If you are planning to move to Bali, here is some essential information for a smooth and successful settling into your new environment: first purchases, accommodation, climate, cost of living, transportation, universities, housing, etc.
Settling in Bali
Upon arrival, Bali's international airport, Ngurah Rai, will give you a glimpse of what to expect on the island of the Gods: a crowded, hot, but welcoming and smiling country. Whatever the case, you'll be comfortable in your new environment after a few adjustments, thanks to our tips and practical information.
With approximately 16.4 million tourists visiting Bali each year, traffic can be chaotic with countless cars, bicycles and buses on the road at all times. Added to this are ceremonies that require road closures, causing a domino effect in other parts of the island.
Over time, you will get used to using Bali's modes of transportation efficiently, such as cabs, which are numerous and easily accessible on the streets or through apps like Gojek or Grab, as well as bike and motorcycle rentals.
The Balinese culture is rich and vibrant. The joyful ambient sounds, the heat, and a color fest will greet you as soon as you land at the airport. Grab the opportunity to make a first dive through the exotic sculptures to be admired at each corner of the buildings, the vibrant colors of the canang (flower offerings) which decorate the road.
The climate in Bali
In Bali, a tropical island that lives up to its name, it is always sunny, with an average annual temperature of 31掳C. The rainy season runs from October to April, with high humidity and brief afternoon showers.
Daily life in Bali
As a tourist destination, Bali has everything foreigners need, including accommodation options for all budgets. While waiting to find a place to stay, consider a guesthouse or hotel. For your budget, expect to pay up to 12 USD per night in a hostel and up to 100 USD per night in a more upscale hotel.
To be able to communicate by phone and/or via the internet, you just have to buy a SIM card at the airport or in one of the numerous mini-markets (Indomaret, Alfa Mart, Minimart and Circle K) scattered all over the island. By the way, these small grocery stores are quite common and stay open till 11 pm, or even the full 24 hours a day! You'll find a pretty comprehensive selection of products from basics to cleaning supplies, and will probably get to know your neighborhood. Some of the larger markets, like Pepito, also offer fresh produce, including eggs, vegetables and fruit, meat, as well as phone recharge cards, bill pay stations, and more. To buy everything in one trip, go to a major hypermarket such as Grand Lucky, Carrefour or Hypermart, which offer local and imported products.
Tap water in Bali is not safe to drink, so most households buy drinking water in gallons for daily use. Cooking is done with gas sold in cylinders.
Another challenge of living in Bali is the internet connection speed. Most villas, accommodations and cafes now offer Wi-Fi, and the speed has improved drastically in recent years to match other South East Asian countries, such as Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore. If your work requires a stable and fast internet connection, you can join a coworking space, which will offer you a reliable and comfortable work spot. Spaces such as Hub Bali in Legian or Jimbaran Hub in Jimbaran offer flexible subscriptions with daily, weekly or monthly packages. You can inquire online to learn more about the status, prices and operating hours of the coworking space you are interested in.
Electricity and water supplies are often interrupted without notice. For this reason, many homes are equipped with their own water tanks.
The cost of living in Bali
With regard to the cost of living in Bali, it is wrong to believe that it is cheap! Nevertheless, it is still possible to save money by eating in small restaurants (warung) and sleeping in a kos (dormitory). If you want to have a Western lifestyle, the cost will depend on the region, and be aware that those with a large expatriate population will tend to be more expensive. Otherwise, for a one-bedroom apartment in Bali, you should expect to pay USD 700-1,100 per month, compared to USD 3,800 per month, excluding utilities and maintenance, for a villa with a pool. Moreover, the rent in such a case is paid on a yearly basis at the time of entry into the accommodation!
On the food side, a full meal in Canggu ranges from USD 15 to USD 25. Of course, if you eat local, then that price can come right down to as little as USD 3. For a night out at high-end beach clubs like Potato Head or Omnia, you will be charged between USD 150 and USD 200.
Best, if you don't feel like living beyond your means, consider the night markets in Bali. These are not only a cultural spectacle in their own right, but they also offer good value dinners.
These are ideal places to sample a variety of local dishes while immersing yourself in the authentic Bali way of life!
Understanding the Balinese way of life
When you come from a modern country where life moves at a hundred thousand miles an hour, the Balinese way of life will require a slight adjustment on your part. Life there goes at a different pace and seems to have some other meaning. In fact, the perception of time is very different in Bali because it derives from the Tri Hita Karana philosophy, which is rooted in the three causes of well-being. The Balinese believe that to live a prosperous life, people must be in harmony with God, with each other, with nature and the environment.
