One Month in Bali: What It's Like to Live There, Not Just Visit

Spending one month in Bali is a completely different thing from a two-week holiday. We spent a month on the island, and our honest takeaway is this: life there is simply different. You see the world differently, and we felt we made more progress on a personal level too. In this article we explain why living somewhere for a while is worth it, and we’ve gathered everything practical you need for your own month in Bali – from 2026 entry rules to the Day of Silence.

Why a month instead of a week?

On a one-week holiday you tick things off: temple, rice terraces, sunset, next stop. A few days later you’re heading back to the airport. Stay for a month and something shifts. You find your favourite warung, you learn when the traffic is at its worst, and you stop planning your days around sights and start planning them around yourself.

That switch from sightseeing to everyday life is what makes the difference. There’s time for your own projects and routines – and you can still keep exploring new corners of the island. You stop being just a guest and become, in a small way, part of the place.

A month is also a good test of whether a longer life on the road is for you. Besides Bali, we also spent time in Jakarta – you’ll find everything about our time in Indonesia on our Bali page.

What are the entry rules in 2026?

German citizens need a visa for Indonesia (if you hold another passport, check the rules for your nationality). For tourism there are two straightforward options (as of October 2026):

• Visa on Arrival (VoA): apply and pay at the airport when you land.
• e-VOA: apply in advance on the official Indonesian immigration portal and skip part of the queue.

Both cost IDR 500,000 (roughly 25 to 30 euros, depending on the exchange rate), are valid for 30 days and can be extended once by 30 days – up to 60 days in total. You can apply for the e-VOA extension online once you’re in the country. You’ll need a passport with at least six months’ validity and a return or onward ticket. For a month, the visa just about covers you; if you plan to stay a few days longer, sort out the extension in good time.

Take the deadlines seriously: according to the German Federal Foreign Office, every day of overstay costs IDR 1 million, and longer overstays can lead to detention and prison sentences.

Two more steps:

1. All Indonesia: Since October 2025 you need a digital arrival card that combines the immigration, customs and health declarations. It’s free on the official portal and can be completed no earlier than 72 hours before arrival. Beware of third-party sites that charge for it.
2. Tourist levy: Bali charges foreign visitors a one-off levy of IDR 150,000 per person per trip. The easiest way is to pay in advance on the official Love Bali portal; there are also counters at the airport.

Entry rules and fees can change at short notice, so check the official sources (listed below) before you fly.

Where do you stay for a month?

For a longer stay, a monthly rental pays off: many guesthouses and villas offer much better rates for four weeks than per night. As a rough guide (October 2026; prices vary widely by area, season and standard):

• Room in a guesthouse or simple accommodation: around 300 to 600 euros a month
• Small villa with one or two bedrooms: around 800 to 1,500 euros a month
• Villa with a pool in sought-after areas such as Canggu: from around 1,500 euros upwards

When comparing, check whether electricity (air conditioning adds up), cleaning and Wi-Fi are included. Prices climb noticeably in peak season around the European summer and the New Year.

The bigger question, though, is where. Bali is smaller than it looks, but traffic makes distances long. Choose an area where you can handle your daily routine without long rides.

Area	Character	Pros	Cons
Canggu	Surf, cafés, international crowd	Plenty of coworking spaces, gyms and restaurants; easy to meet people	Heavy traffic, lots of construction, higher rents
Ubud	Cultural heart inland, rice fields, yoga	Temples, crafts, nature, slightly cooler evenings	No beach, the centre gets very busy during the day
Uluwatu	Cliffs and coves in the south (Bukit Peninsula)	Stunning beaches and surf spots, sunsets	Spread out, hard to manage without a scooter or driver
Sanur	Quiet east coast with a beachfront path	Relaxed, walkable and bikeable, close to the airport	Little nightlife, limited swimming at low tide

How do you get around?

Scooter: For many people, the scooter is the everyday way to get around. The German Federal Foreign Office points out, however, that motorbike accidents are common on Bali and Lombok and advises against renting one. If you do ride, you need an International Driving Permit together with your national licence. Make sure it covers motorcycles – otherwise your insurance may not pay out after an accident. Helmets are compulsory for rider and passenger, and police run regular checks in tourist areas. Only ride if you’re genuinely confident, and avoid long trips at night.

