Viral Video Comparing Expat Lifestyles in Bali: Whose Budget is More Realistic?

Share:

Bali, a haven for vacationers and remote workers, offers a surprisingly affordable lifestyle. A recent viral video sheds light on the cost of living in this tropical paradise.

One foreigner, who lives and works from home in Bali, manages to keep his living expenses at a modest 650 dollars, or around IDR 10 million. His lifestyle is such that he doesn’t even need to cook every day.

The other video highlights the life of a foreigner who also lives and works in Bali but for 1570 dollars per month, or around IDR 25 million.

Through the viral video of the TikTok account @alexulbin, the first video shows a foreigner living in Bali spending 300 dollars for accommodation, such as a place to stay in a villa or homestay. This cost is equivalent to IDR4.8 million for a place to stay.

Furthermore, he also admitted to spending 200 dollars or the equivalent of IDR 3.2 million per month for food costs that are ready to be served and eaten.

@alexulbin How much do you spend in Bali? #bali #traveltiktok #budgettravel ♬ original sound – alex ulbin

Furthermore, for traveling or transportation, instead of renting a vehicle. Even for sightseeing or visiting various beautiful places, he claimed to only spend 50 dollars, or the equivalent of IDR 820.000 per month, as the cost of entrance tickets to waterfalls, beaches, or other beautiful places in Bali.

Seeing the video, not a few netizens debated which party benefited more from the presence of foreign tourists who doubled as overseas workers at the same time.

After that came a second video showing a foreigner living in a spacious apartment in Bali, he spent 300 dollars on the apartment, the same as the previous one.

However, he admitted to spending quite a lot on cooking, around 630 dollars or IDR 10 million.

He also allocates a significant portion of his budget for visas and health insurance, emphasizing their importance for foreigners living in Bali.

@alexulbinA realistic “how much do you spend” in Bali♬ original sound – alex ulbin

Her total expenditure for a month is 1570 dollars or IDR 25 million.

Although more than the previous foreigner, the comments on the video still consider her expenses relatively cheap.

Now that you’ve seen the living expenses of these foreigners in Bali, how does your monthly budget compare? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.

Find this article helpful? Check out our other articles from Social Expat for more food and drink recommendations in Indonesia:

SEO Writer

Imelda is a content writer specializing in viral news and Indonesian culture. Her work revolves around researching and analyzing current events, social media trends, and popular culture.

Related News

Indonesia’s Ministry of Forestry has temporarily closed hiking activities in nine national parks and conservation areas because of increased risks of forest and land fires during the 2026 dry season. The policy took effect on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, following the issuance of Circular Letter Number SE.4/KSDAE/SKSDAE/KSA.02.02/B/8/2026, dated August 31. The circular concerns the temporary […]

Indonesian horror is set to return to the international spotlight with Satan’s Slaves: Origin, the international title for Pengabdi Setan 3: Origin. The third film in Joko Anwar’s acclaimed horror franchise has officially entered production and is scheduled for a theatrical release in 2027. The film follows Pengabdi Setan (2017) and Pengabdi Setan 2: Communion […]

Jakarta Dessert Week (JDW) returns to the capital from 1–20 September 2026, bringing together pastry chefs, restaurants, emerging dessert makers and creative brands across the city. This year, however, the festival is looking beyond the dessert plate. Its chosen theme: Dangdut, turns one of Indonesia’s most recognisable musical traditions into a broader conversation about culture, […]

A series of fires has been reported in Bali in recent days, including a restaurant fire in Seminyak and a major blaze that affected temporary housing and a scrap storage area near Sunset Road in Denpasar. The incidents have prompted firefighting teams and local authorities to step up operations in affected areas. No fatalities have […]

Expat Events

Indonesia Visas

Expat Event

Social Networking
IDR 200.000
Poolside, Grand Hyatt Jakarta
Social Networking
IDR 150.000
Erre & Urrechu, Gran Melia
Business Networking
IDR 150.000
Parc & 9th, Le Parc Residence

Indonesia Guide

Just For Fun

Write For Us

Exclusive Promotions

Event Gallery