Is Bali A Cheap Vacation? How Much I Spent On My 3-Week Solo Trip

By the looks of social media, Bali doesn’t really give off “cheap vacation”: luxurious five-star resorts, high end beach clubs, upscale spas, and fancy infinity pools overlooking rice fields. If you've never been to Bali before, it can be easy to assume it’s a tropical vacation destination guaranteed to blow the bank. At least that’s what I always thought scrolling pass the photos of lavish villas, elegant flower baths, and floating brunches on my timeline.

Solo female travelers around the world rave about the Indonesian gem, and with Bali ranking #6 on Forbes’ list of cheapest currencies in the world, I wasn’t completely convinced it was as expensive as it looked. There was only one way to find out. I had to test the waters to see for myself. I booked a one-way flight to Bali with a clear mission in mind: see how far my dollars would stretch on a vacation trip to paradise. I arranged to stay on the island for a total of three weeks, tracking every Rupiah spent over the course of my solo trip.

Is Bali a vacation destination strictly reserved for the bad and bougie budget? Or could it be a cheap vacation where luxury and budget travel coincide??

Keep reading to see just how much money I spent on my solo journey in the island oasis. The outcome just may surprise you.

 

 

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Before we hop into my trip budget, here are a few things to note about money and the way of spending in Bali.

Firstly, you’ll want to get well acquainted with Rupiah, the official currency of Indonesia. While card payment is accepted in some places, cash is king of the island. The abundance of ATMs make it easy to get cash out, but it’s important to exercise caution when using them. Account theft is a common scam in Bali and the best way to protect yourself is by staying vigilant. Only use ATMs located in well-lit, high traffic areas and give the card reader a light tug to make sure it hasn’t been tampered with. Additionally, throughout your solo trip, keep a close watch on your account transactions.

On my solo trip, I used my trusted international cards from Charles Schwab and Chase Sapphire Preferred to get the best bang for my buck. Schwab is reliable for withdrawing cash anywhere around the world with no hassle. Their customer service is notable as well. Chase offers CashBack points that can be traded in for sweet travel perks. I’ve used them to score free flights and snag discounts for Airbnb and car rentals. Both banks reimburse international transaction fees, saving coins and giving travelers the freedom to spend more on things that bring them joy.

 

Earn 60,000 bonus points now when you sign up for any Chase Sapphire® card.

 

All costs mentioned in this article are in USD. I've broken down my vacation costs into three categories: general, personal, and incidental. Keep in mind that every solo traveler's spending habits differ based on their preferences and travel style. Even if you visited the same places and did similar activities over the same timeframe, your total vacation costs will likely differ from mine. Additionally, prices can fluctuate seasonally and yearly—my visit was in April 2024, so expect some variation if you're planning a solo trip in the future. With these factors in mind, let’s dive into what I spent on my 3-week solo adventure in Bali.

 

Bali is the ideal vacation destination for peaceful solo female travel.

 

How Much I Spent On My 3 Week Solo Trip to Bali: General Expenses

Getting to Bali - A Guide to Affordable Airfare

 

DISTANCE MATTERS

The price you pay to travel to Bali will vary depending on where you’re flying from. But if you play your cards right, there are a few ways to make getting there more cost-effective.

One way is to turn a single journey into two. Instead of traveling directly from the United States to Bali, pick another country you’d also like to visit in route. A flight from Atlanta to Bali tends to be more expensive than flying from cities like Istanbul or Nairobi. Breaking up a long distance flight with pitstops can help cut down on both the time and money it takes to get there. Plus you get to explore a new destination or two on the way.

The idea to solo travel to Bali hit me while I was living as a digital nomad in Bangkok. Southeast Asian countries sit close enough together, making it easy to travel and squeeze multiple countries into a single trip. Instead of flying straight to Bali, I arranged a pitstop to explore the world’s #1 airport. I ended up purchasing two tickets: one from Thailand to Singapore and another from Singapore to Bali. The total costs of both flights came out to $216.38 though I ended up paying much less (more on that below).

 

CHOOSING YOUR DEPARTURE POINT

If multi-stop journeys don't suit your trip budget, consider departing from different international airports. Price checking different departure airports is another way to score airfare savings. To do this, you’ll want to search for international airports that offer reasonably priced one-ways from your location. For example, if you live in Maryland, you could price check airports like JFK or MIA. This does require booking more flights and self-navigating connections, but with the right departure airport you could actually end up paying a lot less than booking directly from your city.

