Life in Bali: neighborhoods, documents, costs, and much more

• Unique move to Bali: atmosphere and adventure

• Advantages of moving to Bali: climate, prices, long-term stay, Russian-speaking community

• Setting up a bank account and obtaining a driver's license

• Life in Bali: living experience, expenses, and advantages

• Disadvantages of Bali: traffic, insects, lack of sidewalks and parks.

Moving to the island of Bali: a unique adventure and an unparalleled atmosphere

Moving to the island of Bali often attracts foreigners due to its beautiful landscapes, rich history, and atmosphere of freedom. It is considered not only a great vacation spot but also an ideal place for permanent residence.

However, before you take the plunge into Balinese life, you need to learn more about the relocation process, local culture and cost of living. Victoria Orlik, SEO-copywriter and SEO guru, shares her personal experience of moving to Bali.

Victoria: from HR manager in Moscow to life in Bali

Victoria explained that moving to Bali was a spontaneous decision for her. Previously, she worked as an IT HR manager in Moscow, but a few months ago she transitioned to full-time freelance work. She appreciated the new freedom she gained and decided that Bali was the perfect place to be near the ocean and enjoy the warm climate away from the office routine.

Life in Bali: a dream come true

The dream of living by the ocean, enjoying nature, and connecting with interesting people has become a reality for Victoria in Bali. She has increasingly embraced the idea of showing Russian-speaking people what life in Bali is really like, with all its pros and cons. After all, many are currently looking for a country to relocate to, and life in Bali could become their comfortable home.

On her blog, Victoria shares her experiences and helps people through the moving process. She offers support in getting a visa, renting scooters, finding accommodation, getting a driver's license, opening a bank account and other important issues. For Victoria, this is not just a blog, but an opportunity to help people find their new home.

Spontaneous move to Bali: a new chapter in life

The move to Bali was a completely spontaneous decision for Victoria. She had planned to return to Russia after spending the winter in Sri Lanka from January to March 2022, but after the events in February, she decided to cancel her tickets, and fate led her to Bali.

Life in Bali: a unique adventure and a comfortable home

Thus, moving to Bali can be an interesting and exciting adventure. For foreigners who dream of a unique lifestyle by the ocean, Bali offers ideal opportunities. If you are interested and want to learn more about life in Bali, it is recommended to visit Victoria Orlik's Instagram blog where she shares her experiences and helps people with relocating to Bali.

I chose Bali for many reasons:

Climate and Nature

I love the warmth of Asia, and having the ocean just 10 minutes from my home is priceless to me.

A big plus of Bali is the prices.

My acquaintances who lived in Bali told me about the cost of living and I was pleasantly surprised and pleased with the budget level.

Extended stay in Bali

You can extend your visa here every 2 months and stay as long as you want.

Russian-speaking community

You can hear Russian speech in any café or guesthouse.

Before moving to Bali, I had a few weeks that I used as follows:

• Ask friends living in Bali about their advantages, housing search, and cost of living.

• Watch the video to feel the atmosphere of the island.

• Study forums to choose a residential area, gather information on visa issues, and select insurance.

• Submit your visa documents and make sure they are correct.

• Book accommodation 2 days before departure through the Booking platform.

Documents required for moving to Bali:

1. A foreign passport with a validity of more than 6 months at the time of departure from the country of stay.

2. Return ticket from Indonesia (or ticket reservation).

3. Confirmation of hotel/guesthouse/villa reservation.

4. Certificate of full vaccination.

5. Insurance with coverage of $50,000.

There are several visa options for moving to Bali: a free visa, a visa on arrival (VoA), a social visa, a tourist visa, or a cultural visa with the possibility of extension. If you plan to stay in Bali for an extended period, you can apply for a temporary work permit (KITAS) or obtain a family visa through your employer.

“Finding housing turned out to be the most difficult process.”- On arrival, I had difficulties: my hotel reservation had not been confirmed and the Wi-Fi at the airport was not working. Thanks to a cab driver who helped me buy a SIM card, I spent two hours at night looking for a free room in a guesthouse in the center of Changgu. It turns out that after 10pm in Bali almost everything is closed, the streets are dark and scary. And the staff at the guesthouses are only open until 6pm. I ended up going on a real welcome-quest around Bali, but I did find a room for the night.

