If you’re toying with the idea of a holiday in Vegas or a holiday in Bali, well, we’ve got some useful data that might help you make up your mind.
While Las Vegas and Bali at first glance are not that similar, they are both popular destinations and we’ve broken them down into the categories that most tourists really care about.
That lets you make a fully informed decision before you book your next flight.
Bali In Brief: What’s It Like?
Bali is a tropical paradise located in the Indonesian Archipelago in the Indian Ocean in the Southern Hemisphere.
It has a unique local culture stemming from being the only Hindu majority island in Southeast Asia and that dates back over 1,000 years.
It’s home to temples, waterfalls, museums, galleries, waterparks, volcanoes, rice terraces, and some of the best beaches on Earth.
Most of all, the people of Bali are famous for their hospitality and warmth and are a driving force for repeat visitors who return to the island year after year.
Las Vegas In Brief: What’s It Like?
Las Vegas is big, brash and bold and it’s most famous for its gambling. It’s the world’s biggest casino town and the influence of the casinos is everywhere.
You can enjoy seeing some of the world’s biggest artists in residency or party until dawn in some of the most cutting edge nightclubs.
However, there is a Vegas away from the casinos too and you can enjoy museums, cultural attractions and more in this unique city in Nevada, USA.
Bali Vs Las Vegas: Head-To-Head Comparison
So, our head-to-head concept is simple. We’ve broken down the two places in a series of categories and then measured (as objectively as possible) the two against each other.
We’re in no doubt that wherever you choose, you can have a great holiday, but at the end we weigh up the two destinations by categories and the one with the most “wins” is the “winner”.
Beaches In Bali Vs Beaches In Las Vegas
OK, so Las Vegas doesn’t have any actual beaches, that’s because it’s in the middle of a desert without any shores to rely on.
However, it does have some man-made pseudo-beaches like Mandalay Bay Beach, the Grand Pool Complex at MGM Grand, VooDoo Beach, and there are some pool clubs with “beach-like features” too.
But honestly, we can’t think of anything more soulless than to visit a corporate fake beach on your holidays. There are many things that Vegas does very well, but beaches are not one of them.
Bali, on the other hand, has some of the best beaches in Southeast Asia. There are the golden white sands of places like Nusa Dua and Sanur, black volcanic sands that look extra-dramatic at sunset or sunrise in places like Canggu and Amed.
In fact, as a tropical island, there are a lot of beaches in Bali and they’re all natural and didn’t need a mega-corp to make them happen.
This is a category that Bali wins by default, a fake beach in a casino isn’t a beach.
Casinos In Las Vegas Vs Casinos In Bali
Conversely, let’s be blunt about this, while Bali is a Hindu enclave, it’s part of the Indonesian archipelago and the majority of Indonesians are Muslims.
In Islam, gambling is a sin and thus, gambling is prohibited throughout the archipelago including in Bali. That means Bali has no casinos of any kind. And yes, we think for some people this is all upside because it means they aren’t going to lose any money on holiday.
However, there’s no doubt that if you do like casinos, Las Vegas is the place to go. It has some of the world’s finest casinos and they are far more than just gambling dens.
They’re entertainment complexes, dining experiences, watering holes and much more.
If beaches was a walkover for Bali, casinos is a walkover for Las Vegas. But don’t forget, gambling can become a serious issue for some people and staying away from casinos is often the healthiest choice.
Safety In Bali Vs Safety In Las Vegas
Las Vegas is generally safe for a large American city as long as you stick to the tourist areas and you practice things like gambling discretely (especially when you win), park securely and avoid wearing bling and don’t let strangers into your hotel room.
In practice, while violent crime is rare in Las Vegas, it’s not unknown and petty crime is rife particularly due to the volumes of those down and out on their luck after a bad time in the casinos.
Bali, on the other hand, is a very safe destination and while there is some petty crime, the majority of tourists leave the island after a safe and uneventful trip.
Violence from the locals is almost unheard of and the only problems tourists tend to encounter is with each other after consuming too much alcohol.
