Cheap Accommodation In Bali, Indonesia
Bali has been the go-to escape for Australian travelers for decades, and it’s not hard to see why – a short flight gets you to warm weather, cheap food, welcoming locals, and a genuinely low cost of living compared to almost anywhere else within easy reach of Australia. What makes Bali particularly good for budget travelers is that cheap doesn’t mean low quality here. A basic guesthouse room with air conditioning and a pool to share can cost a fraction of what you’d pay for a motel room back home, and even mid-range comforts remain surprisingly affordable. Whether you’re chasing surf breaks, temple views, or just a lounge chair by the pool, accommodation in Bali stretches a long way. Use the search box above to compare accommodation options in Bali and find the best deal for your dates.
Getting to Bali
Direct flights run from most major Australian cities, including Perth, Darwin, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, and Adelaide, straight into Denpasar’s Ngurah Rai International Airport. Perth and Darwin tend to offer the shortest and often cheapest flights given their proximity, but budget carriers regularly run sales from the east coast too, so it pays to book a few months out or watch for sale periods. Once you land, avoid the pre-arranged taxi counters at the airport if you’re watching your budget – ride-hailing apps like Grab or Gojek are widely used across Bali and cost noticeably less for getting to your accommodation in areas like Kuta, Seminyak, or Canggu. If you’re heading further afield to Ubud or the Bukit Peninsula, pre-booking an airport transfer through your accommodation is often the simplest and most affordable option.
Best Time to Visit Bali
Bali’s dry season runs roughly from April to October, which also happens to be peak tourist season, particularly around July, August, and the Christmas to New Year period, when accommodation prices climb and popular spots get crowded. For genuinely cheap accommodation in Bali, the shoulder months of April, May, June, and September offer a good compromise – decent weather without the peak-season price hikes. The wet season, from November to March, brings lower prices across the board and thinner crowds, though you’ll need to accept afternoon downpours as part of the deal. Rain in Bali is often short and heavy rather than an all-day washout, so it doesn’t have to ruin a budget trip.
Top Attractions in Bali
Many of Bali’s best experiences cost little or nothing. Tanah Lot and Uluwatu temples both sit dramatically on clifftops above the ocean and charge only a small entrance fee, with sunset being the best (and busiest) time to visit. The Tegallalang rice terraces near Ubud are free to walk around, though small donations are appreciated at various viewpoints. Wandering the streets of Ubud itself, particularly around the Monkey Forest and the traditional markets, costs nothing beyond whatever you choose to buy. Beaches across the island, from Kuta to Canggu to the quieter stretches near Sanur, are free to enjoy and make up a huge part of why people keep coming back to Bali.
For Families and Kids
Bali works well for families on a budget, with many guesthouses and villas offering shared pools that keep kids entertained for hours at no extra cost. Waterbom Bali in Kuta is a paid attraction but remains one of the better value theme parks in the region if you’re looking to splurge on one day out. Beyond that, the calmer beach areas around Sanur are popular with families thanks to their gentle waters and beachfront walking paths, while Bali Bird Park and Bali Safari Park offer full days out for a reasonable entry fee.
Outdoors and Nature in Bali
Bali’s volcanic landscape makes for some genuinely rewarding low-cost adventures. Sunrise treks up Mount Batur are a rite of passage for many visitors, and while a guide is required (and worth the small cost for safety), the experience of watching the sun rise over the caldera is hard to beat. Inland, the Sekumpul and Gitgit waterfalls near Munduk offer a cooler, greener side of the island, with entry fees typically just covering basic upkeep. Snorkelling around Amed or Nusa Penida can be done cheaply if you skip the organised tours and hire gear locally instead.
Local Culture and Heritage
Bali’s Hindu culture sets it apart from the rest of Muslim-majority Indonesia, and this is visible everywhere, from the small offerings placed daily outside homes and shops to the frequent temple ceremonies that spill onto the streets. Visiting a temple means dressing respectfully, usually with a sarong provided or available cheaply at the entrance. Ubud remains the cultural heart of the island, with regular traditional dance performances, art markets, and galleries that give a real sense of Balinese heritage without requiring a big budget.
Eating in Bali
Food is one of the easiest places to save money in Bali. Warungs, the small family-run eateries found on almost every street, serve local dishes like nasi goreng, mie goreng, and nasi campur for a fraction of what you’d pay at a tourist restaurant, and the quality is often better too. Look for warungs busy with locals rather than empty ones aimed purely at tourists. For something more substantial, babi guling (Balinese roast pork) and bebek betutu (slow-cooked duck) are worth seeking out at specialist stalls. Fresh fruit from local markets, particularly mangosteen, snake fruit, and dragon fruit, makes for a cheap and healthy snack between meals.
Best Value Restaurants
Areas like Ubud and Canggu have embraced the healthy cafe scene, and while these spots cost more than a warung, they’re still cheap by Australian standards and good value if you want a change from local food. For the tightest budgets, sticking to warungs away from the main tourist strips will keep daily food costs remarkably low.
Accommodation Options in Bali
Bali’s accommodation scene covers everything from simple guesthouses to high-end villas, and the range of cheap accommodation in Bali is genuinely one of the island’s biggest drawcards for Australian travelers.
Budget and Cheapest Accommodation
Guesthouses, known locally as homestays, are the backbone of budget accommodation in Bali. These family-run properties often include breakfast and offer simple, clean rooms at low prices, particularly around Ubud, Kuta, and Canggu. Hostels are also common in the more backpacker-friendly areas and often come with a shared pool.
Family Accommodation
Villas with private or shared pools are widely available and, when split across a family or group, can work out cheaper than separate hotel rooms while offering far more space and privacy.
Luxury and Boutique Accommodation
Bali’s boutique villa scene, especially around Seminyak and Ubud, offers a level of design and service that would cost considerably more elsewhere, making a short splurge stay achievable even on a modest budget.
Beachfront Accommodation
Coastal towns like Sanur, Seminyak, and Canggu all offer beachfront stays at a range of price points, with plenty of simpler options a short walk back from the sand for those wanting to save on the premium beachfront rate.
Long-Stay Accommodation
Many Bali properties offer discounted weekly or monthly rates, which suits the growing number of Australians combining holidays with remote work stints on the island, particularly in Canggu and Ubud.
Shopping in Bali
Ubud’s art market and the various street markets across Kuta and Seminyak are good spots for affordable souvenirs, sarongs, and local crafts, though bargaining is expected and part of the experience. For everyday essentials, local minimarkets are cheap and widely available, while larger supermarkets in tourist areas stock familiar brands at slightly higher prices.
Nightlife and Free Fun in Bali
Watching the sunset from a beach in Seminyak or Canggu costs nothing and is one of Bali’s most reliable free experiences most evenings. Kuta and Canggu both have lively bar scenes with regular happy hour deals that keep drink prices low, while Ubud offers a quieter evening scene centred more around live music and cultural performances.
Suggested Budget Itinerary for Bali
Start the morning with a warung breakfast before heading to a nearby temple or rice terrace while it’s still cool. Spend the afternoon at the beach or by your accommodation’s pool, then head out in the late afternoon for a sunset viewing spot, followed by dinner at a local warung. Round out the evening with a walk through a night market or a quiet drink at a beachside bar. This kind of simple, low-cost routine can be repeated across different parts of Bali, from Ubud to Canggu to Uluwatu, each offering its own version of the same great value.