Bali can be a dreamy, good-value trip or a runaway splurge. This guide walks you through real-world family budgets—what you’ll actually spend on flights, stays, food, transport and activities—so you can build a Bali that fits your numbers without feeling like you’re saying “no” all day.
Planning tools that make the numbers feel calmer
- ✈️ Price out flights for your actual dates: use this Bali flight search to see how much of your budget will go to getting there.
- 🏨 Compare family stays by neighborhood and nightly rate: run a search in this Bali family stays finder, then layer it with the Bali Neighborhood Guide for Families.
- 🚗 Decide between drivers and car rentals with real numbers: check current prices with this Bali car rental comparison and compare to day rates for drivers on Bali family driver tours.
- 🎟️ See activity costs before you promise anything: skim prices for waterfalls, animal parks, temples and day trips on Bali family activities.
- 🛡️ Protect the budget you’ve just built: once flights and stays are picked, add flexible coverage from SafetyWing so delays or illness don’t turn into extra thousands.
Use this side by side with the Ultimate Bali Family Travel Guide, the Ultimate Bali Family Attractions Guide and the Ultimate Bali Logistics & Planning Guide.
Quick snapshot: what a Bali family trip really costs
Every family spends differently, but most land in one of three zones. These are per family per day estimates on the ground in Bali (not including flights), to help you sanity-check your plans:
Where you sit in that range depends heavily on:
- Which neighborhoods you choose (Nusa Dua vs Amed is a different world).
- How often you say yes to paid attractions vs free beaches and rice terraces.
- Whether you want simple rooms or full-on family resorts from Best Family Resorts in Bali (By Price).
Daily Bali budget ranges by family travel style
Saver families 🌿
- Stay in budget guesthouses, homestays or smaller hotels.
- Eat mostly at local warungs (simple Indonesian eateries).
- Use taxis, shared shuttles and the occasional driver-day.
- Pick 2–3 paid attractions from the Attractions Guide and lean into free beaches and villages.
Comfort families ☀️
- Midrange hotels or villas with pools, often booked in areas like Seminyak, Canggu, Sanur or Ubud.
- Blend of café meals, warungs and occasional “nice” dinners.
- Regular taxis and a few full driver-days for exploring.
- A mix of paid experiences—waterfalls, animal parks, temples and water parks from Best Bali Adventure Parks & Water Parks.
Splashy families ✨
- Family resorts and high-end villas, often in Nusa Dua, Jimbaran or upscale parts of Seminyak and Ubud.
- Frequent restaurant meals, beach clubs and dessert stops.
- Private drivers on multiple days, occasional car rental for total flexibility.
- Premium activities: boat trips, premium animal parks, multiple day trips to places like Nusa Penida from Best Family Day Trips From Bali.
Where your Bali budget actually goes
Once flights are booked, most family spending falls into the same four buckets: stays, food, transport and activities. Getting a feel for each bucket helps you adjust without feeling deprived.
1. Stays (often 30–50% of your total)
Your accommodation choices do the most heavy lifting on comfort and cost. A few patterns:
- Budget stays: simple guesthouses, homestays and smaller hotels, especially in Amed, Lovina or more local areas of Ubud and Canggu.
- Midrange: family-friendly hotels and villas with pools in Seminyak, Sanur, Nusa Dua and Ubud.
- Higher-end: resorts and bigger villas, often in Nusa Dua, Jimbaran or premium Ubud locations.
Use your Bali stays search side by side with:
to balance nightly rate, walkability and vibe.
2. Food & drinks
- Warungs: the best friend of budget-conscious families. Simple, tasty meals at gentle prices.
- Cafés and restaurants: add a bit more per meal but also bring aircon, play corners, smoothies and kids’ menus.
- Beach clubs and resorts: atmospere, pools and sunsets are built into the price tag—great for “one big day” treats.
If you’re nervous about food costs, browse Bali cafés and restaurants near your chosen neighborhood in your favorite maps app while you look at stays. Use the Best Markets & Shopping With Kids in Bali guide to layer in markets for fruit and snacks.
3. Transport
How you move is covered in detail in Getting Around Bali With Kids (Taxi, Scooter, Driver), but in budget terms:
- Taxi rides within one area are usually a small line in the budget.
- Day rates for drivers are bigger but can be shared across multiple stops and activities.
- Car rentals can be efficient if you’re confident driving and want total flexibility; price them via the car rental comparison.
4. Activities & experiences
This is the fun part: beaches, waterfalls, cultural nights, animal parks, water parks and day trips. The Attractions Guide and related posts—like:
- Best Bali Beaches for Families
- Best Bali Waterfalls With Kids
- Best Bali Temples for Kids
- Best Animal & Monkey Experiences (Safe Options)
- Best Bali Adventure Parks & Water Parks
help you price out “big days” ahead of time. From there, your family decides how many big days your budget can comfortably hold.
Cheapest vs priciest areas in Bali for families
Your base can tilt your budget gently up or gently down without you changing much else. Pair this with the Bali Neighborhood Guide for Families to balance money, vibe and logistics.
Budget-friendly bases 🌿
- Amed & Lovina: quieter, good for simple stays and slower days from Amed and Lovina.
- Local pockets of Ubud & Canggu: guesthouses and homestays set a softer price tone.
- Sidemen: lush and tranquil, often better value for space and views from the Sidemen Family Guide.
Midrange sweet spots ☀️
- Sanur: family-friendly promenade and gentle pricing.
- Parts of Seminyak, Legian & Kuta: a big spread of stays, from budget to midrange.
- Ubud (central-ish): mixes atmosphere with plenty of options across budget bands.
Higher-end bases ✨
- Nusa Dua: purpose-built resort area with beautiful grounds, often higher nightly rates.
