Food in Bali: expensive or cheap? Calculating a monthly budget

When it comes to moving to an island, the first question sounds predictable: how much does everyday life cost? It is said that a tropical paradise is inexpensive. But is that really the case? Let us try to figure it out through the prism of the simplest indicator — the grocery basket.

Bread and dairy products

Let us start with basic products that in many countries are considered the foundation of the diet. A loaf of bread and a kilogram of rice cost 0.9 dollars each, cereals are 4 dollars for half a kilogram, pasta costs from 0.6 to 3 dollars per package. With average consumption, expenses in this category amount to approximately 18–20 dollars per month per person.

Dairy products are fairly widely available in supermarkets. A liter of cow’s milk and soy milk costs 2.3 dollars each, almond milk costs 3.7 dollars. Hard cheese costs 4.5 dollars, yogurt — 1 dollar, a dozen eggs in a supermarket — 1.5 dollars, at the market — 1.2 dollars, while sour cream costs 8.5 dollars per liter. Monthly expenses for these products amount to about 30–35 dollars per person.

Coconut oil costs only 1.3 dollars per liter, sunflower oil — 7 dollars per liter, and imported olive oil — 4.5 dollars for 250 milliliters.

Meat and fish

Meat is available both in supermarkets and at markets. Chicken costs 4.5 dollars per kilogram, beef — 11 dollars. With consumption of 5 kilograms of meat per month, expenses range from 22 to 50 dollars.

Tuna costs 12 dollars per kilogram, salmon — 25 dollars. Eating one and a half kilograms of fish per month is equivalent to 20–40 dollars per person, depending on preferences.

At local markets, you can find fresh seafood at more affordable prices, but this requires time and knowledge of the nuances.

Vegetables and fruit: market versus supermarket

In supermarkets, potatoes cost 2.1 dollars per kilogram, while at the market they are half the price. Cucumbers at the market cost 70 cents per kilogram, cabbage — only 50 cents, carrots — 1 dollar.

The situation with fruit is similar. Mangoes in a supermarket cost 2.9 dollars per kilogram, at the market in the off-season — 2.3 dollars, and in season — only 1 dollar. Papaya at the market costs 70 cents per kilogram, and a bunch of bananas costs the same. Local vendors put together bags with bananas, papaya, pitahaya, and mangoes for 4 dollars — in a supermarket, such a set would cost three times more.

However, not all fruits and berries are pleasing in terms of price. Imported apples cost 3.7–4 dollars per kilogram, and blueberries are a real luxury: 7 dollars for 200 grams.

How much is spent on food on average?

The amount depends on habits: if you prefer local vegetables and fruit from the market, rice, and chicken, the budget will be closer to the lower limit. If the diet includes many imported products, red fish, cheese, and good wine (19 dollars per bottle), the bill increases sharply.

One person spends on average 150–200 dollars per month on groceries. Two adults who cook at home spend around 300–500 dollars. A family of two adults and a child spends approximately 400–800 dollars. Children more often require variety in food, which again leads to the purchase of imported fruit, yogurts, baby food, and other small items that add up to a substantial amount.

The main part of the budget goes to protein products — meat, fish, eggs — and goods from other countries. Vegetables and fruit, if purchased at markets, are inexpensive. Rice and local grains are also easy on the budget.

Life after relocation: cheaper or more expensive?

So, is life in Bali cheaper than, for example, in the CIS countries or Europe? The answer is ambiguous. If you adapt to local realities — shop at markets, eat seasonal fruit, cook with coconut oil and rice — you can stay within a modest budget. However, if you stick to a familiar diet with buckwheat, red fish, sour cream, and beef, expenses will be comparable, and sometimes even higher.

The island requires adaptation and flexibility. It is generous with sun, ocean, and exotic experiences, but you have to pay for comfort in the form of familiar products. The only question is whether you are ready for compromises or prefer to live as you are used to, regardless of the price.