Bali Budget Itinerary: 2 Months for $2,000
Bali will run away with a piece of your heart. Or the whole thing. Fresh food, rich culture, crystal blue waterfalls, and lush landscapes unlike anything else you’ve seen. Bali is the total package – it’s no wonder this country receives over 6 million international tourists a year (prior to Covid, of course). We’ve designed this Bali Budget Itinerary specifically for visitors who are looking to settle down and stay awhile – in this case, approximately two months. However, if you only have a few days, this post will still provide you with insight into some of Bali’s best spots and the relative cost of traveling around this famed province of Indonesia.
Delicious zucchini noodles in Canggu
The Quick Version: Where To Go
For two months in Bali we recommend starting in Canggu, hiring a driver to take you to Ubud, then moving on to catch the ferry to the Gili Islands. After the Gilis, stay on the east coast and travel down to Sanur, where you can hop on another boat to Nusa Penida. Once you’ve explored all that Nusa Penida has to offer, take a short boat ride over to Nusa Lembogan for the last leg of your trip before you make your way to the airport. We’re working on a Bali Travel Guide that gets down to the details of how to go from place to place. But this two month Bali Budget Itinerary will break down all the costs of exploring Bali on a budget.
Call Canggu Home (1 week – 1 month)
If you have two months to travel Bali – take enough time to fully immerse yourself in one of the places you choose to stay. We recommend shacking up in Canggu, where you can adjust to the different pace of life, learn how to operate in Bali (sim cards, currency exchange, driving, etc.), and experience the unique culture of Canggu. However, if you only have a week, you’ll have to speed date this incredible spot. Spend a month getting to know Canggu more intimately if you can. After 30 or so days of relaxing on Canggu beaches and navigating this new place, you’ll be confident and equipped for a more fast-paced style of travel during your second month abroad.
Truthfully, budget travel in Bali still feels like luxury. You can have it all – eating out daily, staying in picture-perfect villas, and booking adventurous tours/excursions – for a very affordable price. On our own trip to Bali, we accomplished these things and more for a total of $2,000 per person. Two months of travel for $2,000 – flights included! Personally, our flights cost $750 per person from Chicago (ORD) to Denpasar (DPS), which was almost half our budget. Of course, it depends on where you’re flying from, but the flight to Bali will likely be your greatest expense.
Aerial view of our villa in Canggu
Surfing at Berawa Beach
Gardens in our Canggu villa
Get To Know Canggu
Canggu deserves a second date. And a third, and a fourth, and a fifth. Located on the west coast of Bali, this up and coming surf town is quieter and less touristy than nearby Seminyak. Many expats come for a visit only to find themselves moving to Canggu permanently. Daily life in Canggu looks a little something like this: wake up; ride your scooter to the beach; surf; eat at incredible restaurants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; experience the great nightlife; and do it all over again the next day. Don’t forget to explore the shops and find time to lounge by the pool.
Where to Stay: Canggu has no shortage of incredible Airbnb’s. We booked our Airbnb for just $20 a night, and it was perfect for our needs. This private villa shared a pool, garden, and outdoor kitchen with three other villas. While budget friendly, the downside to this accommodation was the noise and lack of privacy at the pool. However, the pros far outweigh the cons. The room was clean and spacious, the host was responsive, and we had the nicest local who cleaned our villa daily and checked in on us. This rental (and most rentals for that matter) offers airport transfer and moped rentals (for a fee).
- Recommendation: Book your Airbnb close to the beach. We stayed on the road JI Pantai Berawa and really loved the area. It’s walking distance from many restaurants and a quick 5 minute ride to the beach.
Entrance to our AirBnb
Pool in our Canggu villa
What to do in Canggu
Surf. Eat. Relax. Explore.
Berawa Beach is great for surfing, this beach has surfboard rentals all along the sand for approximately $3 a day – and a nice break right off the beach. Batu Bolong Beach and Pererenan Beach are also close by and worth exploring. Do note that while Canggu beaches are great for surfing, a walk on the beach, or a beautiful sunset, they aren’t great for swimming. Unfortunately, the water is dirty and the beaches often have quite a bit of garbage.
Canggu has an endless supply of eateries. In truth, you could eat out for every meal for a full month, and you still wouldn’t come close to trying all the restaurants in the area! Personally, our budget was $4 per person for breakfast (60,000 IDR) and $5 per person for dinner. Breakfasts are delicious and healthy, with many restaurants featuring vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free food. Classic American food and incredible Indonesian cuisine are also easy to come by.
In addition, Canggu has many accessible grocery stores where you can pick up fresh goods and staples to cook in your villa. Try the nasi goreng (fried rice) at your nearby warung if you want a budget friendly option. Purchasing affordable foods from these spots will help you save $$$.
Let’s Talk Visas
In order to stay in Bali for 2 months you MUST get a visa on arrival right when you arrive at the airport. You must ALSO extend your ‘visa on arrival’ (this is the name of the visa) while you’re in Bali. The visa on arrival costs approximately $35 per person, and $75 per person to extend.
