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Retire in Bali: What to Expect in Terms of Living Costs
19 June 2023 by Seo Manager
Retiring in Bali is the perfect way to spend your golden years. Nothing beats waking up in the world’s most beloved tropical paradise day after day, surrounded by beauty, luxury, great weather and the warmth of the Balinese people.
Financially, retiring in Bali is a smart way to keep your money working for you. The cost of living is reasonable and affordable when compared to developed nations and other cities in the region. Of course, your budget and lifestyle also come into play but the bottom line is that a stronger foreign currency would go a long way here in Bali. So be prepared to enjoy great value on the cost of living; everything from accommodations to food, entertainment, transportation, and amenities.
To give you an idea of the cost of living for retirees in Bali, we’d recommend that you regularly check the current dollar-to-rupiah exchange rate, which at the moment is USD 6 per IDR 100,000. Here’s a rough breakdown of the cost of living for retirees in Bali:
Accommodation - Modern Apartment or Luxury Villa
The price for a yearly villa rent in Bali can vary greatly depending on the location, inclusions and amenities. A Bali villa rent yearly in Seminyak, Canggu, Uluwatu, Ubud or Sanur can cost you anywhere from IDR 200 million or USD 13,000 to IDR 800 million or USD 53,000, fully furnished with a garden and a pool, with cleaning, maintenance, night security, water, rubbish collection, parking space, banjar fees and wifi all included.
A thoughtfully-designed, fully-equipped apartment in all of the areas mentioned above would range between IDR 80 million or USD 5,000 to IDR 300 million or USD 20,000 a year, fully furnished and inclusive of cleaning, maintenance and upkeep, night security, water, rubbish collection, banjar fees, parking space and wifi. Begin the search for your Bali villa for rent yearly or apartment for monthly or long-term rent with Bali Coconut Living.
Dining
Food is delicious and affordable in Bali, for both local and international cuisines. Street food and local warungs (small eateries) offer meals for as little as USD $1 to USD $2 per dish. Prices would understandably be higher if you prefer to dine out at speciality restaurants, trendy cafes or at beach clubs. Expect to spend approximately USD $10 per dish or per cocktail in a well-established eatery or a five-star venue.
Groceries
Fresh local vegetables and fruits, meat, eggs, seafood and poultry are all available at standard market rates and are even cheaper at the local wet markets. For example, 1kg of garlic costs IDR 20,000 or approximately USD 1.30 and a whole chicken costs IDR 45,000 each or USD 3.00. There are air-conditioned supermarkets which offer fresh bakery and imported goods which would cost substantially more than local products here in Bali.
Scooter & Car Rental
You could easily rent a scooter or a car here in Bali & public transportation such as taxis, Grab and GoJek are relatively affordable. Hiring a driver would also be a smart way to get around while contributing to the local economy. Plus, you won’t have to worry about driving in Bali’s infamous traffic or finding parking!
Staff
One of the requirements for obtaining a Retirement Visa is to hire a local Balinese person to help you around your home. Expect to pay IDR 2,000,000 or USD $134 to IDR 2,500,000 or USD $160 per month per staff, which is a bargain considering everything that they’ll help you with from cleaning to groceries, feeding your pets, cooking and keeping you company.
Retirement Visa
All you need to retire in Bali is a Retirement Visa which would set you back approximately USD 800 or USD 12 million per year per applicant.
Ready to retire in Bali? Contact us now to find your Bali long-term rent. Bali Coconut Living is a leading Seminyak-based villa property agent ready to assist you in your long-term villa rental here in Bali whether you’re looking for a yearly villa to rent or a property to purchase.
Feel free to browse through our listings of Bali villa rent yearly, available for sale and for rent in all of the most popular areas including Seminyak, Umalas, Uluwatu, Jimbaran and Canggu.