Working out the Bali budget: visa, tourist levy, accommodation from a hostel to a villa, scooter, food. Sums in rupiah and roubles at the Central Bank rate, with a one-week calculation example.
Bali can be both cheap and ruinous — sometimes on the same day. A night in a bungalow costs less than lunch in Seminyak, and a villa with a pool costs less than a one-room flat in Moscow. Here are the real figures, including those payments that people learn about only at the airport.
How much money to take to Bali: mandatory payments on entry
They are often forgotten, and they begin even before the first cocktail.
| Payment | Amount, Rp | In roubles |
|---|---|---|
| Visa on arrival (30 days) | 500,000 | ≈ 2,115 ₽ |
| Bali tourist levy (one-off, including children) | 150,000 | ≈ 635 ₽ |
| Visa extension for another 30 days | 500,000 | ≈ 2,115 ₽ |
Important: you cannot pay for the visa online with a Russian card — bring cash dollars. Details — Bali visa.
Accommodation: a twenty-fold spread
| Option | Per night |
|---|---|
| Hostel | from 250 ₽ |
| Bungalow with a bathroom | from 800 ₽ |
| Villa with a pool | from 3,500 ₽ |
| 4★ hotel | 4,000–25,000 ₽ |
| 5★ hotel | 9,000–50,000 ₽ |
A villa with a pool for 3,500 ₽ is what people come to Bali to spend the winter for. At the same time a hostel in the same area costs fourteen times less. Selection — hotels in Bali.
Food
Food in cafés and restaurants is about 60% cheaper than in Russia. A warung (a local eatery) feeds you for pennies, while a café in Canggu with avocado toast is already at European prices.
The rule is simple: the price depends not on the dish but on the district. The same nasi goreng in Ubud and in Seminyak differs threefold. The south is the most expensive: Seminyak, Canggu, Uluwatu.
Transport
| What | Price |
|---|---|
| Motorbike taxi within a district | ≈ 150 ₽ |
| Motorbike taxi between districts | 300–400 ₽ |
| Rental of a small car, per day | $27–45 (≈ 2,050–3,430 ₽) |
A scooter is cheap and ubiquitous. It is also the main cause of injuries among tourists. Check whether your policy covers riding a scooter: most basic ones don’t, and an evacuation to Singapore costs tens of thousands of dollars.
Flight
Return tickets are 45,000–70,000 ₽ in economy when bought 2–3 months ahead. There are no direct flights; people fly with a connection. Compare: flights to Bali.
Example: a week per person
- Flight: ≈ 55,000 ₽
- Visa and tourist levy: ≈ 2,750 ₽
- Accommodation, 7 nights in a bungalow: ≈ 8,000 ₽
- Food and transport, 7 × 2,000 ₽: ≈ 14,000 ₽
- Scooter, excursions, temples: ≈ 10,000 ₽
The total is about 90,000 ₽ in a modest format. With a villa, restaurants and a couple of islands a week easily reaches 150,000 ₽ — a typical estimate for an independent trip.
Where people lose money
- Exchangers “with the best rate”. The classic scheme with short-counted notes. Only licensed ones, only with a receipt, and don’t hand the money back.
- The forgotten tourist levy. A separate payment, not included in the visa.
- Extending the visa on the last day. Since June 2025 a personal visit to the immigration office is required; in season there are queues.
- The scooter deposit. A scratch will cost more than a month of rent.
- The south instead of Ubud. The same trip in Seminyak is one and a half to two times more expensive.
Frequently asked questions
How much cash should I take?
The minimum is for the visa and levy (about $45–50), plus the first days’ expenses. Russian cards don’t work. Details — money in Bali.
How many days should I take?
For a first acquaintance 8–10 days is comfortable. The visa gives 30 — with a margin.
When is it cheaper?
In the wet season (November–March), except for the New Year holidays. Rains are short, the greenery is brighter, prices are lower. A breakdown — seasons in Bali.
Can I manage on 1,300 ₽ a day?
Yes, if you live in a hostel, eat at warungs and get around on a scooter. This is a real minimum, not a theoretical one.
What next
Put your trip together: ready-made routes around Bali, safety, scooters and exchangers, what to know about temples and etiquette.
Prices are approximate and depend on season, district and exchange rate. Rouble equivalents are recalculated at the Bank of Russia rate on 8 July 2026. Some data is taken from travellers’ publications rather than from official price lists.