- Recommendations: Start the visa extension process on day 20 of your trip while still in Canggu. This process requires you to visit the office of an agent (see below) and hand over your passport for approximately a week. We know. Scary. But this is how it’s done in Bali. Always make multiple copies of your passport before your trip. You can try to navigate this process alone, but we recommend using an agent because it’s quite complicated without their help.
Our Experience: We selected an agent close to our villa, drove our rented moped to their office, and dropped off our documents. Within a few days, the agent messaged us on WhatsApp with a time to meet at the immigration office. Then, for our trip back to the office, we chose to hire a driver because the office is located in a busy city that is far and difficult to reach by moped. At that point, we were met there by a friendly woman who helped us extend our visas. All in all, the entire experience took less than half a day, and the agent took care of all the confusing steps for us.
If you’re in Canggu, check out Bali Visa Extension Agent. They are professional and great to work with!
Canggu Costs
*for two people traveling together
- Villa: $20 x 29 nights = $580
- Moped: one month = $50
- Breakfast: $8 x 29 days = $232
- Dinner: $10 x 29 days = $290
- Surfing: $3 x 7 days = $21
- Hiring a driver 4 times = $50
- Gas for the moped = $15
- Groceries = $60
Total: $1,298 total, or $649 per person
Tegalalang Rice Terraces
Adventure Ubud (1 week – 1 month)
Ubud is another popular spot – and for good reason. This lush, mountainous location is more tropical rainforest than beach town. If you spent one month in Canggu, set aside approximately one week to explore Ubud. But if you prefer the rainforest to surf/beaches, switch Ubud and Canggu in this itinerary and spend your first full month in Ubud.
Shack Up in Ubud
Yet again, Airbnb offers great accommodation in Ubud. This spot also has incredible boutique hotels worth considering. On our trip, we paid $125 for 5 nights in a one bedroom villa in the middle of the Ubud Market. This price included daily delicious breakfast with volcano views.
Recommendations: If you’re going to book an Airbnb, stay in the center of the city so you have access to all of the food, shopping, yoga, and markets.
Bambu Indah is a spot worth splurging for. Located just outside of Ubud, Bambu Indah is a dream rainforest getaway. The resort intertwines sustainability, Indonesian culture, and nature, seamlessly for an unforgettable experience. Every building is a unique bamboo structure, and the property features organic gardens and multiple natural stone pools. One night in a tree house will cost you $100 – but it will be love at first sight.
Treehouse at Bambu Indah
What to do in Ubud
Ubud is a walkable city – you can get just about anywhere you want to go on foot. Tours will take you to explore the nearby jungle and Northern Bali – and you can simply hire a driver or tour company to take you there. We found our drivers on the streets of Ubud – and kept their number so that we could use the same service repeatedly.
Tour the rice terraces. Hire a driver to take you about 45 minutes outside of Ubud, and go early before it gets too busy! Walking through the rice terraces a little after sunrise is the key to an enjoyable and peaceful experience. On your way back, stop at the Luwak Coffee Plantation for a coffee and tea tasting and a chance to soar in a giant swing over the jungle. This tour cost approximately $20 per person.
Explore the waterfalls. Take another early morning trip out of Ubud to hike to Tibumana (one of the many options). This quick and beautiful trek leads to a stunning waterfall where you can swim for hours. We had it all to ourselves for hours.
Recommendations: Tegenungan waterfall, Banyumala Twin waterfall, and Sekumpul waterfall are all stunning options.
Visit the traditional Ubud market. Open all day, this is the perfect place to pick up local art and support the Balinese community.
Campuhan Ridge Walk. A hiking trail that offers stunning aerial views. Again, go early. In fact, just go early to all of these spots if you don’t want to be surrounded by other tourists. The midday heat in Bali is also intense and this hike is much more enjoyable in the early hours of the day. Dress appropriately for a long trail hike, but know that you can turn back at any point!
Campuhan Ridge Walk
Ubud Costs
*for two people traveling together
- Villa: $25 x 5 nights = $125
- Hotel = $100
- Lunch: $8 x 6 days = $48
- Dinner: $10 x 6 nights = $60
- Waterfall Tour = $40
- Rice Terrace and Coffee Tour = $40
- Monkey Forest = $12
Total: $425 total, or $212 a person.
Gili Islands (7 days)
The Gili Islands are a small island archipelago off the coast of Bali. and are actually part of Lombok, which you can see from the beaches of Gili Air.
Each island has its own personality. First and foremost, Gili Trawangan is the party island, with avid nightlife and exciting people. Next, Gili Air meets in the middle – the perfect destination for scuba diving, relaxing on a quiet beach, and having a chill night out with friends! And finally, Gili Meno is the small, quiet one. This is the perfect destination for a romantic getaway. Visit the Gili Islands to rest, relax, and enjoy the incredible beaches and blue water.
