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Living, buying & selling in Bali
Straight-talking guides for the expat community. Everything we wish we'd known before arriving.
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Tax in Indonesia: What an Expat in Bali Actually Pays in 2026
Past 183 days in any rolling 12 months you become an Indonesian tax resident, taxed on worldwide income at 5 to 35%. Thresholds, NPWP, filing dates: the practical picture.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Imported secondhand clothes in Bali: what is banned, what is not (2026)
Indonesia bans importing used clothing, not buying or reselling it locally. The text itself, the real penalties, the Tabanan case, and the exact line between imported bales and one person selling their own wardrobe.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Villa Staff Salaries in Bali in 2026: The Complete Pay Scale
Housekeeper, gardener, cook, security, villa manager: the pay ranges actually paid in Bali in 2026, the legal floor by regency and the true cost to the employer.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
What Size Air Conditioner (PK / BTU) Do You Need in Bali?
The room-by-room sizing table for every AC in a Bali home, what each PK really costs on your PLN meter, and new and secondhand prices recorded in September 2026.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
iPhone, MacBook and PC Repair in Bali: The 2026 Guide
There is no Apple Store in Indonesia, but two authorised service centres in Denpasar and some twenty workshops from Canggu to Ubud. Addresses, warranties, IMEI.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
How much does a hospital stay in Bali really cost without insurance in 2026?
No treatment without a payment guarantee, a USD 500 to 5,000 deposit at admission, a night from IDR 400,000 to 5 million depending on the hospital, a broken leg from a scooter crash beyond USD 20,000, evacuation up to USD 100,000: the real bills, hospital by hospital, public hospital included.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
How Much Does Daycare Cost in Bali in 2026? Real Fees in Canggu, Umalas, Sanur and Ubud
The fees recorded centre by centre on 8 September 2026, the billing structure that catches newcomers off guard, and the daycare-versus-nanny call, with the numbers behind it.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
How Much Does a Vet Cost in Bali in 2026? The Real Prices, Procedure by Procedure
Consultation at 178,000 IDR, spaying a dog at 1,516,000 IDR, an X-ray at 1,195,500 IDR: the prices Bali clinics actually publish, what a 220,000 IDR charity programme covers, and how to get a quote from the thirteen clinics that show no prices at all.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Renting out your villa short-term in Bali in 2026: NIB, KBLI and licence, what is actually required
Since 31 March 2026, any accommodation listed on Airbnb or Booking in Indonesia must hold a NIB. What a foreigner can and cannot hold, the PBG-SLF-NPWPD trio, the taxes and the penalties, with the official texts to back it up.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Choosing a visa agent in Bali without getting scammed: 8 checks before you pay
No visa agent is licensed by Indonesian immigration. Here is how to verify that a firm legally exists, tell the state fee apart from its own charges, spot the offers that expose you to five years in prison, and know where to complain.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Which health insurance should you choose to live in Bali in 2026? CFE, international, local or BPJS
International cover from 1,020 EUR/year, Indonesian insurance at 3 to 8M IDR/year, BPJS at Rp 35,000 to 150,000/month, France's CFE from 57 or 87 EUR/month: what each option really covers in Bali, the waiting periods, and the number-one gap in cover, medical evacuation, billed at 20,000 to more than 100,000 USD.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Can an expat buy a car in their own name in Bali? Yes, with a KITAP or a KITAS + SKTT
Police regulation Perpol 7/2021 recognises a foreigner as a vehicle owner if they hold a KITAP, or a KITAS together with an SKTT issued by the Disdukcapil (free of charge in Badung). The exact wording, the paperwork, 2026 prices, the balik nama transfer and why a nominee arrangement is a trap.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Hak Pakai, Hak Sewa, HGB: what a foreigner can actually own in Bali
Freehold is closed to foreigners and every nominee structure is void by operation of law. The three legal routes, their real terms and their hard caps, straight from the statutes.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Bali: How to Check Your Landlord Actually Owns the Land
BHUMI and Sentuh Tanahku never show an owner's name. The KTP-to-certificate check and a ~Rp 50,000 BPN pengecekan: the full method before you hand over money.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Leaving Bali: what to sell, what to cancel, what to ship
Your scooter is not getting on the boat: Indonesian customs bans vehicles from household removals. Selling up, ending the lease and the internet, shipping via Surabaya, closing your KITAS with an EPO — the verified rules and their official sources.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Internet in Bali in 2026: Fibre, Starlink and 4G — The Guide to Never Dropping Out
Fibre prices verified provider by provider, the new biometric rules for buying a SIM card, the real state of Starlink in Indonesia, and the anti-outage set-up the island's remote workers swear by.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Bali Rental Contracts: the 12 Clauses to Check Before You Sign
Deposit, sale clause, Indonesian version, the 10% tax on rent: the 12 clauses of a Bali lease decoded, with statute references and figures verified in August 2026.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Selling your scooter before you leave Bali: prices, papers, where to list
A common scooter fetches 9–14M IDR in Bali, 20–30% less if the name was never transferred. 2026 prices, balik nama, blokir STNK and where to list before you fly.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Which scooter should you buy in Bali? Scoopy, Vario, PCX, NMAX or ADV
New prices recorded at Denpasar dealers, used-market ranges, ground clearance, storage and how easily each one sells on: a practical comparison of the five scooters you see everywhere in Bali.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Negotiating your rent in Bali: the levers that actually work
Which levers really bring a Bali rent down, by how much, and when to pull them — with the discounts recorded in September 2026, what is never up for negotiation, and the point at which a low price becomes a scam signal.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Opening a bank account in Bali in 2026: which bank, which papers, how long?
