Bali on a Budget: The Backpacker's Complete Guide

Bali can be done on a wide range of budgets, and your daily spend depends mainly on your accommodation and food choices. Here is what each level looks like in practice. The $20 per day budget is the shoestring minimum. This gets you a dorm bed at a basic hostel (IDR 90,000-150,000 / $6-10), three meals at local warungs (IDR 45,000-75,000 / $3-5 total), a scooter rental split over days (IDR 60,000-80,000 / $4-5), and minimal extras. At this level, you eat exclusively at local warungs, drink Bintang beer from minimarkets rather than bars (IDR 25,000 vs IDR 50,000-80,000), visit free attractions, and skip paid tours. It is doable but requires discipline. The $30 per day budget is the comfortable backpacker sweet spot. You can afford a bed in a quality social hostel (IDR 120,000-200,000 / $8-13), two warung meals and one nicer restaurant meal (IDR 80,000-120,000 / $5-8 total), scooter rental (IDR 60,000-80,000 / $4-5), one paid activity every few days (IDR 50,000-150,000 / $3-10), and a couple of cheap beers. This is the level where most backpackers operate in Bali. The $40 per day budget adds genuine comfort. You can stay in a private room at a guesthouse or hostel (IDR 200,000-350,000 / $13-23), eat at a mix of warungs and mid-range restaurants, join a paid tour or activity daily, enjoy a few drinks at bars, and occasionally treat yourself. At $40 per day, Bali feels easy rather than tight. The biggest money wasters in Bali are tourist-priced restaurants in Seminyak and Canggu (a smoothie bowl costs IDR 70,000 vs a full warung meal at IDR 20,000), taxis instead of scooters, organized tours for things you can do independently, and drinking at beach clubs where a cocktail costs IDR 120,000-180,000 ($8-12).

Bali's hostel scene is excellent, with options ranging from basic dorm rooms to social mega-hostels with pools, bars, and nightly events. The sweet spot for value is IDR 120,000-200,000 ($8-13) per night for a dorm bed in a hostel that has a social atmosphere, clean facilities, and good WiFi. In Canggu, The Farm Hostel is the most popular backpacker spot on the island. It has a pool, bar, regular events (beer pong tournaments, group dinners, pub crawls), and an incredibly social atmosphere. Dorm beds start at IDR 150,000 ($10). Kos One Hostel offers slightly more modern facilities at a similar price, with a rooftop bar and surf-focused community. Tribal Hostel combines hostel living with coworking, ideal for working backpackers. For the absolute cheapest option, basic guesthouses (losmen) along the back streets of Canggu offer private rooms from IDR 150,000-250,000 ($10-17) per night. In Ubud, In Da Lodge is the top social hostel with rice paddy views, a pool, and group activities including volcano treks and temple tours. Pillowsheets Hostel is a well-run budget option with dorm beds from IDR 100,000 ($7). For a more unique experience, the Hideout Hostel in Ubud has treehouse-style dorms surrounded by jungle. In Kuta and Legian, Kosta Hostel and Kayun Hostel are solid budget bases near the airport, useful for first or last nights. For Nusa Islands, Nusa Flow in Nusa Penida offers backpacker dorms from IDR 100,000 ($7) in one of the most beautiful settings in the region. On Nusa Lembongan, The Mola Mola Guest House has private rooms from IDR 200,000 ($13). Pro tip: booking directly with hostels (walk-in or via WhatsApp) is often cheaper than online platforms, which charge the hostel a commission that gets passed to you.

Food is where backpackers save the most money in Bali, and the local food is genuinely delicious if you know what to order. The key is eating at warungs -- small local restaurants that serve Indonesian food at local prices. A full meal at a warung costs IDR 15,000-25,000 ($1-1.70), compared to IDR 60,000-120,000 ($4-8) for a similar meal at a tourist-oriented restaurant. Nasi campur (mixed rice) is the backpacker's best friend. You point at whichever dishes look good from a glass display case, and the server plates them over rice. A typical nasi campur includes rice, a piece of chicken or pork, vegetables, sambal (chili sauce), tempeh or tofu, and a small portion of soup or curry. It is filling, flavorful, and costs IDR 15,000-25,000. Nasi goreng (fried rice) and mie goreng (fried noodles) are available at virtually every warung for IDR 15,000-20,000 and are usually a safe bet for less adventurous eaters. Other budget staples include sate (satay, grilled meat skewers with peanut sauce, IDR 15,000-25,000 for a plate), bakso (meatball soup, IDR 10,000-15,000 from street carts), gado-gado (vegetables with peanut dressing, IDR 15,000-20,000), and nasi ayam (chicken rice, IDR 15,000-20,000). For breakfast, many warungs open early with bubur ayam (chicken rice porridge, IDR 10,000-15,000) or you can grab a fresh fruit salad from a street cart. The cheapest places to eat are warungs away from the main tourist strips. Walk two blocks off any main road in Canggu, Ubud, or Seminyak, and prices drop significantly. In Denpasar, the capital city, prices are even lower because fewer tourists eat there. Night markets (pasar malam) offer the cheapest and most varied food -- the Gianyar Night Market near Ubud is one of the best, with dishes starting at IDR 5,000-10,000 ($0.35-0.70).