When using this method it’s also crucial to make sure the cost savings are worth the trade-offs, because it’s highly likely there will be at least one trade-off. A better price doesn’t always equate to better value so saving coins might require sacrificing in other areas, like comfort or convenience. Consider this: flights from Baltimore to Bali cost $800 on average, but a flight from JFK is averaging at $650. Though it might seem like a no-brainer (especially since the flights from Baltimore to New York are fairly low), there’s more here to consider. Let’s say the flight from JFK requires arriving a day early in order to make the flight on time. After factoring in costs for a hotel, transportation to and from that hotel, and the flight to get to JFK…it might not be worth it after all.

Along with price checking departure airports, be sure to compare one-way flights to booking round trip. Sometimes flights cost more when booked together instead of just one-way.

Epic airplane views of the marshmallow clouds as I fly to Bali for my solo vacation trip.

 

USING CREDIT CARD PERKS When you don’t have flexibility with your departure, a travel credit card could be an alternative solution for vacation costs savings. Earlier, you saw my total flight costs from Bangkok to Bali was $216.38. Instead of paying the full amount, I used the travel girl cheat code: CashBack points. Thanks to the points earned with my Chase Sapphire Preferred card I saved $124.73. This brought down the cost of my flight from Bangkok to Bali to $91.65 and essentially made my flight from Singapore to Bali FREE! CashBack points really are the secret sauce for budget-savvy travelers looking to maximize their solo trip budget.

 

BECOME AN AIRLINE BUDDY

Now I realize everyone may not be a fan of credit cards and depending on your age or where you’re from, you may not be eligible for one now. Another gem to consider for cutting down vacation costs is family and friends. As many airlines as there are in this world, the odds are highly favorable that someone in your network works at one. All airline staff, and more importantly, those on their “buddy” list, get access to special travel perks like discounted flights. These discounts can result in some flights being completely FREE, leaving only the cost of taxes and fees. So shamelessly reach out to your family and friends and butter them up for those benefits!

 

SEASONAL TIMING

If no one in your network is willing to share the goods, there is another way to save some coins on plane tickets: take your solo trip during the off-season. In Bali, this is November through April, excluding the holidays. Their wet season is humid and you’re likely to get a thunderstorm or two, but don’t let the forecast scare you away. With plenty to offer self-care gurus on rainy days, the weather won’t put a damper on your vacation plans. The island is less crowded with tourists and hotel rates and activities are more budget-friendly. Not a bad trade-off for a cheap vacation. Plus, what’s a few raindrops when you’re already planning to be in bikini anyway?

 

Where to Stay In Bali - Accommodation Rates

The next general expense to consider in your solo travel budget is cost of accommodations. Where you stay in Bali and your preference on accommodation type will directly affect the price. A villa in Nusa Dua could be the perfect spot for a solo traveler on a luxury vacation. While another traveler seeking a surfing adventure might prefer a hostel stay on Kuta Beach.

Fortunately, Bali has something in the budget for everyone. There are an array of options, from hostels and hotels, to home stays and resorts. On my solo trip to Bali I rented a home stay in both Seminyak and Ubud. For me, a home stay was the most ideal option for a comfortable and cultural stay at an affordable rate. The first half of my trip was in Seminyak where I paid $285 for a 12-night stay. My room was more than spacious enough for one with A/C, a TV, and access to a kitchen with distilled drinking water. My room was cleaned almost daily and the family host embraced me with open arms.

 

One highlight of my home stay was this beautiful garden view overlooking the prayer area that the family used throughout the day to give thanks.

 

My second home stay was in Ubud, where I paid $205 for 8 nights with breakfast included. The Ubud home stay mirrored all the same positive qualities as the one in Seminyak, but instead of a garden, I had a balcony overlooking a lush jungle with a gushing stream flowing below. Such a precious sound to fall asleep to. 

 

The soothing flowing waters of the river below the balcony of my Ubud home stay.

 

All my reservations were made using Booking.com. When comparing their rates to Airbnb competitors, Booking had more value to offer when it came to price. I also like using the platform to offset the costs paid upfront when planning a trip. Booking has a “Pay Later” option for select stays that allow travelers to pay for their accommodations after they arrive. This helps reduce the initial trip cost when booking flights and accommodations together. The total amount I spent on accommodations during my 3-week solo journey in Bali was $489.80 or $24.49 per night.

 

Dining Around Bali - Food Expenses

The food costs are another essential expense to consider when planning you trip budget for Bali. Solo travelers on a budget will be happy to know that Indonesian cuisine can be as economical as it is delicious. Local eateries, called Warungs offer opportunities to enjoy traditional dishes like nasi goreng, while indulging in local street food can also help stretch your travel budget. On the other hand, there is also a myriad of upscale restaurants for travel foodies seeking a full culinary experience.