Gili Air Costs
*for two people traveling together
- Villa: $22 x 7 nights = $154
- Lunch: $8 x 7 days = $56
- Dinner: $8 x 7 nights = $56
- Snorkeling Tour = $50 for 2 people
Total: $316 total, or $158 a person
Our villa at Ing's Gardens
Snorkeling in the Gili Islands
Views of Lombok from the Gili Islands
Nusa Penida (5-7 days)
Good things come in threes, and the Nusa Islands are no exception. Once remote islands, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan are now popular tourist destinations. We’ll introduce you to two of these eligible spots, and let you decide which better suits your tastes. Or better yet, visit both!
Nusa Penida is all dramatic blue water and steep cliffside views. This island is worth 3-5 days if you have the time. Nusa Penida is for the off-the-beaten path traveler, but it’s rapidly gaining in popularity.
Hire a tour company to help you navigate this largely undeveloped place for just $70 a person for 3 days. It can be hard to find the best spots which lie down long, windy and bumpy roads, without a guide. These spots also have strict rules surrounding parking, payment, and clothing – and the language barrier can be difficult to navigate. A guide is the easiest way to ensure a hassle free experience. Spend a few days with a tour guide and you’ll gain the confidence you need to strike out more on your own.
Shack Up in Nusa Penida
By now, you won’t be surprised that Airbnb offers great stays in Nusa Penida. Choose luxury villas or budget friendly rooms. Splurge for a waterfront view if you’d like!
As always, it’s vital that you read reviews before booking any accommodation.
Note that power outages are common in this location which makes for hot nights without AC. It’s best to adjust your expectations and embrace a more low maintenance style of travel if you’re following this Bali Budget Itinerary through Nusa Penida. This stay cost us $22 a night, and it included breakfast delivered to our room every morning.
What to do in Nusa Penida
Finally, it’s time to kick your feet up and let someone else take care of you for a while. Bali and Nusapenida Tour crafts perfect itineraries for travelers. Explore the website, message the company with your desired trip length, and let them take care of the rest. Read below for an example itinerary that details our experience.
The tour included pick up from our rental in Sanur where you can stay for one night to make the ferry early the next morning. After a 30 minute boat ride, you will be picked up by your guide to begin your tour. This is the three day tour we took, which you can choose to replicate:
Day 1:
- Kelingking Beach – Go early (before 10:00 am) to avoid crowds for the most stunning views of your whole trip. While Instagram may have tainted this perfect spot, it’s still worth a few hours on your itinerary.
- Broken Beach and Angels billabong – these two locations are side by side and best visited together.
- Crystal Bay
Day 2:
- Atuh Beach & Diamond Beach – Simply unreal. These two beaches are side by side on opposite sides of a cliff and have indescribable views from the overlook. It’s only about a 20 minute hike to get to the bottom. Atuh beach has food and umbrellas at the bottom. But if you came prepared with your own snacks, Diamond Beach is a quieter alternative.
Day 3:
- Snorkeling – spend hours on a private boat with a guide before diving below the ocean’s surface to see the most incredible reefs.
Day 4 and 5:
- Lastly, head back to your favorite spot for another beach day – because once is never enough. Return to Crystal Bay and snorkel out to the reef from the beach, or hike down to one of the beaches you skipped previously!
Broken Beach, Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida Costs
*for two people traveling together
- $22 x 5 nights = $110
- Tour = $140 for 2 people
- Lunch = $8 for 2 days
- Dinner = $8 for 5 days
- Scooter = $10 for 2 days
Total: $316 total, or $158 a person
Kelingking Beach
Diamond Beach
Nusa Lembongan (3-5 Days)
Nusa Lembongan is for ocean-lovers and adventurers. Calling all divers and snorkelers – this is the spot for you.
Shack Up in Nusa Lembongan
Stay at the Twin Island Dive Resort. Located on a high point of the island, it’s not the most convenient to the beach but the views more than make up for it. Spend your days here lounging by the pool, enjoying the peace and beauty of this resort-style accommodation. You’ll be picked up from the ferry, served breakfast on your porch each morning, and driven into town to try various restaurants each evening. If the beach is essential to your stay, explore your options on Airbnb to find something closer to the water.
Explore Underwater in Nusa Lembongan
If you are scuba certified, you must dive this island. It’s non-negotiable. Anyone and everyone can join snorkeling tours to experience the underwater magic of this island. The color. The crystal clear water. The underwater ecosystems teeming with marine life. It doesn’t get any better.
Recommendation: Try to visit one or all of the beach clubs on this dreamy island. Ginger and Jamu, Sandy Bay, and Ohana’s all have relaxed vibes and beautiful views of their respective beaches and pools! Dream beach, Coconut Beach, and Mushrooms Bay are also worth a visit!
Nusa Lembongan Costs
*for two people traveling together
- $50 x 2 nights = $100
- Diving = $170 for 2 dives
- Lunch = $8 for 3 days
- Dinner = $10 for 3 days
Total: $324 total, or $162 a person
Summary – Bali Budget Itinerary
In truth, there are so many different ways you can travel affordably across Bali. Follow this budget itinerary and you’ll be able to spend two months traveling across Bali for $2,000. Or, feel feel free to pick and choose from our recommendations to make this trip your own. When it comes to Bali, it’s worth it to settle down and stay awhile. This is a place you’ll want to form a deep and lasting relationship with.
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