How much should you budget for a Bali Honeymoon?
After helping countless couples plan their dream honeymoon in Bali, through our tailored honeymoon packages and custom planning services, we’ve developed a clear picture of what a Bali honeymoon actually costs. In this article, we break down the typical costs you can expect, highlight what makes Bali such great value, and share tips to help you make the most of your budget—whether it’s modest or luxurious.
Bali offers great value for money
Bali continues to top honeymoon destination lists for good reason. It blends tropical beauty, romantic experiences, and high-end hospitality at prices far below what you’d pay in places like the Maldives or Hawaii. While costs can add up depending on your travel style, Bali offers excellent value for money across the board.
From jungle resorts in Ubud to beachfront villas in Seminyak, you can tailor your experience to match your budget without compromising on the magic. In this article, we’ll share some tips on how! With world-class spas, private pools, and stunning sunsets everywhere you turn, even mid-range stays can feel like five-star escapes.
Stay away from the crowds
The most expensive regions of Bali without a doubt are the cliff side surf town Uluwatu with extremely high end resorts and villas on the south cliffs (famously referred to as Indonesia’s Billionaire Row), Bustling trendy beach town Seminyak, and the resorts around Ubud. Nusa Dua features large beachfront resorts, mostly popular with families, and these are on the higher end of the price range (with some cheaper beachfront options too). Lately the surf town and Digital Nomad capital Canggu is getting much more expensive as well.
We love off the beaten path regions, not just because prices there are lower, but also because your experience might be more authentic. The north-east Bali town of Amed is a great choice for those who love snorkeling and diving. Prices in North Bali’s Lovina are much lower, and you can swim with dolphins there! Sanur is a more affordable region in the popular south of Bali. Kuta as well, but this region doesn’t really check the honeymoon vibes (it mostly attracts a drunk party crowd). While Sidemen and Munduk are off the beaten path as well, the hotel and restaurant options are quite limited making these regions still quite expensive.
Definitely check our article with great honeymoon hotels under 150$ per night for some hotel options that we love in different regions of Bali, and keep reading for tips on how to keep your honeymoon within budget!
Avoid July and August
Most couples fly to Bali straight after their honeymoon. But you don’t have to. Picking the right month can save you a lot. Even our own honeymoon packages are actually 20% cheaper during low season!
July and August are the most expensive months in Bali. The week around Christmas and New Years is also considered high season. We therefore believe the best months to visit Bali are April, May and June, or September and October.
If you don’t mind the rainy season, you could also visit between November and March. While it generally only rains a short time every day, we’ve had some weeks in the recent years where it didn’t stop raining at all. While generally rainy season is still alright to visit, it’s difficult to predict ahead of time!
Another benefit of the lower season is that Bali is quite a bit more pleasant to visit. The popular tourist spots will be less crowded, and getting around the island is much smoother (traffic can get really bad in Bali!).
Hotels from $30 to $2000 per night
The price range for hotels in Bali is extreme. Staying in a private pool villa at the high-end Four Seasons in Ubud’s jungle or the cliffside Bulgari resort with private beach in Uluwatu can easily cost over $2000 US Dollar per night in high season. Meanwhile, you can have a super authentic and unforgettable experience staying in a local family-run guesthouse in the town of Ubud for $30 per night.
- $1000+ per night allows you to stay in the highest end hotels in the most popular spots of Bali. Often couples that choose to stay in such hotel mix it up with lower-budget hotels during the rest of their stay. Usually when couples arrive in Bali, they are jet lagged after a long flight and need some time to get used to the tropical climate. Consider splurging on your first stay, to enjoy the rest of your honeymoon well rested.
- $300 per night gets you a private pool villa in a highly rated 4 or 5-star hotel in the jungle surrounding Ubud if you book well in advance, like the Kayon Resort. It can also get you a pretty nice suite in a beachfront hotel in Seminyak like The Oberoi or The Seminyak, but the ocean-facing rooms or the ones with private pool will likely surpass this budget.
- $100 to $150 per night can still get you really beautiful, unique and highly rated accommodations all over Bali, but you will likely have to compromise a little bit. Maybe not directly on the beach, in a region that is a bit off the beaten path, or a 3 or 4-star hotel instead of a 5-star hotel. We are curating a list of great affordable honeymoon hotels that we love (we’ve stayed at most of them!).
