the other. It’s simply that everyone has their own standards and you should consider this before moving to Bali 😉

We can also mention 2 events that recently caused prices to explode in Bali : the end of Covid 19 which allowed digital nomads to move countries again and the Ukraine war that brought many Ukrainian refugees but also Russian opponents of the Putin regime to Bali. Actually, on top of its economic effect, this second topic is very controversial in the balinese society because of the problematic behavior of some Russian tourists in Bali… This hasn’t too much to do with “living in Bali” but if you’re interested, I’ll leave you with this article.

Where to live in Bali ?

The most popular places among expats in Bali are :

- Canggu / Seminyak : famous towns of the South of the island that many expats in Bali and digital nomads love because of the large choice of coffee shops, restaurants, cool shops and the busy nightlife. Really cool place to meet people (mostly foreigners), party and enjoy the beaches (although they’re not exceptional). Wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for calm and authenticity.

- Uluwatu : the South peninsula that also has many cool places to work. Atmosphere is more chill, closer to nature. The beaches are out of this world and Uluwatu is a globally famous surf spot, which could influence your choice if you’re a surfer ! Check out my Uluwatu post now.

- Ubud : cultural and spiritual center of Bali, located 1h North of Canggu. A paradise on Earth if you’re a foodie (great restaurants) or if you’re into healthy lifestyles. Great range of coffee shops to work at.

- Amed : little seaside town in the North-East of the island. Much less touristic, slower pace of life and more laid-back. To me, it’s the perfect balance between a more authentic side of Bali and a small community of expats that doesn’t make you feel as lost. For more information, go check out my article on what to do in Amed !

If you come living in Bali, I recommend you start by finding a place for a short stay (less than a month) to give it a first try… Short contracts are very common here and that you will give you enough time to assess your possibilities.

Final thoughts : how to behave as a foreigner in Bali ?

To wrap up this article on “living in Bali“, I’d like to mention a topic that I find quite crucial : the invasion of foreigners in Bali is real and I’d be lying if I told you that all Balinese people see this as a blessing… On the one hand, Bali’s economy relies a lot on tourism and, as a friendly and warm population, locals feel honored to share their nature and culture with foreigners. On the other hand, we can’t ignore the growing exasperation of some locals towards this flood of tourists – especially since disrespectful behaviors are becoming more common…

My main tips :

- Remember that you’re not at home. It happens that foreigners go crazy here because supposedly “everything’s permitted in Bali”… Except it’s not 🙄 Respect rules and local customs and when in doubt, ask questions ! Yup, it’s that easy 😉

- Think about the kind of job you have here. Stop thinking Bali is the island of opportunism and let’s be ethical. Are you helping the indonesian economy ? Are you taking a local’s job ? If you’re an employer, is your staff local ?

- Don’t get stuck in your little bubble of Westerners ! It’s so common to encounter expats in Bali who don’t speak a word of Indonesian after spending years here (and believe me, it’s a pretty easy language – check out my post about the topic) or don’t know anything about the local culture… Not only is this ignorance seen as disrespect by the locals who just feel exploited for their cheap services, but you’re also missing on a much richer kind of experience. I’ve stumbled across content of influencers that only mentions Balinese people to say that “here, the staff is super helpful” and I find it pretty cringy… Get to know the Balinese, I bet you’ll make beautiful encounters 😊

Obviously, I care about this topic more than the average expat because I’m half indonesian and I share the locals’ point of view. But trust me, these simple things could radically change the way Balinese see you ! You don’t want to end up in one of those Instagram accounts that openly make fun of bules (=foreigners) 😅

I hope your enjoyed reading this article about moving to Bali ! Do feel free to ask me any question or share your own experience if you’re living in Bali or somewhere else as an expat. See you very soon for new adventures👋