This category is an easy win for Bali, you’re much more likely to stay safe on the island than in Vegas.
Things To Do In Bali Vs Things To Do In Las Vegas
Las Vegas has a reasonable amount of things to do and while many of them are casino related, many others are not.
There are museums, exhibits, a huge ferris wheel, a botanical garden, and more to enjoy. However, it is one city in the middle of a desert and though there’s a national park on the doorstep with some awesome canyons, there’s a limit as to how much stuff you can fit in this area.
Bali is an entire island and it’s Indonesia’s biggest tourist draw and that means there’s enough stuff to do in Bali to last a lifetime (or two).
You can find temples, waterfalls, rice fields, caves, valleys of kings, monkey forests, museums, zoos, safaris, diving expeditions, snorkeling, surfing, and so much more.
While this category is closer than some of the others, we have to award Bali the crown in the things to do category.
Nightlife In Bali Vs Nightlife In Las Vegas
Both Las Vegas and Bali have an amazing reputation for nightlife but there are some substantial differences between them too.
Las Vegas has a lot of upmarket nightclubs but admission comes at a very steep $20-$60 USD ($30-$90 AUD) for men and $10-$30 USD ($15-$45 AUD) for ladies. If it’s a special event or a holiday weekend then you might need to pay $200 USD ($300 AUD) just to walk in the door.
And if there’s a headliner on, it’s going to increase your entry fee by another $100 USD ($150 AUD).
If that wasn’t expensive enough a beer starts at around $12 USD ($18 AUD) and a cocktail is likely to set you back $20 USD ($30 AUD).
Table service is substantially more expensive than that as is bottle service where you’re likely to spend, at least, $200 USD ($300 AUD) per person and at a popular club on a headlining night it can run to thousands of dollars per person!
Bali is full of clubs, pubs and bars and it’s home to the world’s best beach club, FINNS Beach Club.
Most places are free to get in, and the few that do charge are around $10-$20 USD ($15-$30 AUD) and often throw in a free drink as part of that entrance fee.
Yes, you pay more on New Year’s Eve and for a major headliner, but those are rare events not regular occasions.
A beer starts at around $6 USD ($9 AUD) and a cocktail at around $10 USD ($15 AUD) with discounts for happy hours and promotional prices being very common.
Table service is often included and if you want bottle service, you pay for the bottle and the mixers, nothing more.
Overall, a night out in Bali can be hundreds of dollars cheaper than in Vegas and Bali has the reputation of being one of the world’s best party spots.
In short, Bali wins this category with ease thanks to the fact, you can probably party for a week in Bali for the cost of a night or two out in Vegas.
Culture In Bali Vs Culture In Las Vegas
Balinese culture is famous throughout the world. It’s friendly and hospitable, and as the only Hindu-dominant society in all of Southeast Asia, it’s unique.
They can trace their culture back for over a thousand years and it’s in every temple, every mountain, every waterfall on the island and the many museums, galleries, etc. that help to illustrate that rich heritage to locals and visitors alike.
Las Vegas has its own distinct culture and there’s no doubt that there are some museums and galleries that help illustrate it. But it’s part of a much younger nation and there’s not the depth of unique culture that Bali has to offer. So, Bali wins this category and fairly comfortably too.
Food In Bali Vs Food In Las Vegas
Las Vegas is home to some of the world’s most famous restaurants and there’s no doubt that if you’re in the mood for some fine dining this city has got you covered.
It’s also a great place to enjoy some traditional American food or even some fast food from one of the many ubiquitous chains that inhabit every corner of the USA and most of the modern world.
Bali is also home to some incredible world-class fine dining restaurants, and it also has its own unique culinary style with dishes like nasi goreng, nasi campur, mie goreng, sate lilit, babi guling, ayam betutu, etc., all offering an authentic taste of Indonesia.
You’ll also find that if you’re on a budget, there are far more options for eating out in Bali than you will get in Las Vegas.
However, overall, these are both sound culinary destinations and we’re going to call this category a draw.