Setting up a bank account and obtaining a driver's license

During the next three weeks of my work in Bali, I was dealing with urgent matters. One of the most challenging tasks was setting up an account at Permata Bank. I also obtained a motorcycle license and learned to ride from scratch. It was quite a difficult period, as I had to immediately get into a working rhythm while everyday issues demanded a lot of attention. It was important to find many contacts of trustworthy people who could help resolve all these matters.

Searching for housing in Bali

When I first arrived in Bali, I had no idea how difficult it would be to find a great guesthouse or villa for long-term rental. By May, the demand for good accommodation on the island was already very high. There are several platforms where you can search for housing, such as Booking, Airbnb, and Agoda. Additionally, there are many Telegram chats and Facebook marketplaces. Networking works really well, as good housing is often passed from person to person. Before making a payment, I always visit the guesthouse in person to make sure the chosen place is really suitable. If you need to negotiate the price, you can message the owner directly via WhatsApp and pay via bank transfer. Indonesians are quite decent people, and the rental is formalized through a contract.

Real estate and rental prices

Real estate and rental prices have been steadily rising and will likely continue to rise in the near future. For example, during the quarantine period, rooms in guesthouses rated 7+ cost between $250 and $400 per month in Changgu and Seminyak, but now prices have risen to $550-$750 per month. In the center of Changgu, in Batu Bolong and Berawa, the price can go as high as $1000 per month. Villa rentals have always been more expensive because of the high level of comfort. The average rental price for a 3-bedroom villa, including cleaning, gardening and pool cleaning, ranges from $3000 to $3500 per month.

Real estate growth in Bali

Real estate in Bali is increasing in price by 15%-20% annually. I am currently in contact with companies that build villas on the island, so I know firsthand about the price range and quality of housing. For example, you can currently buy a 3-bedroom villa in Canggu for $180,000. Its rental yield is about 40% per year.

Acquiring real estate in Bali for foreigners

However, it is worth noting that it is not so easy for foreigners to buyreal estate in Indonesia. The only option available to foreigners is to establish a company on the island, which allows them to obtain licenses for construction and use. Therefore, many foreigners who do not have a business in Bali simply opt for a long-term lease agreement. Such an agreement allows them to rent a house or land for 25 years with the possibility of extending it up to 70 years and subleasing it for profit.

My experience of living in Bali turned out to be interesting and different from life in Moscow. Here you can feel comfort already at the level of an average salary in Russia. Of course, each person has their own expenses, but I can give you my own example. Every month I spend between 2000 and 2500 dollars. Most of my expenses are for rent, which costs from 600 to 800 dollars per room. I prefer to eat at cafes and restaurants, which costs me between $400 and $550. Other expenses include visas, insurance, travel, visits to spas and beauty salons, as well as sporting events and much more. In Moscow, I spent about the same amount, but there are significant differences. One of them is the fresh air in Bali, the ocean, the active lifestyle and the sunny weather. But most importantly, the people here are very friendly and cordial.

I wonder how to live in Bali for 10 years and not pay taxes?

A new visa has been introduced in Indonesia that allows Russians to open a bank account without a work visa. Currently, only PermataMe bank offers this, providing a multi-currency card that works in almost all Asian countries. The island has many ATMs and bank branches.

As for medical care, I only went to a private dental clinic where I had fillings done, and everything went great. According to friends who have lived in Bali for a long time, the medical services here are at an average level. For treating simple cases like ARVI, appendicitis, or food poisoning, there are no issues. However, in the case of serious illnesses, many prefer to fly to Malaysia, South Korea, or Turkey for treatment. But there are also positive examples: my friend got into an accident and broke his arm, but the surgery went well, and his arm has fully healed. The cost of the surgery was completely covered by insurance.

“The sunsets alone are worth coming here.”- This kind of life in Bali appeals to me for many reasons. First of all, the climate and nature. It is always warm here, with slight temperature fluctuations from +26 to +32 degrees near the ocean and from +15 to +22 degrees in the mountains. The island is covered with greenery, and admiring nature from all sides, traveling on a motorcycle, is very pleasant.