2025 Bali Family Holiday Cost: Our Honest 17-Day Breakdown ($5,666)

Are you wondering what the real Bali family holiday cost is for a family of four? Before our trip, we spent hours planning our Bali family trip budget, hoping to keep our 17-night adventure under $5,000.

Now that we’re back, it’s time to share the honest, nitty-gritty numbers. To give you a true “apples-to-apples” comparison, we’ve recalculated our entire actual spending using the exact same NZD-to-USD exchange rate we used for our pre-trip plan. This removes any confusion from currency fluctuations and shows the real differences in our spending.

Our final, corrected total spend was $5,571 USD.

So, what is the true cost of a Bali trip for a family? Let’s dive into our complete, recalculated breakdown.

This table shows a true 1:1 comparison of our budget versus our actual spending. We used a single exchange rate for every single calculation to ensure perfect accuracy with your latest data.

Category	Pre-Trip Plan (USD)	Actual Spend (USD)	Difference (USD)
✈️ Flights	$2,023	$2,091	+$68
🏨 Accommodation	$973	$985	+$12
🍽️ Food & Drinks	$1,080	$1,235	+$155
🎯 Activities	$320	$231	-$89
🚕 Transport	$323	$330	+$7
📄 Essential Fees	$210	$197	-$13
🛍️ Shopping & Misc.	(Not Budgeted)	$286	+$286
Layover Costs	(Not Budgeted)	$216	+$216
Grand Total	$4,929	$5,571	+$642

Overall, we went over our initial budget by $642. For a 17-day Bali itinerary cost, we still feel this was incredible value for money, and now we know exactly where every dollar went.

Table of Contents

Here’s where our money actually went, with all figures converted at a consistent rate for total clarity.

Flights: $2,091

Our flight costs increased by exactly NZD 114.91 and not a cent more. this was for a single, practical reason: we bout one extra checked bag 68 USD.

Accommodation (17 Nights): $985

This was a massive win for our budget! Our final accommodation spend was $985 only $12 over our initial plan. For 17 nights, this works out to an incredible average of just $57.94 per night for a family of four. Our strategy of mixing comfortable resorts with charming guesthouses paid off perfectly. We learned that a family-friendly stay in Gili Trawangan is a fantastic way to get value without sacrificing fun.

Here are our full reviews of the places we stayed:

Food & Drinks (17 Days): $1,053

Amazingly, we came in under budget on food! We spent an average of just $62 per day to feed our family of four.

How did we do it? Eating locally is the #1 secret to managing the cost of food in Bali. We ate at local restaurants called warungs, and the warung food prices are incredibly low. It’s the best way for eating cheap in Bali without ever feeling like you’re missing out.

A family dinner that would cost a fortune back home fed us for an entire day!

Restaurant Sanur: Warung Kecil Nasi Campur

Transport: $330

We absolutely nailed this part of our budget! We spent $330 coming in only $7 over our initial plan. The biggest single cost was the Gili fast boat, but by relying on the affordable Grab app for most other trips, we kept this category almost perfectly on track.

Activities: $231

We did a great job managing our activity budget, coming in $89 under budget! Our biggest splurge was Waterbom Park in Kuta, and we also loved our family surfing lesson in Kuta. By balancing these with free fun like beach days, we saved a good amount here.

Essential Fees (Visa, Levy, SIM): $197

Another win for the budget! We came in $13 under our estimate here. This $197 covered our e-VOA (Visa on Arrival), the new Bali tourist levy, and local SIM cards. You can pay the tourist levy online before your trip at the official Love Bali government website.

Shopping & Miscellaneous: $286

This unbudgeted category includes all our souvenir shopping ($256) and practical cost like loundry ($30). It’s easy to see how bringing home gifts and memories adds up, but it’s a fun and expected part of any family trip!

Australia Layover: $216

This was a completely optional and unbudgeted “add-on” to our trip. We spent $216 during our 7-hour layover in Melbourne, which covered a meal and transport into the city for a quick taste of another country. It was a fantastic bonus experience for the kids.

7 Must-Know Tips to Reduce Your Bali Family Holiday Cost

Based on our experience, here are our top tips for planning an affordable family holiday in Bali.

1. Travel in the Shoulder Season

We traveled in May, which is a “shoulder season.” The weather was beautiful, crowds were smaller, and prices for flights and hotels were lower than in the peak months of July and August.

2. Eat Like a Local

Avoid tourist-trap restaurants. Head to local warungs instead. The food is more authentic, delicious, and a fraction of the price.

3. Use Ride-Sharing Apps & Private Drivers

Download Grab or Gojek. For longer day trips, hiring a private driver is a great option. The typical private driver Bali cost is around $40-50 USD for a full 8-10 hour day.

4. Mix Your Accommodation

You don’t have to stay in a fancy resort the entire time. Mix it up! Stay a few nights in a luxury spot, then balance it with a stay in a clean, friendly, and much cheaper guesthouse.

5. Pre-Book Your Fast Boat

If you plan on visiting the Gili or Nusa Islands, book your fast boat tickets online in advance. You can often find better deals than booking last-minute at the port.

6. Bargain with a Smile

When shopping at local markets, bargaining is expected. But always do it respectfully and with a smile. Start by offering about half the asking price and meet somewhere in the middle.

7. Enjoy the Free Things

Bali is full of amazing free activities. Spend days at the beach, watch the sunset, and explore rice paddies. These simple moments are often the most memorable.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Here are answers to some common questions about planning a family trip to Bali.

1. How much money do I need per day in Bali for a family?

Our total trip cost averaged $328 per day(including flights). For on-the-ground spending(excluding flights), we spent $205 per day. We’d recommend a mid-range family budget for $120 – $170 per day to be very comfortable.

2. Is Bali still cheap for a family holiday?

Absolutely. While it’s not as cheap as a decade ago, the Bali family holiday cost offers incredible value compared to most Western destinations. The affordability of food, transport, and activities means your travel fund stretches much further here.

3. What is the most expensive part of a Bali family trip?

For most international travelers, flights will be the single biggest expense. After that, accommodation is the next largest cost. A specific high-cost item can be the fast boat transfers to outer islands like the Gilis.

4. What’s the best way to handle money in Bali?

Use a mix of cash and card. You’ll need Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) cash for small shops and markets. For withdrawing money in Bali, use debit cards at reputable bank ATMs. For larger expenses, a travel-specific card is perfect—we found that using a Wise card in Bali saved us a lot on conversion fees.

5. How much is a meal in Bali for a family?

A meal for a family of four at a local warung can cost as little as 10-15 USD total. At a mid-range restaurant with a mix of local and Western dishes, you can expect to pay 25-40 USD.

The Final Verdict: Was It Worth It?

Yes, a thousand times yes!

Even though we went slightly over our initial budget, our 17-day trip for $5,571 was worth every cent. The experiences we shared as a family were priceless.

The most eye-opening part? Our Bali adventure was actually more economical than staying home for three weeks! This journey proved that a life-changing overseas trip is more attainable than you think. We’re already saving for our next adventure.

Do you have any questions about the real Bali family holiday cost? Drop a comment below—we’d love to help

2025 Bali Family Holiday Cost: Our Honest 17-Day Breakdown ($5,666)