Aesthetics Matter: Bali Or Las Vegas?
This is, perhaps, our most subjective category and it’s hard to compare an island to a city in this category anyway.
Las Vegas is a striking place at night when the strip is all illuminated and the dark city vibe gives it a very distinct look and feel.
But in the day time, like most cities, it’s not as pretty and it’s more concrete and cladding than anything else.
That’s not to say that every bit of Bali is gorgeous, it has cities that have a similar vibe to other cities, but it has beautiful beaches, lush jungles, imposing mountains and volcanoes and so much more to see.
So, we have to give this one to Bali even though, we appreciate it’s a subjective judgement.
Which Has The Better Shopping? Bali Or Las Vegas?
Bali is a great place to go shopping for beach wear, arts, furnishings, souvenirs, etc. and anything that’s made in Bali.
Places like Seminyak and Canggu have countless boutique stores and you can find some real bargains.
However, there’s no doubt that Las Vegas’s retail scene is world-class, and you can find pretty much anything that you’d ever want in the city.
Sure, you may have to pay a premium for some of it, but if you want to go on a shopping spree, Vegas is the place to be. So, Las Vegas wins this category.
Which Place Is Best For Digital Nomads Las Vegas Or Bali?
Bali is one of the best places in the world to be a digital nomad, and Canggu and Ubud are top of many nomads’ travel lists in South East Asia.
There are co-working, co-living and nomad meetups galore in these two towns and the whole island is stocked with nomad-friendly cafes and restaurants.
On the other hand, Las Vegas certainly has co-working spaces, but it’s vastly more expensive than Bali and the only nomads we know of in that part of the world are Americans passing through or would-be professional poker players.
So, this is an easy category win for Bali. Vegas just isn’t cost-effective enough for the average digital nomad.
Which Place Is The Best For Expats Las Vegas Or Bali?
Las Vegas is not a top destination for expats, which is not to say that there aren’t expats in Vegas, of course ther are.
Some of them are working in the hospitality community and others have married into the area, but it’s fair to say that it’s not one of the big American expat destinations.
Bali is a big hit with expats, both for those working in the island’s huge hospitality sector but also for retirees who are seeking to make their pensions go a little further.
A retiree can easily secure a villa, personal staff, and a good standard of life without spending a fortune in Bali, whereas a similar lifestyle in Las Vegas would cost 4-5 times as much.
So, Bali is clearly the winner as the best expat destination and the island is probably going to stay that way for a long time.
Bang For Buck: Which Is Better Value Las Vegas Or Bali?
This is one of the easiest wins for Bali. In every respect, Bali is a cheaper destination than Las Vegas from meals, to drinks, to clothing, you can save money in Bali.
The singular exception is on imported luxury goods which tend to command something of a premium in Bali, but most people aren’t in the market for a new camera or TV while they’re on holiday.
This is a very simple win for Bali and if you’re considering a trip to Bali, we’ve got some useful sample pricing for you below:
Flight Costs
Obviously flight costs will vary depending on where you are flying from but typically (based on Google Flights data on the day of publication, this may vary seasonally, etc. too):
Sydney to Bali round trip (economy class) – is about $400 USD ($600 AUD)
Sydney to Las Vegas round trip (economy class) – is about $1,200 USD ($1,800 AUD)
London to Bali round trip (economy class) – is about $750 USD ($1,125 AUD)
London to Las Vegas round trip (economy class) – is about $750 USD ($1,125 AUD)
New York to Bali round trip (economy class) – is about $1,000 USD ($1,500 AUD)
New York to Las Vegas round trip (economy class) – is about $200 USD ($1,050 AUD)
Hotel Costs
In most cases, flights to Las Vegas will cost around the same or less than flights to Bali. However, even if you’re saving money on the flights, you’re going to find that you save a huge amount of accommodation.
We have chosen two hotels from the same hotel group to make this comparison – Marriott.