- Jimbaran & premium Uluwatu: villas and resorts with ocean views and sunset dining.
- High-end Seminyak & Ubud: designer villas, boutique stays and polished service.
Use: Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Uluwatu and Best Family Resorts in Bali to choose where a higher nightly spend makes the whole trip smoother.
Sample 3, 7 & 10-day Bali family budgets
These are not rigid rules—they’re scaffolding. Adjust numbers up or down to match your family, then use the Logistics & Planning Guide to slot them into flights, dates and neighborhoods.
3-day “first taste” in one area
- Base: Sanur, Seminyak or Nusa Dua.
- Style: comfortable.
- Rough on-the-ground budget: $150–$250 per day (stays, food, transport, activities).
One beach day, one “big” attraction day (water park, animal park or temple + culture), one softer day with markets and pool time.
7-day “classic” Bali with kids
- Base: split between beach (Sanur/Nusa Dua/Seminyak) and Ubud.
- Style: saver to comfortable.
- Rough on-the-ground budget: $700–$1,500 total across the week, depending on how many big-ticket days you book.
Use the Ultimate Bali Family Travel Guide and its 7-day itinerary ideas as a skeleton, then plug in real prices from Bali family tours and your stay search.
10-day “slow & full” island loop
- Base: beach + Ubud + one quieter area (Sidemen, Amed, Lovina or Nusa Penida).
- Style: comfortable with a couple of splashy moments.
- Rough on-the-ground budget: $1,400–$2,500 total, depending on resort choices and premium activities.
This is where car rentals or multiple driver-days can make sense; price those through the car rental tool and driver tours.
Smart ways to save money in Bali (without feeling restricted)
Budget travel with kids isn’t about saying “no” all day. It’s about deciding where you want your “yes” moments and gently shrinking the rest.
1. Get your timing right
Flights and stays change a lot by month. The Best Time To Visit Bali For Families and Weather & Seasons Guide help you avoid peak pricing while still landing in family-friendly weather.
2. Choose bases that match your budget
- Anchor your price in more affordable areas (Sanur, local Ubud, Amed, Lovina, Sidemen).
- Dip into pricier zones (Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, premium Uluwatu) as day trips with a driver instead of full stays.
- Use the Neighborhood Guide to build this balance intentionally.
3. Make big days count
- Pick your top 2–4 big-ticket experiences as a family using the Attractions Guide.
- Fill the rest of the trip with high-value, low-cost days: beaches, rice terraces, markets and cultural evenings.
- Browse options and prices in advance on Bali family activities to avoid costly impulse decisions.
4. Eat like a local (and like a parent)
- Let warungs handle lunch when everyone is hot and hungry; use cafés for slow, comfortable breakfasts and coffees.
- Stay somewhere with a simple kitchen if you love cooking or have dietary needs; filter for that in your stays search.
- Grab fruit and snacks from markets highlighted in the Markets & Shopping Guide.
5. Use your packing list like a money tool
Every item you bring that you’d otherwise buy on the island is a quiet saving. The Bali Packing List for Families is built to reduce “oops, now we have to buy that here” moments.
Where to splurge so it actually changes the trip
Some spends are just bigger numbers. Others are turning points—making everyone relax, sleep better or connect more. Those are the ones worth leaning into when the budget allows.
1. The right base
A slightly higher spend on a stay with:
- A great pool for the kids.
- Walkable access to food and a beach or rice fields.
- Enough space for naps and early nights.
can reduce how much you spend elsewhere. Start in Best Family Resorts in Bali (By Price) and cross-check your favorites in the stays finder.
2. One or two “core memories”
Maybe it’s:
- A waterfall and rice terrace day from Best Bali Waterfalls With Kids and Best Bali Rice Terraces With Kids.
- A monkey and animal day from Best Animal & Monkey Experiences.
- A full-on water park or adventure park day from Best Bali Adventure Parks & Water Parks.
Book these in advance using Bali family experiences so you know the costs and can shape quieter days around them.
3. Protection that lets you relax
The right travel coverage doesn’t feel like a splurge when something goes sideways. A simple plan through SafetyWing sits quietly in the background while you focus on the fun—and steps in when flights move, luggage disappears or someone needs a clinic visit.
What to read next to lock in your Bali budget
Now that you have a feel for real-world numbers, you can plug them into the rest of your planning. These guides connect the dots:
- Zoom out and sanity-check your whole vision: Ultimate Bali Family Travel Guide
- Choose neighborhoods that match both vibe and budget: Bali Neighborhood Guide for Families
- Match your dates to better prices and calmer weather: Best Time To Visit Bali For Families and Bali Weather & Seasons Guide
- Plan how you’ll move without budget surprises: Getting Around Bali With Kids (Taxi, Scooter, Driver)
- Use your suitcase as a money tool: Bali Packing List for Families
- Choose your paid experiences with intention: Ultimate Bali Family Attractions Guide and its linked posts (beaches, waterfalls, temples, animal parks, markets and more).
- Bring all the practical pieces together: Ultimate Bali Logistics & Planning Guide.
If this took your Bali budget from “overwhelming” to “okay, we can do this,” it will do the same for another parent.
Share it with your travel buddy or planning group so everyone is working from the same calm, realistic numbers instead of guessing and stressing.
When you’re home, come back and leave a quick comment with what you actually spent. Real numbers from real families quietly sharpen this guide for the next round.
Some of the links on this page help support Stay Here, Do That at no extra cost to you. They keep these family-first guides calm, practical and free from cluttered ads and pop-ups.
© 2025 Stay Here, Do That — Family Travel Guides. Built for the budget-keepers, spreadsheet-lovers and quiet “we can absolutely make this work” parents.
