Bali cost-of-living tiers: from Canggu and Seminyak to budget Amed
A December 2023 Coconuts feature ranks seven Bali areas by relative living costs, putting Canggu and Seminyak in the top tier and Amed as the budget choice.
By Mukmin John
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· 4 min read
Denpasar — A cost-of-living ranking published by Coconuts on December 29, 2023 compares seven Bali locations using relative price tiers, placing Canggu and Seminyak among the most expensive areas and Amed as the budget option.
The feature uses a simple dollar-sign scale rather than a defined formula, and describes typical accommodation and daily expenses in broad terms. It does not set out a standard monthly budget, household size, exchange-rate assumption or spending profile for an expatriate or long-stay visitor.
How the seven locations are ranked
According to Coconuts, Canggu is rated in the highest cost tier and assigned four dollar signs. The article notes that basic studios were starting around US$500 per month at the time of publication, and describes groceries and meals in cafes and restaurants as relatively costly for Bali. It links higher prices to the area’s concentration of cafes, coworking spaces, boutiques and its popularity with digital nomads.
Seminyak is also given four dollar signs and described as an upscale tourism and hospitality district. The article says a “decent villa” could exceed about US$1,000 per month, while pointing out that cheaper homestays and local eateries are available away from the main tourist strips.
Legian and Ubud are placed in a mid-range tier with two dollar signs. Coconuts presents Legian as a cheaper alternative to Seminyak, highlighting guesthouses, local markets and warungs. Ubud is described as offering homestays below roughly US$300 per month, alongside lower-cost meals at local establishments.
Sanur and Uluwatu are likewise assigned two dollar signs. Sanur is associated with guesthouses, budget-friendly resorts, markets and a quieter beach environment than the west coast. Uluwatu is described as having guesthouses around US$200 per night, a figure based on short stays that is not directly comparable with the monthly rent references used for several other areas.
Amed receives one dollar sign and is characterised as the most budget-friendly of the seven. Coconuts reports that basic bungalows were starting around US$100 per month, with relatively inexpensive local seafood, while noting that the area has fewer trendy cafes and nightlife venues than south Bali.
Accommodation reference points from the December 29, 2023 article:
- Canggu studios: around US$500 per month.
- Seminyak villas: above roughly US$1,000 per month for a “decent villa.”
- Ubud homestays: below about US$300 per month.
- Uluwatu guesthouses: around US$200 per night.
- Amed bungalows: around US$100 per month.
How later guides compare
More recent Bali accommodation guides broadly support the picture of Canggu and Seminyak as higher-cost areas and Amed as a lower-cost option, while using different methods and price ranges. A 2026 budget guide by a Bali property site, for example, places Berawa, Batu Bolong and Seminyak in its highest cost tier, with typical one-bedroom villas starting from about IDR 15–18 million per month, and categorises Ubud outskirts as among the lowest-cost villa areas.
Another 2026 travel guide describes Amed and Lovina as suitable for “off‑grid” travellers, listing budget bungalows and mid-range stays at lower nightly rates than Canggu or Seminyak.
What the Coconuts ranking does—and does not—show
The Coconuts list is most useful as a relative comparison of how one media outlet viewed housing, dining and amenities across the seven locations at the end of 2023. It does not provide separate totals for rent, food, transport, utilities, healthcare, visas or leisure, and therefore does not support calculating a comprehensive monthly Bali budget on its own.
The article suggests using shoulder seasons such as April–May and September–October for potentially lower accommodation rates and smaller crowds, and mentions motorbike or scooter rentals and bargaining in local markets as ways to manage costs. It does not give detailed transport prices or safety guidance, and later guides stress that actual costs depend heavily on accommodation type, length of stay and lifestyle.
All sources emphasise that prices vary substantially within each area. A monthly room, a private villa, a short-stay guesthouse and a nightly hotel booking are different products, and none of the guides claim their figures are typical for every visitor. For planning purposes in August 2025, the Coconuts ranking and newer cost-of-living guides for 2026 should be treated as indicative ranges rather than fixed or official tariffs.