Some of Bali's best experiences cost nothing or next to nothing, which is great news for backpackers. The island's temples, rice terraces, waterfalls, and beaches are the main attractions, and most are free or have minimal entry fees. Temple visits are largely free or very cheap. Tirta Empul water temple, where you can participate in a traditional purification ceremony, charges IDR 50,000 ($3.30) entry. Uluwatu Temple, famous for its cliff-top setting and sunset Kecak fire dance, costs IDR 50,000 entry plus IDR 100,000 ($6.60) for the dance performance -- one of the best value cultural experiences in Bali. Tanah Lot sea temple charges IDR 60,000 ($4). The hundreds of smaller village temples scattered across the island are free to visit respectfully. Rice terrace walks are free in most locations. The Tegallalang Rice Terraces near Ubud technically charge IDR 15,000 ($1) entry, but the surrounding countryside is free to explore on foot or by scooter. The Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage site, charge IDR 40,000 ($2.65) and are far less crowded than Tegallalang. Simply riding your scooter through the interior between Ubud and Kintamani takes you through miles of stunning rice paddies with no entry fee. Waterfall hikes are a backpacker highlight. Tegenungan Waterfall is the most accessible from Ubud (IDR 20,000 / $1.30 entry). Tibumana Waterfall is less crowded and equally beautiful (IDR 15,000 / $1). Sekumpul Waterfall in the north is considered Bali's most spectacular, with a longer hike and IDR 20,000 entry. Kanto Lampo Waterfall near Ubud is hidden in a narrow canyon and costs just IDR 10,000 ($0.70). Beach days cost nothing. Batu Bolong Beach in Canggu, Padang Padang near Uluwatu, Bingin Beach, and the entire Sanur coastline are free to access. Watching the sunset from any west-facing beach is the ultimate free activity. Other free experiences include walking through the Sacred Monkey Forest outer paths (the forest itself is IDR 80,000, but the surrounding area is free), attending free temple ceremonies during Hindu festivals, and watching traditional dance rehearsals in Ubud village squares.

Transport is one of Bali's biggest practical challenges because there is no real public transport system. Your options are scooter, ride-hailing apps, private drivers, or tourist shuttles. Scooter rental is how most backpackers get around and costs IDR 60,000-80,000 ($4-5.30) per day or IDR 800,000-1,200,000 ($53-80) per month. A scooter gives you total freedom to explore the island, and it is by far the cheapest transport option. The downside is safety: Bali's traffic is chaotic, roads are often narrow and potholed, and accidents are common among inexperienced riders. If you have never ridden a scooter before, take a few practice laps in a quiet area before hitting busy roads. Always wear a helmet, do not ride at night on unfamiliar roads, and make sure your travel insurance covers motorbike accidents (many basic policies do not). Fuel costs about IDR 10,000-15,000 ($0.70-1) to fill a tank, which lasts 100+ kilometers. Grab is Bali's primary ride-hailing app (similar to Uber) and is the safest transport option. GrabBike (motorcycle taxi) costs IDR 10,000-30,000 ($0.70-2) for trips within an area, while GrabCar costs IDR 30,000-80,000 ($2-5.30) for longer rides. The catch: Grab is restricted or banned in some areas due to conflicts with local taxi drivers. In Ubud town center, Canggu, and parts of Seminyak, you may need to walk to a main road to get a pickup. Despite this, Grab is indispensable for airport transfers and night transport. Perama Tourist Shuttle is the budget alternative for point-to-point travel between major tourist areas. Routes connect Kuta, Ubud, Sanur, Lovina, and Padang Bai (ferry port for the Gili Islands). Tickets cost IDR 50,000-100,000 ($3.30-6.60) per journey, which is good value if you do not have a scooter. Kura-Kura Bus operates a hop-on-hop-off shuttle in the south Bali tourist areas for IDR 20,000-80,000 per journey. For day trips to areas like Kintamani, the north coast, or temple circuits, a shared private driver costs IDR 500,000-700,000 ($33-47) for a full day. Split between 2-4 backpackers, this is surprisingly affordable at $8-17 per person for a full day of sightseeing with an English-speaking guide.

Bali's nightlife scene is concentrated in a few key areas, each with a different vibe and price level. Kuta is the backpacker party strip, with clubs like Sky Garden offering free entry and cheap drinks on certain nights. The music is mainstream EDM and pop, the crowd is young (18-25), and the vibe is rowdy. Drinks at Kuta bars start at IDR 30,000-50,000 ($2-3.30) for beer and IDR 60,000-100,000 ($4-6.60) for cocktails. Sky Garden's rooftop is worth a visit for the view even if the party is not your scene. Canggu has a more laid-back party scene centered around beach bars and live music venues. Old Man's is the legendary Canggu bar with daily events, pool table, and a crowd that ranges from surfers to nomads. Sand Bar and Pretty Poison host DJ nights and themed parties. Drinks are slightly more expensive than Kuta at IDR 40,000-60,000 for beer. For a more upscale (and more expensive) experience, Seminyak's Potato Head Beach Club, La Favela, and Motel Mexicola draw a fashion-forward crowd with cocktails starting at IDR 120,000 ($8). To save money on nightlife: pre-drink at your hostel or buy Bintang beer from minimarkets (IDR 22,000-28,000 for a large bottle vs IDR 50,000-80,000 at a bar). Many hostels organize pub crawls with drink deals. Happy hours at beach bars (usually 4-6 PM) offer two-for-one cocktails. For budget island hopping, the Nusa Islands are the easiest and cheapest extension to a Bali backpacker trip. Fast boats from Sanur to Nusa Lembongan cost IDR 200,000-350,000 ($13-23) return. From Lembongan, a short bridge connects to Nusa Ceningan. Fast boats to Nusa Penida cost IDR 150,000-250,000 ($10-17) one-way from Sanur. Accommodation on all three Nusa Islands starts at IDR 100,000-200,000 ($7-13) per night. The Gili Islands (off Lombok) are reachable by fast boat from Padang Bai for IDR 350,000-500,000 ($23-33) each way, with budget accommodation starting at IDR 150,000 ($10) per night. A Bali-Nusas-Gilis circuit is the classic backpacker route through the region.