One thing decides everything here, and it is your stay permit. What the regulation actually demands, what each bank publishes in black and white, the real fees, and what it costs to receive money from abroad.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Indonesian visa codes in 2026: C1, C2, E23, E28A, E31, E33 and E33G explained
Since 9 January 2024, Indonesia has replaced B211A, C312, C317 and C319 with alphanumeric codes, then trimmed its list from 133 to 110 indexes in June 2025. What each code allows, what it costs and what it requires, with the immigration department's official fees.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
SIM Cards in Bali in 2026: Where to Buy, Which Plan, at What Price
The same 25 GB plan costs 150,000 IDR at Telkomsel's official rate and 400,000 IDR at the airport counter. Dated prices, network by network, and the registration rule that catches new arrivals out.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
How much does electricity cost in Bali in 2026? PLN rates, tokens and what a villa really pays
Rp 1,444.70/kWh on a 1,300-2,200 VA meter, Rp 1,699.53 from 3,500 VA, rates frozen since January 2026. How prepaid tokens work, the street-lighting tax, and what a villa with a pool really pays each month.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Overstaying in Bali in 2026: 1,000,000 IDR a day, and what happens after 60 days?
Overstaying your visa in Indonesia costs 1,000,000 IDR a day (about 50 EUR) from day one, payable in full before you leave the country. From 60 days: detention, deportation at your expense and a ban on coming back. Where to pay, what the law says, and the 14-day rule to avoid it.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Bali's 150,000 IDR Tourist Tax (LoveBali) — Who Has to Pay, and Who Is Exempt?
150,000 IDR per person, babies included, once per trip — Bali's tourist levy has applied to every foreign visitor since 14 February 2024. The 7 exempt categories, the request golden-visa holders must file 5 days ahead, how to pay, and what happens if you don't.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Bali Villa Rental Scams: 101 Victims in 2025, None Refunded
Stolen photos, a price too good to be true, a transfer demanded before any viewing: the playbook is documented. Here are the free checks to run before you pay.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Rabies in Bali 2026: The Real Numbers and What to Do If You Are Bitten
Bali logged 66,760 animal bites and 16 human deaths in 2025. The 15-minute wash, the two vaccination schedules running side by side, the real prices, and where to go the same day.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
How Much Does a Nanny Cost in Bali in 2026? Live-in, Live-out and Vetting
From 3.5 to 12 million IDR a month depending on who you ask: what a nanny in Bali really costs, why the published figures diverge so wildly, and how to vet a candidate.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Driving Licence in Bali: International Permit or Indonesian SIM?
An IDP at €7.25 or an Indonesian SIM at Rp 100,000? What your length of stay decides, the fines that actually apply, and the motorbike category trap.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
What Is Your Used Tech Worth in Bali? The 2026 Resale Grid
iPhone at -20%, Galaxy S at -66%, a MacBook M1 that nearly matches new: the July 2026 resale grid, the official duties, and how to set your own price.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Renting or buying a scooter in Bali: when does buying start paying off?