When dining at restaurants, cafes, and beach clubs, be aware of additional costs beyond the menu prices. The time of day can impact price, with dinner typically being more expensive than other meals. Even at establishments that don’t seem particularly luxurious, restaurant guests are expected to pay a dine-in tax of 10% plus a 5-10% service charge. This does not include any optional tip. You can see how these additional fees can start to add up quickly when dining out for every meal.

During my stay, I utilized a mix of dining options: I occasionally ate at restaurants, dined at a warung or two, bought groceries for snacks and breakfast, and ordered food delivery as needed. Due to the additional dine-in costs, I found food delivery to be the most convenient and affordable option, as I could get the same tasty food delivered straight to my door at a lower price.

Over the course of my 3-week solo trip, I spent a total of $391.57 on food.

The breakdown of costs per meal is below:

Breakfast = $30.77

Brunch = $73.26

Lunch = $152.87

Dinner = $88.02

Snacks = $13.64

Groceries = $33.01

 

Navigating Bali - Transportation Expenses

Seeing various parts of the island is a must for the full Bali experience so you’ll want to budget for transportation. Ways to navigate around Bali include hiring a personal driver, ordering a taxi or motorcycle ride, and of course, good ole-fashioned walking. Staying in centralized areas with walkable access to the beach and other tourist attractions can help keep vacation costs low. Budget-conscious travelers will appreciate neighborhoods like Seminyak, Canggu, and Ubud. While lux travelers with funds (and time) to spare may prefer an adventure in more secluded areas of the island such as Uluwatu, Nusa Dua, and North Bali.

My home stays were in Seminyak and Ubud. Most days I got my steps in walking to the gym, grocery store, or a coworking cafe. For longer commutes I relied on motorcycle rides using the app, Grab, Asia’s version of Uber / UberEats. Essentially the motos were my main mode of transportation for three weeks and I got around for a total of $40.73, less than half of all my transportation expenses. When I commuted between my accommodations and the airport, my fare was at least double, summing the four cab rides I took to $56.67.

In the end, I spent $97.40 on all my transportation costs on my three week solo Bali adventure.

 

How Much I Spent On My 3 Week Solo Trip to Bali: Personal Expenses

Expenses for Tours and Activities

Bali is designed with tourism in mind. Even if you don’t typically care to do touristy things on vacation, this insta-worthy island will make it hard to resist! On my trip, I did a full-day excursion with stops at the Bali swing, a coffee plantation, Tegenungan Waterfall, and the Monkey Forest. The total cost of the tour was $41.41 and I booked it with my home stay host who became my personal tour guide, photographer, and chauffeur for the day. The entrance fees for each stop were paid separately and came out to $22.42. Another time I rented a chair on the beach for $6.40 bringing my total cost of activity expenses to $70.23.

 

A photographer tour guide is a MUST when chasing waterfalls while traveling solo in Bali.

 

Self-Care Expenses

Self-care activities were a top priority for me on my solo trip to Bali, and unsurprisingly, it ended up being one of my highest personal expenses. All in all, I spent a grand total of $130.93 on all activities. A breakdown of each cost is below:

Souvenirs + Clothes shopping = $51.10

Mani + pedi + eyebrows + sugar bikini wax = $56.83

Full body massage + flower bath = $23

 

Handling your self-care needs in Bali can be a nice little savings hack for budget-savvy solo travelers.

 

Miscellaneous Expenses

Travelers visiting Bali for less than 90 days are required to purchase a tourist visa. The visa application process can be done online, but for the sake of convenience, I bought a visa on-arrival. The cost came out to $32.71 and summed up all my miscellaneous expenses. I also purchased 6 GB of phone data during my 3-week stay, but the final cost was FREE.99 after applying Airalo credits.

 

Get $3 off your first purchase with my Airalo discount code: ARIANA0931

 

How Much I Spent On My 3 Week Solo Trip to Bali: Incidental Expenses

Health and Wellness Costs

Unfortunately I got food poisoning the first week of my solo Bali trip. Though I had peace of mind with SafetyWing travel insurance, I still paid $218.39 out of pocket for medical care. During my 3-weeks, I also frequented the gym and spent a sum of $34.46 for a combination of day passes and weekly memberships.

The total amount I spent on health and wellness came out to $252.85.

 

The Total Cost Of My Bali Solo Trip Vacation

For a full three week stay in Bali, I paid a grand total of $1,688. Not too bad considering this included my flights and accommodations. On average, I spent a daily amount of $53 - excluding flights and accommodations and affording me a balanced lifestyle of splurge and frugality. Though I wouldn’t necessarily categorize my vacation as “luxurious”, but I did leave Bali with my wallet still intact and feeling as if the island owed me nothing.

So what are your thoughts? Is Bali a cheap vacation destination for solo travel?