More and more people are choosing to retire in Bali. The famous tourist destination is popular with retirees because it’s relatively easy to get a retirement visa and the cost of living on the island is very reasonable for those on a pension.
But where are the best places to retire in Bali? Well, we thought about where we’d want to retire in Bali and came up with a list of fourteen places that would appeal to us.
Our evaluation is not scientific, it’s based on our own experiences of being here among the beach clubs, soft golden sands, world-class restaurants, natural beauty, etc. and what we think people would want from one of the most affordable retirement destinations in Asia.
3 Things You Will Need To Retire In Bali
A Retirement Visa
If you are over 60, it’s possible to get a retirement visa to live in Bali. That’s the good news.
The bad news is that you are not allowed to carry out any paid work (ir indeed, unpaid work) while you are here, you must have a year’s lease on a property already arranged and paid for, you are required to hire a domestic helper (maid) and you must be able to prove you have over $36,000 available to you in USD.
The good news is that this means you can then live in Bali and leave and exit whenever you want. You are allowed to obtain a local driving license and local bank accounts.
Retirees are often subject to special privileges at attractions in resorts in Bali.
You are also able to join the Indonesian Healthcare System (BPJS) once you have been resident for 6 months for a monthly payment of 150,000 IDR (that’s $10 USD or $15 AUD).
Some retirees in the best places to retire in Bali are going to be using back-to-back tourist visas or social visit visas to stay on the island.
At the moment, this is just fine as the Indonesian government does nothing to deter this behaviour, though you can’t open a bank account or get a local driving license living like this.
The problem is that there’s no guarantee that things won’t change in the future and if you’re a retiree on a tourist visa, you may suddenly find you can’t re-enter Bali after a visa run. This could, potentially, make it very hard to access your property and possessions in the country.
Some Form Of Income Usually A Pension
We’ve mentioned it above, but it’s important to stress that retirees cant take up paid work in Bali.
That means you need an income to live on. It’s not just to show the immigration people for your visa.
While many of the best places to retire in Bali are very affordable, none of them are free.
With no social safety net in place, you can’t afford to be in Bali if you don’t have an income stream.
Somewhere To Live
Finally, you need to decide on where you want to live. You may also want to think hard about the sort of place you want to live in.
While apartments are a bit thin on the ground in Bali, they do exist and they tend to be much cheaper than renting a villa in most locations.
Where there are no apartments, you can often find a room or suite of rooms in a guesthouse to serve a similar function.
Apartment rents in guesthouses and resort complexes often include utility costs, which can keep your overheads down.
Conversely, there are a lot of villas in most areas of Bali, but it’s important to know that they’re not all created equally.
A good villa in Canggu or Seminyak is likely to be quite expensive with a monthly rent in excess of \$1,000 a month. You will also have to pay for your utilities on top of this rent, and often for a gardener, pool maintenance and other fees that you might not have had at home.
These fees will be lower than you would pay at home, but they can add up all the same.
We’d strongly advise you to visit the best places to retire in Bali that appeal to you and check out the different property options before you commit to anything.
We’d also encourage you not to sign any kind of lease or long-term contract without a very close look at the place you’re going to be living in – you don’t want to move into a place with a ton of problems that you will be responsible for resolving.
The 15 Best Places To Retire In Bali For Retirees Seeking Affordable Retirement Destinations
The good news is that there are plenty of great places to live in Bali but it’s important to note that each of these areas has its strengths and weaknesses.
That means you need to take into account your personal preferences when deciding where to live on the island, not just a score from an article.
Canggu
Canggu is the most varied destination and the most popular place to visit in Bali at the moment.
It has access to pretty much everything from FINNS Beach Club, the world’s best beach club, to great gyms, a waterpark, a trampoline park, amazing restaurants, cafes, etc. Your family and grandchildren will never be bored when they come to visit.
Canggu is also a short drive from the other beach towns and Ubud and the rice fields.
It also has very decent healthcare facilities where English is spoken by the medical staff. If you need something complex, there are other facilities within a short drive too.
The big downside to living in Canggu is it’s expensive, and while it’s not the most expensive place to live on the island if you have your heart set on a big villa, it may feel like it.
Uluwatu
Uluwatu is famous for its perfect surf breaks and it’s a great beach town to retire to.
There’s a decent local medical clinic and plenty of facilities that will make living in the area easy.
The downside is that it’s pretty spread out geographically and you will probably need to own a car if you want to be in Uluwatu all of the time.
It’s quite pricey too as the area is very popular with the professional surfing community.
Nusa Dua
Nusa Dua is home to the highest number of luxury brand-name resorts of any beach town and it’s a very upscale location to retire to.
This isn’t bad news if you want world-class golf courses, high-end spas, posh shopping centres and fine dining.
But it does all come at a price and there’s no doubt that living in Nusa Dua is more expensive than the rest of Bali and it’s also quite removed from the rest of the island if you want to explore the place properly.
Ubud
Ubud is considered to be the spiritual heart of the island but it is rapidly commercializing.
This isn’t a bad thing if you want to live inland, which is cooler than on the beach towns and love to explore local markets, temples, palaces, etc.
However, Ubud is also gentrifying and while it was once a very cheap location to live in, now, it’s not much cheaper than the top beach towns.
Kuta
Kuta was the original holiday destination for many people in Bali and it’s still popular with retirees.
The nightlife scene that it is famous for doesn’t need to impact your enjoyment of the area’s cafe’s, bars, malls, and more.
It also offers great access to medical care and there’s no doubt that you will find a superb social scene in this beach town.