Rentals run 700,000 to 1,400,000 IDR a month, a used scooter 9 to 14 million: the full break-even calculation, balik nama fees and the KITAS lock included.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Selling Furniture in Bali: What It's Worth, Where to Sell, How Long It Takes
Across 57 second-hand furniture listings in Bali, the median discount runs 47% to 49%. What you will really get back, on which channel, and what delivery costs.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Where to buy furniture in Bali in 2026: an area-by-area guide
Kerobokan for showrooms, Denpasar for local prices, Ubud for wood: where to buy furniture in Bali in 2026, with real price ranges for each market segment.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
What Does a Tukang Cost in Bali in 2026? Day Rates, Fixed Prices and Quotes
150,000 to 250,000 IDR a day hiring direct in south Bali, 650,000 to 900,000 through a company: harian or borongan, how AHSP quotes work, and how to dodge the bule price.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Buying and Selling Secondhand in Bali: The Safe Meetup Checklist
Public place, SIM test for the IMEI, frame number against STNK and BPKB, Bank Indonesia's 3D note check, 110 if it goes wrong: the Bali meetup checklist.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
IMEI Registration in Indonesia: 60 Days to Register, 90 Before the Cut-Off
A foreign phone gets 90 days of Indonesian network access, full stop. You have 60 days to register its IMEI with customs, and 5 to keep the USD 500 allowance.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Marketplace scams in Bali: buyer traps, seller traps, and where to report
Fake transfer screenshots, overpayment refunds, stolen SMS codes, deposits before viewing: the scams documented on both sides — and where to report once the money is gone.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Furnishing a Bali Villa on a Budget: Secondhand, Custom-Made and Traps to Avoid
Secondhand between expats, new local pieces and custom workshops: the complete guide to furnishing a Bali villa on a budget — 2026 price benchmarks and tropical-wood traps to avoid.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
International Schools in Bali: the Complete 2026 Map (official fees included)
2026 fees for Bali's international schools, from official schedules: comparison table, real first-year cost, curricula (IB, Cambridge, Australian) and waitlists.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
KITAS and long-stay visas in Bali: the 2026 guide to choosing the right status
Work, investor, retirement, E33G remote worker, Second Home, spouse KITAS: every long-stay status to live in Bali in 2026, with a comparison table and a decision tree.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Bringing Your Dog or Cat to Bali: The Real 2026 Process (and Why to Start 6 Months Ahead)
No direct import, quarantine in Jakarta, 4 to 6 months of prep and USD 2,500 to 6,500: the real process for bringing your dog or cat to Bali, plus the adoption alternative.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Renting in Bali by the year: the real 2026 prices, area by area
What does a home in Bali really cost in 2026? Prices by area, the rule of the year-upfront annual lease, and the traps of the real budget.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
STNK, BPKB, Annual Tax: Your Vehicle Papers in Bali (2026 Guide)
STNK, BPKB, balik nama, annual SAMSAT tax and license: everything you need to know about your vehicle papers in Bali in 2026, with the real costs and the deadlines you can't afford to miss.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Living in Bali in 2026: the ultimate expat guide
The complete guide to settling in, living and thriving in Bali in 2026. Visa, budget by profile, neighbourhoods, healthcare, internet, transport - everything you need to know, backed by real numbers.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Moving to Bali: the complete expat checklist
Visa, housing, healthcare, banking, scooter — the honest roadmap for landing in Bali hassle-free and starting on the right foot.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
The 10 micro-neighbourhoods of Canggu: where to drop your bags
Berawa, Echo Beach, Pererenan, Batu Bolong… Canggu isn't one neighbourhood but a mosaic. The guide to picking the right one for the way you live.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Buying a Used Scooter in Bali: Every Trap to Avoid
Fake papers, rolled-back odometers, disguised rent-to-own deals... The complete guide to buying your scooter with peace of mind and at a fair price.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Bali Visa Guide 2026: What to Know Before You Apply
The go-to visa for expats in Bali. Process, sponsor, costs, extensions: the full, up-to-date rundown.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Sell Your Listings Fast: 5 Tips That Actually Work
Good photos, the right price, the right timing: that's what separates a listing that just sits there from a sale in 48 hours.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
The 12 best café-coworking spots in Bali to get work done in 2026
WiFi that holds, coffee that wakes you up, a vibe that gets you going. Our verified pick to make every work session count.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Cost of Living in Bali in 2026: A Precise Guide by Profile
Backpacker, digital nomad, expat family: what it really costs to live in Bali. Real numbers, no marketing.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
Used Surfboards in Bali: How to Buy One Without Getting Burned
Volume, condition, hidden water damage: the guide to buying your used surfboard in Bali knowing the real questions to ask.
Lokalfinds Editorial Team
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