- $30 to $50 per night allows you to stay in local guest houses in most regions of Bali. Honestly, some of the best experiences we had in Bali were in such places. Especially in the center of Ubud you’ll find a lot of these. Often they are locally run, and you really get a better understanding of the Balinese culture than you would in a large hotel. For a budget of around 50$ per night, we also suggest you to look at more off-the-beaten-path regions like Candidasa, Amed and Lovina.
Activities, Beach Clubs, Temples and Massages
Most people don’t just come to Bali to enjoy their hotel. There is soo much to see, and we suggest you go and explore the beauty of Bali.
Tourist sights are cheap, especially compared to elsewhere in the world. Visiting a temple or waterfall usually costs just a few dollars, which goes to the local community that maintains the sight.
If you’d like to experience some adventure, think a sunrise hike, rafting or ATV riding with a highly rated operator, you’ll likely spend around $150 for the two of you including transfer from your hotel. In most cases a simple local meal will already be included.
Beach Clubs get expensive very quickly, especially if you would like some day beds to actually relax. While some offer cheap entrance without day beds, if you would like to sit or lay down expect to pay a minimum spend fee, averaging around $180 for two people. Fortunately you can use this towards food and beverages. We actually quite like this, because the damage is already done on entry and you can now order food and drinks guilt-free ;-).
Massages in hotels are usually expensive, up to $180 for a 90-minute couple massage. A local massage salon in tourist areas will likely only charge $15 per person per hour. This is a big difference, but in high-end hotels you also pay for the convenience, experience and beautiful surroundings. There are some great affordable sauna’s and hot springs in Bali that are worth visiting.
Fine dining or Nasi Goreng?
Just like with hotels, the range of dining options is enormous. You can eat great local Indonesian food like nasi goreng, noodles or the Balinese Ayam Betutu chicked dish in a simple family-run Warung for around $3, while fine dining at places like The Cave in Uluwatu will cost over $500.
Restaurants in hotels are often quite a bit more expensive compared with eating out in restaurants outside of those hotels. A simple casual Western meal with a drink in a touristy area costs around $12 per person on average.
Alcohol is quite expensive in Bali, due to high import taxes. International wine quickly gets very costly, but fortunately there are local alternatives like Sababay and Two Islands that are more affordable. A local Bintang beer might cost $2 in a casual restaurant, but might be over $6 in a beach bar or nightclub (and in some clubs you can only buy expensive imported beers!). Expect to pay around $10-$15 for a cocktail in most places.
The cost of transport
Bali does not have reliable public transport, so you’ll likely rely on private drivers to get you around. In most areas in the south of Bali you can now rely on ride haul services like Grab and Go-Jek, which work similar to Uber. A 30-minute ride with such apps will likely cost you around $10. A private driver for a day will cost around $75 including tips, parking fees and fuel.
Fast Ferries to the Gili Islands are not cheap. There’s some questionable operators with some shocking Google Maps reviews. We trust Ekajaya and Bluewater Express, but they do charge a premium. Expect around $150 for two people return.
Don’t forget the Tax and Services!
Many restaurants advertise net prices, which do not include tax and services yet. Often, 11% tax and 10% service for the staff will be added to the bill. This mostly happens in more international and high-end places, but the practise is getting more wide-spread.
Tipping originally was not a thing in Bali, but many years of exposure to international tourism have made it more common. You are not expected to tip additionally in places that charge a service fee already. Otherwise, tips are never expected, but always appreciated. The average Indonesian salary is low, and tips are a great way to give back to the local community 😊.
Example: 10 Night Honeymoon under $5000
We’ve designed many itineraries for couples on a honeymoon. While every budget is different, below is a “typical” itinerary that is quite common. Do note that it is very easy to deviate from this example, we’ve worked with couples that spent way more, as well as couples who managed on half of the budget displayed below. It’s just an example to give you a rough idea!
3 Nights Seminyak
- $1,050 - 3 Nights in 5-star beachfront hotel
Our couple spends the first 3 nights in a nice room in a luxury 5-star beachfront hotel in Seminyak to start their honeymoon in style and get rid of their jetlag. - $20 - Airport Transfer
The couple found a driver at the airport to take them to their hotel. - $120 - Couple Massage in the hotel
While cheaper massage options are available in Seminyak town, the couple prefered the convenience of their hotel for a 90-minute massage on the first day of their honeymoon. - $80 - Private Surf Lesson for two
On their second full day, the couple booked a morning private surf lesson on Seminyak beach. - $180 - Sun Beds at a beach club
After the surf lesson, they enjoyed a beach club until past sunset. Fortunately the minimum spent could be used for food and drinks, so the 180$ actually paid for two meals. - $100 - Nightlife in Seminyak
After the Beach Club, the couple visited the La Favella Night Club, with entrance fee and some cocktails (they may have lost count). On the way back to the hotel they hauled a taxi on the streets. - $200 - Lunch and dinners in Seminyak
Seminyak is an expensive region, and the couple had dinner in the hotel the first night. The other day they had two meals in restaurants around town.