Grab and Gojek: Both apps are widely used in Bali for motorbike taxis, cars and food delivery. You see the price up front and don’t have to haggle. In some places, local drivers don’t want app pickups in certain zones; look out for signs and take a local taxi there.

Hiring a driver: For day trips to temples, waterfalls or the north, a driver with a car for the whole day is often the most relaxed option. Ask your accommodation for a recommendation and agree on price and route beforehand.

What is everyday life like – and what does it cost?

The big advantage of a month is that you start shopping and eating like a local. Warungs, small family-run eateries, are inexpensive, while Western-style cafés and beach clubs quickly reach European prices. Overall, your costs depend mostly on your accommodation and lifestyle. Many long-term travellers budget roughly 1,000 to 2,500 euros per person per month in total – a rough guide, not a promise.

For the cheapest ways to pay and withdraw cash abroad, read our guide to paying abroad with Amex and Revolut.

Internet and SIM: You can get a local SIM card at the airport or in the providers’ shops; you’ll need your passport. If you use a phone bought abroad with an Indonesian SIM for longer, you may need to register its IMEI number – ask in the official shop. A travel eSIM set up before you fly is often the easier option.

Working on the road: Canggu and Ubud in particular have plenty of coworking spaces and cafés with reliable Wi-Fi. Keep in mind that the Visa on Arrival is a visitor visa. If you want to work remotely for longer or earn money in Indonesia, ask an Indonesian embassy or consulate about the right visa.

Wet and dry season: Roughly speaking, April to October is the dry season in Bali and November to March the wet season. Rain showers can be heavy but rarely last all day. When you’re living there for a month, that’s rarely a problem – just keep your day trips flexible.

What about health and safety?

Bali belly: That’s what travellers call the typical traveller’s diarrhoea. The German Federal Foreign Office advises against drinking tap water in Indonesia and recommends using drinking water for brushing your teeth too. Many places have large water dispensers for refills, which also saves plastic. A little caution with ice and unpeeled fruit goes a long way.

Vaccinations: Get travel health advice a few weeks before you go, from your GP or a travel clinic. Besides routine vaccinations, hepatitis A, typhoid and – depending on your activities – rabies are commonly recommended for Indonesia. According to the CDC, rabid dogs are common in Indonesia, so keep your distance from strays and monkeys.

Dengue: According to the German Federal Foreign Office, dengue fever occurs year-round across the country. Protecting yourself from mosquito bites during the day and in the evening matters more than anything else.

Insurance: Travel health insurance that covers longer stays and medical repatriation is a must for a month in Bali.

Tip: Book fixed accommodation for your first few nights and look for your monthly place once you’re there. That way you can judge location, noise and traffic for yourself – and you can often negotiate a better four-week rate in person.

How do you respect Balinese culture?

Bali is predominantly Hindu, and religion is part of everyday life: offerings on the pavement, ceremonies, processions. In 2025 the Governor of Bali published a code of conduct for foreign visitors. The key points:

• Cover your shoulders and knees in temples; sarongs and sashes are often provided at the entrance.
• The inner, most sacred areas of temples are reserved for worshippers in traditional dress.
• Don’t climb sacred trees, shrines or monuments, and don’t take revealing photos at religious sites.
• Keep your distance during ceremonies and make way for processions.

Nyepi, the Day of Silence: Once a year Bali celebrates New Year according to the Saka calendar – with 24 hours of complete stillness. From 6 am until 6 am the next day, the whole island stays at home, tourists included. No traffic, no lights visible from outside, no noise, and the airport is closed. In 2027, Nyepi falls on Monday, 8 March, according to the official holiday decree. On the evening before, Ogoh-Ogoh parades with giant demon figures traditionally wind through the villages. Because Eid al-Fitr follows right after in 2027, expect a long holiday period across Indonesia and crowded transport.

If your month overlaps with Nyepi, plan your flights around it and check with your accommodation how meals will work on the day. On a longer stay, Nyepi is a remarkable experience – an entire island simply pausing for a day.

Our verdict: is a month in Bali worth it?

For us, absolutely. A month gives you time not just to visit an island but to live it – with routines, everyday life and space for your own goals. If you like staying in one place for a while, Bali offers a good mix of nature, culture and infrastructure. And if you still fancy more islands afterwards, our guide to island hopping in the Philippines is a great next step.

You’ll find our vlogs from Indonesia and other trips under Videos.