Seminyak
Seminyak is another upwardly mobile destination and it appeals to a younger crowd in the main, who are focused on partying and being seen while they have fun.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t retire and have a good time in Seminyak, mind you.
The area has decent access to healthcare, there’s a top-quality supermarket or two in the area, and plenty of nice restaurants.
Sanur
Sanur is becoming more and more popular and it’s a great relaxed beach town with a lovely beach walk for long strolls of a day.
You can access quality healthcare services thanks to the current developments there and it’s an ideal retirement destination if you want a more chilled-out island life.
Sanur is also, for now at least, a bit cheaper than Canggu, Kuta, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Uluwatu and Ubud.
Candi Dasa
It’s fair to say that a lot of retirees seem to love Candi Dasa which, like Sanur, is going through a development phase at the moment, though not as rapidly.
If you want somewhere that’s with a stone’s throw of the action, but far enough away to be quiet and peaceful, then Candi Dasa is a great option.
It’s cheaper than other areas of Bali too.
Jimbaran
If you love seafood and want to live near Kuta but not in Kuta, then Jimbaran might be the ideal place to live.
Again, you have decent access to quality healthcare and it’s a quiet and idyllic place to live.
The downside is Jimbaran’s quite pricey due to a shortage of rental accommodation that’s up to expat standards in the area.
Amed
If you’re looking for a low cost retirement in a beautiful part of Bali, then Amed might be the place to do it.
However, it’s a decent drive from the island’s best healthcare facilities, so it’s going to appeal mainly to those who are 100% healthy.
Villas here are super affordable, however, and there are plenty of ways to spend your leisure time too.
Lovina
Lovina is another great low-cost retirement destination and while it’s not got the best facilities on hand for healthcare, it does offer access to Singaraja, Bali’s second biggest city.
If you love snorkelling, dolphins and exploring the countryside, then Lovina is a solid option and it won’t break the bank.
Denpasar
Some people love cities and the funny thing is that Denpasar, Bali’s biggest city, is very affordable as most tourists don’t want to be in a city.
You will find that bars, restaurants, supermarkets, etc. are cheaper than almost anywhere else in the popular parts of the island.
It also has access to plenty of cultural attractions and healthcare.
Tabanan
This area is still a little bit off the beaten path and it balances creature comforts with living costs very well.
In a lot of ways, this slow-paced area in Bali is going to be the ideal place for a lot of retirees.
It’s not too far away from healthcare and other facilities when needed though.
Sidemen
Sidemen is like Ubud used to be, according to us and many other expats, but it’s less expensive and a bit more remote.
There are some amazing restaurants and facilities in the area though and the countryside here is perfect for long walks, etc.
However, you may need to travel a little if you need healthcare.
Padang Bai
If you want to be somewhere remote, Padang Bai will be ideal. You’re looking at a very low cost of living but at the price of being quite isolated.
It’s a good drive not just to healthcare facilities but also to the bars, restaurants and supermarkets that most expats frequent.
However, the area has some lovely beaches and access to the harbour means travelling around Indonesia can be very convenient from here.
FAQs
Where Do Most Expats Live In Bali?
The vast majority of expats in Bali will live in the three main beach resort towns of Sanur, Seminyak and Kuta. There are also a fair few expats in Ubud thanks to the welcoming locals and the art galleries, temples and yoga studios.
There are fewer expats in places like Nusa Dua, Jimbaran and Uluwatu even though all of these locations are very livable because they’re simply not quite as popular with visitors to Bali. However, you won’t be lonely for expat company if you want it in these locations.
You can also find a few expats in the more unusual locations of Amed, Lovina, Denpasar, Tabanan, Sidemen and Padang Bai. They all have plenty of modern amenities but they’re simply less explored. It’s worth noting that the lack of international standards of healthcare facilities in some of these locations will contribute to their middling popularity with expats.
Can An Australian Retiree Live In Bali?
Yes! Bali and Indonesia welcome applications for retirement visas as long as you meet the qualifying criteria for these visas you will be able to move to Bali and as long as you have enough money, you can enjoy the world-class restaurants, popular culinary scene, pristine beaches, comfortable lifestyle, world-class surf breaks, art shops, international luxury hotels, etc.
It is important to remember that there is no social safety net available in Bali and things like health, saving account balances matter as much as whether or not you own property here.
Everyone has their own Bali insight. Living here can be easy and it can be super challenging too. Because you cannot earn money here legally without a work permit, it’s certainly a super challenging economic environment for the retiree without enough savings or pension coming in.
Can You Live Off $1,000 A Month In Bali?
Yes, but you won’t be living in posh retirement communities or drinking tons of beer after hitting the perfect surf breaks on the beaches.
If you want an affordable cost of $1,000 a month, you will need a very laid-back lifestyle and ideally in an area where you won’t find many retirees as it’s less popular and hence cheaper.
We’d recommend a monthly income of at least $1,500 USD or $2,250 AUD a month from your retirement savings plan if you want a comfortable lifestyle that can take advantage of all the modern amenities and enjoy a few drinks, meals out, etc.
Final Thoughts On The Best Places To Retire In Bali
Bali is a great place to retire and we hope our list of the best places to retire in Bali has given you some insight into where you might want to live on the island in your golden years.
Please don’t rush into buying property abroad to facilitate your time here, you will find the property laws are complex and you may well be better off renting rather than buying.
We would strongly encourage you to talk to an accountant or financial advisor about navigating retirement realities before deciding which beach and resort area you want to live in, in Bali.
While the world-class surf breaks do come at an affordable cost for many retirees, others may find that their financial circumstances are better suited to other destinations and we don’t want you to run into trouble in paradises.