5 Nights Ubud
- $600 - 5 Nights in 3-star Ubud Hotel
After the spectacular stay in Seminyak, the couple decided to book a slightly less luxurious hotel in Ubud, as they planned to spend less time in the hotel and more for activities. They still have a nice room in a hotel with public pool overlooking the jungle, in walking distance of Ubud town. - $30 - Taxi from Seminyak to Ubud
They arranged a taxi through their hotel. Using an app like Grab would have been a little cheaper. - $100 - Ubud Day Trip
A private driver took the couple to visit the rice fields at Tegellalang, the Tirta Empul temple and a Sayan House for sunset cocktails. - $60 - Day in Ubud Town
The couple walked around town, visited the Monkey Forest, ARMA Museum and a Kecak Fire Dance performance in the Ubud Palace. All activities were fairly cheap. - $40 - Another massage for 2
This time, they went for a local massage in town. Much cheaper than the one in the hotel! - $150 - Rafting Trip
The couple went rafting on Ayung River, with a local lunch included afterwards. Transport was provided by the rafting company and already included in the price. - $350 - Fine Dining
On their last night in Ubud, the couple splurged on a fine dining experience at the Michelin-level Locavore NXT. Price includes taxi to & from. - $200 - All other meals
The couple managed to keep all other lunch & dinner expenses quite limited, as they ate in quite a few local Balinese restaurants and casual places in town, mixed with a few dinners in their hotel.
2 Nights Uluwatu
- $900 - 2 Nights in 5-star Private Pool Villa
The couple decided to get the most out of their last two nights in Bali. They stayed at the Anantara Resort on Uluwatu’s cliffs, in a ocean-facing suite with private pool from which they could see the sunset! - $35 - Taxi from Ubud to Uluwatu
Again, the taxi was arranged by their hotel. - $20 - Surf Boards
After the lesson in Seminyak, they decided to conquer the waves on their own this time. Much cheaper! While Uluwatu’s waves can get crazy, the waves at Padang Padang Beach, walking distance from the hotel, were mellow enough. - $40 - Istana Sauna
As their flight left early in the evening, the couple spent their last afternoon in the Istana Spa with sauna complex overlooking the Indian Ocean. Surprisingly cheap! - $75 - Taxi last day
Considering they had luggage and went to the Spa, they booked a driver for the day to take them from the hotel to the Spa and to the airport afterwards. - $150 - Uluwatu meals
To get the most out of their last stay, the couple enjoyed most meals in the hotel restaurant overlooking the ocean. - $250 - Small expenses during the 10 days
The couple had some coffees, gave some tips, and bought some souvenirs across Bali. They also bought some mosquito spray and sarong towels on the beach.
Total: $4,800
Again, this is just an example - but it should give a rough indication what to expect. Can you have an amazing time for half of this budget? Definitely! Is it possible to spend more? Very easy, just add a romantic yacht trip, upgrade to a 5-star hotel in Ubud and maybe organize a surprise helicopter trip for your partner on the last day, plus another fine dining in Uluwatu, and you’ll easily surpass 10K USD.
Why not let us take care of your honeymoon?
While organizing your own honeymoon is definitely the more economical option, you may not want to spend half the time coordinating and planning - and you have a wedding to organize too! We know Bali inside out, are based here and have a local team of travel planners ready to assist whenever needed. As a boutique travel agency we help on average 5 couples every month with their honeymoon, taking care of everything from the moment they land. Check out our honeymoon packages and custom planning services for more details!
We are Olivia & Dirk
Hi! We have put together this guide with a lot of care, based on our own experiences. As a couple, we have lived in Bali for the past 5 years, and we fell in love with the island. We have visited every corner of Bali, especially the romantic places ;-). While our articles do contain affiliate links, you can trust us to recommend only the experiences that we love.
We can help make your honeymoon perfect:
🧡 Check our Bali honeymoon packages for a stress-free romantic honeymoon.
🧡 Let us design a personalized custom honeymoon itinerary based on your interests.
🧡 Book unique romantic experiences with us.