Planning a Bali Family Adventure on a Budget?
Travel budget Bali—is it just a fantasy, or totally doable for families? As a dad of two planning an 18-night trip to Bali from New Zealand, I set out to create a comfortable, fun, and affordable experience for our family of four. After hours of research, bookings, and number crunching, our total trip budget came in just under USD 5,000—flights and everything included. Here’s our full pre-trip budget and what we’re expecting!
Stat #1: According to Statista, over 1.4 million foreign tourists visited Bali in January–March 2024 alone — families are making up a growing share of that number.
Our previous post explains why we chose Bali as a family destination. You can also check out our Bali family itinerary and hotel price guide to see how we planned the trip.
Total Family Travel Budget for Bali (18 Nights, 4 People)
Here’s our full cost breakdown:
| Category | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| ✈️ Flights (Return, 4 pax) | $2,023.30 |
| 🏨 Accommodation (6 places) | $973.37 |
| 🍽 Meals | $1,080.00 |
| 🎯 Activities | $320.00 |
| 🚕 Transport | $323.00 |
| 📄 Visa/Levy/SIM | $210.00 |
| Total | $4,929.66 |
Flights – Christchurch to Bali (Return)
We booked return flights with Jetstar from Christchurch to Bali. We got a decent deal by booking early and flying during shoulder season.
Total Flight Cost: $2,023.30 (4 people)
Tip: Look for sales on Jetstar or AirAsia, and try to fly mid-week for better prices.
Accommodation – 6 Family-Friendly Stays
We carefully selected accommodations that are family-friendly, centrally located, and cost-effective. On average, we aimed to keep each night under USD 100.
| Area/Hotel | Nights | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Nyaman Guest House (Sanur) | 2 | 103 |
| Jambuluwuk Oceano / Cinta Cottage (Gili T) | 6 | 329 |
| Rumah Roda (Ubud) | 3 | 93 |
| Prime Plaza Hotel (Sanur) | 3 | 208 |
| Febri’s Hotel & Spa (Kuta) | 4 | 240 |
| Total | 18 | 973.37 |
Food Budget – Eating Local, Eating Well
We plan to eat at local warungs and food markets most days. Meals are cheap, fresh, and filling.
- Warung meals: $2–$5 per person
- Western cafés or beach clubs: $8–$15 per person
Daily Meal Budget: $60 × 18 days = $1,080.00
Activities – Fun on a Budget
We chose fun, kid-friendly activities that don’t cost a lot. All prices are for 4 people.
- Surfing Lesson (1 hour): $40
- Ayung River Rafting (Ubud): $90
- Waterbom Bali (Water Park): $100
- Gili T Snorkeling (Private Boat): $50
- Lombok Wildlife Park: $40
Total Activity Cost: $320.00
Stat #2: The average cost of a Bali resort holiday for a family of four is around $6,500–$8,000 for two weeks. We’re doing 18 nights for under $5,000.
Transport – Boats, Taxis & Transfers
We’re using fast boats and pre-booked taxis to get around. No scooters — we want to keep things safe and simple with kids.
- Airport → Sanur: $13
- Sanur → Padangbai: $30
- Padangbai → Gili T (Wahana): $72
- Lombok Public Boat (RT, 4 pax): $6
- Gili T → Padangbai (Eka Jaya): $100
- Padangbai → Ubud: $35
- Ubud ↔ Tegenungan Waterfall: $20
- Ubud ↔ Ayung Rafting Site: $15
- Sanur → Kuta: $11
- Kuta ↔ Seminyak Beach Club: $12
- Kuta → Airport: $9
Total Transport Cost: $323.00
Entry Costs, Tourist Levy & SIM Cards
We budgeted for visas, the new tourist tax, and prepaid SIM cards.
- Visa on Arrival (4 pax): $140
- Bali Tourist Levy (4 pax): $40
- Local SIM cards (2 phones): $30
Total Entry/Connectivity Cost: $210.00
Packing to Save Money
We’re bringing a few things from home to save on small costs:
- Refillable water bottles
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- First-aid kit
- Snorkel gear for kids
- Ponchos (for rainy season)
Final Thoughts – Is Bali Still Affordable for Families?
Yes — even in 2025, Bali is still a great place for family travel on a budget. Our full 18-night trip for 4 people is under $5,000 USD, and that includes flights, hotels, meals, fun activities, and everything else.
Analogy: Planning a Bali trip is like packing for a picnic — you bring what you need, skip the extras, and still enjoy the view.
We’ll update this post after our trip with real costs and how it went. Stay tuned!
Bonus Resource
Check out this Bali Budget Travel Guide by Lonely Planet for more tips and ideas!
What We’re Expecting
We know things might not go exactly as planned—exchange rates fluctuate, Grab prices surge, and we may splurge here and there—but having a clear travel budget Bali plan helps us stay grounded. With this guide, we hope other families see that exploring Bali doesn’t need to be a luxury experience to be meaningful and fun.
FAQ: Bali Family Budget Travel
Q: Is Bali cheap for a family holiday?
A: Yes — Bali is very budget-friendly, especially for families who don’t mind local food and mid-range hotels. You can get great value without cutting corners.
Q: How much spending money should we bring for Bali?
A: For a family of four, we recommend budgeting around $60–$80 USD per day for food, snacks, and local extras.
Q: What’s the biggest hidden cost in Bali?
A: Transport and unexpected entrance fees (waterfalls, clubs, or temples) can add up. Always keep some extra cash for flexibility.
Q: Should we book activities before we go?
A: Some things (like fast boats or rafting) are cheaper when booked ahead. But many activities, like massages or cooking classes, are easy to book once you’re there.
Thanks for reading! Got questions about Bali travel budgets? Drop a comment below 👇
What’s Coming Next?
We’re planning a few more posts, including:
- Post-trip actual budget breakdown
- Hotel reviews (with kids in mind)
- Top things to do in Bali with kids
- What we’d do differently next time
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