As an indicative guide, a comfortable retirement in Bali, Indonesia costs roughly £1,900 ($2,413) a month for a couple — about £22,800 ($28,956) a year, or ≈ Rp37,050,000/month locally. A modest budget is nearer £1,200 ($1,524); a premium one nearer £3,000 ($3,810).
Against the same comfortable standard at home — roughly £3,000/month for a couple in the UK, or $4,191/month in the US — Bali, Indonesia works out about 37% less than the UK and about 42% less than the US. Those home-country anchors are indicative too: what matters is the gap, not the decimal places, and the gap is what decides whether a pension that feels tight at home stretches comfortably abroad.
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Roughly where a comfortable £1,900/month goes:
Indicative estimates for a couple, general guidance only — real costs vary by location, lifestyle and exchange rates.
Tropical, spiritual and famously affordable, with a huge digital-nomad and retiree scene around Ubud, Canggu and Sanur.
Foreigners can't own freehold land, but can hold property via leasehold or the 'Hak Pakai' right-to-use. As a general guide only — always confirm the current rules with a qualified local lawyer. Our free ownership checker and the Overseas Property Playbook walk through how ownership works step by step.
The KITAS and second-home visa routes are the common paths for longer stays. Visa rules change often, so treat this as a starting point and verify the latest requirements before you plan.
Sanur for a calm, flat, walkable beach town popular with retirees, Ubud for a green cultural base inland, Seminyak and Canggu for lively well-serviced coastal living, and Uluwatu for clifftop scenery.
Southern Bali has decent private clinics and hospitals (such as BIMC and Siloam) for routine and moderate care, but serious emergencies are often referred to Singapore, so comprehensive international insurance is strongly advised; everyday consultations are inexpensive and usually paid out of pocket.
Indonesian tax residents (183+ days) are taxed on worldwide income on a progressive scale up to 35%, with relief available under the UK-Indonesia double-tax treaty; the retirement KITAS and Second Home visas do not by themselves exempt a foreign pension, so take advice on residency and what you remit.
Tropical and warm all year (high 20s to low 30s C); the dry season from roughly April to October is the best time, with a humid, wetter monsoon from November to March. Very friendly and generally safe; English is widely spoken in tourist and expat areas, but traffic is chaotic and driving is on the left, so many retirees prefer to hire a driver.
Foreigners cannot own freehold land, so buying is via long leasehold (Hak Sewa, commonly 25-30 years) or a Hak Pakai right-to-use title (which needs a KITAS); budget notary and legal fees of around 1%, plus a 5% acquisition duty (BPHTB) on a Hak Pakai transfer, and always use an independent lawyer to check title.
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