Moving to Bali, Indonesia in 2026

Considering relocating to Bali? Expect rent from $1084/month, one of the safer cities in its region, Indonesian is essential for daily life. This page covers cost of living, safety, weather, residency options, and everything else settlers want to know before signing a lease.

🇮🇩 Bali, Indonesia

Compare
4.3M peopleLivability: 64/100 · #52 of 6776% cheaper than NYC#5 safest city of 675.0% GDP growth — economy on the rise
How the Livability Score is calculated
Affordability
18.4/25 ptsNumbeo
Violent Crime
14.6/15 ptsUNODC
Perceived Safety
4.9/10 ptsNumbeo
Internet
2.7/15 ptsOokla
Democracy
10.1/15 ptsEIU
English
4/10 ptsEF EPI
Climate
9/10 ptsNumbeo
Stability
7.2/10 ptsWorld Bank

Total: 70.9 / 110 raw pts → normalized to 64/100

🌙

It's 1:03 AM in Bali

The city is winding down. Mostly.

Affordability74/100
Safety78/100
Climate97/100
Connectivity18/100
Democracy67/100
English Ease40/100
Clear Days37%

Scores derived from: Numbeo (cost of living) · UNODC (crime) · Economist Intelligence Unit (democracy) · EF EPI (English) · Ookla/Speedtest (internet)

Weather in Bali

Spring

31°C

52% sunny

Summer

27°C

22% sunny

Fall

29°C

35% sunny

Winter

30°C

38% sunny

Best: Winter, Fall, Spring, Summer.

Cost of Living in BaliNumbeo

Beer (0.5L)

$2.50

Cappuccino

$2.00

Cheap meal

$2.00

Fast food combo

$4.00

Bus/metro ticket

$0.50

Gym/month

$20

Internet/month

$20

Is it actually a democracy?

Democracy index: 6.71 (#48 globally)· Flawed democracy

Freedom House: 59/100

Press freedom rank: #116 of 180

Sources: EIU Democracy Index · Freedom House · RSF Press Freedom Index

Is Bali Safe?UNODC + Numbeo

78/100

Homicide rate: 0.4 per 100,000 (world average ~5.8)

Numbeo Safety Index: 49.0/100 (covers theft, property crime, perception)

Statistically one of the safest cities on Earth. You'll stop thinking about safety within a week.

Residents report moderate concern about everyday crime. Watch your phone and bag in crowded areas.

Will the lights stay on?

Unreliable
29% electricity from renewables
Frequent outages

English in BaliEF EPI

Low

Primary language is Indonesian.

English is not widely spoken. Committing to learning the local language is strongly recommended before relocating.

For Russian/Ukrainian speakers: Very different — steep learning curve

Who Has Offices in Bali?

EmveepMitraisGringgo

Notable employers with offices in the city. Not exhaustive.

Is Bali Worth Moving To?

For

  • +Violent crime is rare, but keep an eye on your phone and wallet. Petty crime is a thing.
  • +27°C summers with the sea nearby. This is not a drill.
  • +The economy grew 5% recently. Jobs are appearing. Opportunities are real.

Against

  • Indonesian is essential for daily life. Factor in language school costs and a steeper adjustment curve.
  • City internet averages 36 Mbps. Video calls are a gamble. Download things in advance.
  • Local salaries are lower. If you're earning remotely, this is irrelevant. If not, plan accordingly.

Can you actually live here?

Visa difficulty, time to residency, and what it takes to stay.

EU citizenEasy
US citizenEasy
RussianEasy
UkrainianEasy
5 years to permanent residency
10 years to citizenship
Work permit: Moderate
Compare all countries by visa difficulty →

What you can actually do here

Industries, employers, and how startup-friendly this place is.

Employment

tourismhospitalitydigital nomadsurfing culture

Startup Scene

Ecosystem: Nascent
VC: Rare

Corporate tax rate: 22%

Bali — Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bali safe?

Bali has a homicide rate of 0.4 per 100,000 people (source: UNODC), making it very safe. The world average is around 5.8 per 100,000. The Numbeo Crime Index is 51.0/100 (lower is safer), which reflects residents' self-reported concerns about property crime, theft, and everyday safety. As with any city, awareness of local neighborhoods is recommended before settling.

What is the cost of living in Bali?

A 1-bedroom apartment in Bali city centre costs around $1084/month (Numbeo data). Day-to-day: a cheap restaurant meal: $2.00, monthly transit pass: $20. A single person can expect total monthly costs of roughly $1484–$1884 depending on lifestyle — covering rent, food, transport, and utilities.

What is the weather like in Bali?

Bali has Summers reach around 27°C, winters drop to around 23°C. Summers are warm and pleasant for most people.

Can you get by in Bali without knowing the local language?

Bali has Low English proficiency (EF EPI data). English is less widely spoken here. Learning the local language is strongly recommended for long-term relocation.

Is Bali a good place to settle long-term?

Bali is in Indonesia, which scores 6.7/10 on the EIU Democracy Index. The political environment is reasonably stable, though worth monitoring for expats. Rent from $1084/month.

What is the job market like in Bali?

Indonesia has an unemployment rate of 5.2%, indicating a moderate job market — competitive but accessible with the right skills. For settlers planning to work locally, research your industry before committing. Remote workers and self-employed expats are less affected by local employment conditions.

Which companies have offices in Bali?

Notable companies with offices in Bali include Emveep, Mitrais, Gringgo. The city's job market spans tech, finance, and other sectors — check company career pages for current openings.

Is Bali good for expats?

Bali attracts expats looking for long-term relocation in Indonesia. Key facts: rent from $1084/month; Indonesia Second Home Visa (complex process). The Livability Score, safety data, and cost of living figures above give a data-driven picture of what to expect when settling here.

How do I get long-term residency or a visa to live in Indonesia?

Indonesia offers the Indonesia Second Home Visa program. Duration: 5 or 10 years. Requirements: Deposit of ~$130,000 USD in Indonesian bank. Not cheap, but it's Bali. This is a more involved process — professional immigration advice is recommended. Check the official government portal for the most up-to-date application process.

🇮🇩 Bali
BeachHot summersVery safeRising economy

Expenses

$1,244 / mo

🥑 That's 104 avocado toasts/mo

winter

🌞 30°C / 😊 23°C

summer

🌞 27°C / 😊 21°C

Internet · Ookla Speedtest

35 Mbps

ID: 48 Mbps

Indonesia

Economics · World Bank / IMF

GDP per capita (PPP)2024

$14,535

GDP Growth2024

+5.0%

Inflation Rate2024

2.8%

Unemployment2024

5.2%

Gini Index2022

38.2 

Population2024

4,320,000

Politics · EIU Democracy Index

Democracy Index

6.7148th

Regime

Flawed democracy

Safety · UNODC

Homicide per 100K

0.4

Language · EF EPI

Languages

Indonesian, Balinese (I), English (I)

English Proficiency

Low71th

Data sources

Cost of living: Numbeo crowd-sourced data

Homicide rate: UNODC

Crime perception index: Numbeo Crime Index

Democracy index: Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)

Freedom House score: Freedom House Freedom in the World 2025

Press freedom rank: RSF World Press Freedom Index 2025

GDP per capita: World Bank / IMF

English proficiency: EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI)

Internet speed: Ookla Speedtest Global Index

Grid reliability & renewables: IEA / national grid operators

Residency & visa data: https://www.imigrasi.go.id/en/layanan/izin-tinggal-tetap/