In everyday life, Balinese people like to take their time and synchronize with their surrounding nature. The sense of urgency is not part of their daily routine, just as it is in nature, which likes to take its time. This setting is perfect if your expat project in Bali makes a good share of work-life balance.
Religion in Bali
The Balinese way of life differs significantly from the lifestyle in the rest of the Indonesian islands. While the majority of Indonesians are Muslim, Balinese are 90% Hindu. As you'll learn, Balinese Hinduism is quite particular. If the main gods of the Hindu cosmogony are worshipped on the island, the Balinese also believe in ancient animist deities and have their own celebrations and festivals. The result is a very colorful mix of Hinduism and ancestral beliefs. You will discover, for example, the canang, these small offerings composed of multicolored flowers deposited every morning, noon and evening in front of each Balinese house, each store, each temple and road.
On ceremony days, religious activity is amplified tenfold, with employees taking the day off and roads closed, all feeding the already heavy traffic. So don't lose your cool and just enjoy it. You will notice municipal police officers dressed in black and white sarongs, whose task is to maintain security and direct traffic.
In Bali, the Banjar is a community unit that usually governs a village. It is, in fact, the smallest form of local government in Bali. For example, it is to your Banjar that you will pay community contributions intended to improve the general welfare. Don't be surprised if you are asked to participate in the larger ceremonies as well. As an expatriate in Bali, you should naturally show respect for local religious acts and customs, as religion and family are both essential and sensitive in Bali. For example, indecency can be punished by outright deportation from the country!
Greetings and introductions in Bali
Do as the Balinese do, smile! Smile to greet, show respect, and give acknowledgment. In the same way, you will order your drink with a smile, smile to your neighbor who leaves for work in the morning. Actually, this simple act is the best way to build relationships in Bali.
The other critical point is respect for the elderly. Intrinsic to Indonesian culture, respect for the elders is more important than their social status. Therefore, be polite, speak softly, and use honorific prefixes.
Regarding common prefixes:
- Sir: Pak (for older men)
- Madam: Ibu / Bu (to address older or married women)
- Miss: Mba or Mbo in the Balinese language (to address young single women. If you don't know if a woman is married or not, it is safer to address an adult woman as Ibu)
- Young man: Mas or Bli in the Balinese language
Respect and tolerance in Bali
Whenever possible, speak softly or keep your voice down when speaking. Balinese, like the rest of Indonesians, despise public confrontation and if you find yourself in a disagreement or conflict, resolve it privately with the person concerned. This is the concept of "saving face".
In general, the Balinese have a high tolerance for foreigners through their daily interactions with tourists, but in the process of integrating as an expat, follow those around you or simply ask. For example, if you're not sure if you should take off your shoes before entering a temple, other people's homes, or a store, simply ask, "Maaf, apakah saya harus lepas sepatu" - "Please excuse me. Should I take off my shoes?" By asking, you are at least showing your intention to be polite and respectful of their customs.
Among the rules that must be respected at all times, there is a critical one, and it concerns the head! Considered a sacred part of the body, the head (especially children's) must never be touched.
At the other end, the feet are considered dirty. And remember, take your shoes off when you enter a house or a temple. Why? Simply because they are believed to carry bad energy. Moreover, since feet are dirty, pointing them at the person sitting in front of you, especially if it's someone older than you, is rude!
Another essential element is that the Balinese are a communal society and it is customary for families to live together in large compounds where everyone knows each other's business.
Topics of conversation in Bali
When meeting a new person, Balinese people ask questions that might be considered intrusive in the West:
- Where are you from?
- What is your religion?
- Are you married?
- Where is your spouse? (If you are married).
- How many children do you have?
- Where do you work?
While this may seem like an invasion of privacy and personal space, it is actually a way to ask about someone, to break the ice with a stranger.
If you want to build relationships without sharing more information, you can simply respond politely with short answers such as:
- I'm from xxxxxx,
- I am a Christian - even if you are an atheist, as religion is a sensitive topic in Indonesia. For your information, Indonesia has six official religions: Islam, Christianity (both Catholics and Protestants fall into this category), Christianity, Buddhism, Confucianism and Hinduism.
- I am married, but my spouse is not with me in Bali,
- I work in a hotel - even if you do not wish to disclose the name of your employer.
Such brief answers should normally be enough to satisfy your interlocutor.
The answers to these questions will make it easier for your interlocutor to integrate you into their circle without any judgment!
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