If you were to book the JW Marriott Las Vegas The Resort At Summerlin for 2 weeks, you’d find that you need to pay out $5,538 USD ($8,307 AUD) or $426 USD ($639 AUD) a day to stay there. We should note that this is a 4-star hotel.
By comparison, if you book the Marriott Bali Nusa Dua Gardens for 2 weeks, it would cost just $2,781 USD ($4,171 AUD) or $214 USD ($321 AUD) a day to stay there. This is also a 5-star rather than a 4-star property.
Yes, wherever you’re flying from, it’s pretty easy to save the cost of your flights to Bali by booking a hotel of similar quality to the one you would in Las Vegas.
Bali also has a broader range of accommodation options from high-end luxury hotels to mid-range to hostels and guest houses. It also has an amazing choice of luxury villas that Las Vegas doesn’t have.
Final Round Up Bali Vs Las Vegas
So, Las Vegas has the most casinos and it’s a draw in the food category, but otherwise, Bali has taken a clean sweep on our head-to-head comparison.
Bali simply offers more options and for better value than Las Vegas does for the typical holidaymaker.
FAQs
Has Bali Become Too Touristy?
We don’t think that Bali is too touristy. In fact, we’d say that there’s never been a better time to visit the Island of Gods.
While there’s no doubt that the tourist towns of the South and Ubud in Central Bali can get very busy in the peak season (school holidays), for the rest of the year, they’re very pleasant.
And outside of those towns, you’ll find the island is rarely busy and you can enjoy as much peace and quiet as you like.
Yes, tourism has brought this small island some challenges and the local community is responding to those challenges as we write this, but no Bali is not over-touristed.
Which Is Better Las Vegas Or Bali?
We don’t like to be too subjective in our judgments but we think Bali is better than Las Vegas and that’s because, if you scroll up, we compared the two places head-to-head and found that for the majority of tourists Bali is going to be a better bet.
That doesn’t mean that visitors to Las Vegas won’t have a good time there, in fact, we’re positive that they will have a great time. It’s just that we think most people will have an even better time in Bali.
Is Las Vegas In Bali?
No, Las Vegas is in Nevada in the United States of America, whereas Bali is an island in the Indonesian archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
Bali Or Las Vegas Which Is Cheaper?
Bali is cheaper than Las Vegas, in fact, on a like-for-like basis, Bali is much cheaper than Las Vegas in most respects.
That’s because Bali is part of a developing nation in an area of the world that is known for its low cost of living but high standard of living.
Nevada, on the other hand, is a renowned vacation destination in the United States and as such, it tends to see a fairly substantial price premium on most things.
In fact, even when you take into consideration the cost of flying to Bali and back again, for most people it’s going to be much cheaper to spend a couple of weeks in Bali than it is to spend a couple of weeks in Las Vegas.
We’d also note that there are no casinos in Bali, any money you spend will be spent on having fun, eating good food, staying in nice hotels, etc. you won’t be throwing it away on the Blackjack table.
Is Bali Still Worth Visiting?
Yes, Bali is very much worth visiting. In fact there’s never been a better time to visit Bali. There’s something for every budget and every interest on the island.
Flight prices round trip from the US, Europe and Australia are very reasonable and hotels can be as cheap (or as expensive – there are more $1,000+ a night hotel rooms in Bali than anywhere else on Earth) as you want them to be.
You can enjoy competitive pricing on food, drinks, excursions, museums, temples, and so much more. Bali is a tropical paradise and it’s ready to welcome you, today.
Final Thoughts On Bali Vs Las Vegas
It’s hard to draw a comparison between two such different destinations as Bali and Las Vegas. While they’re both popular holiday spots, most visitors go to Las Vegas for the casinos and Bali doesn’t have any and most visitors to Bali go for the tropical vibe and Las Vegas, doesn’t have any.
However, when we matched the two places head-to-head, we found that for most holidaymakers, that if there’s no need to gamble, Bali is going to deliver a more exciting holiday experience than Las Vegas and it’s going to work out much cheaper too.
So, why not book a flight to Bali today and find out for yourself?
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