Every family asks the same question before moving to Bali, and almost no article answers it honestly: what does it actually cost, all in, for four people? Not the backpacker numbers, not the one-person-on-a-motorbike numbers. A real family budget, with school fees included, because that's the line item that changes everything.
At SO Living Bali, we sit down with relocating families every week and build exactly this kind of budget, so this is the same breakdown we'd walk you through on a call, with 2026 figures.
The short answer
A family of four living comfortably in Bali in 2026, with one child in an international school, typically spends between $3,000 and $5,500 USD a month all-in. Families who choose a local-plus or homeschool option instead of a top-tier international school, and who live in a quieter area like Sanur rather than Canggu, can comfortably land at the lower end of that range or below it. Families with two children at a premium IB or Green School-style institution, living in Canggu or Berawa, often land at the higher end or beyond it. School fees are usually the single biggest cost in that range, often bigger than rent and healthcare combined, so it's worth reading the breakdown below before you fix a budget in your head.
Housing: $900–$5000 a month
Villa rent is the most visible cost and the one families obsess over most, but it's rarely the one that breaks a budget. A comfortable three-bedroom family villa with a pool runs roughly $900 to $2000 a month in quieter, less central areas like Sanur or inland Umalas, and $1,500 to $5000 a month for an equivalent villa in prime Canggu or Berawa. Most long-stay leases are paid six to twelve months in advance, so budget for that upfront cash outlay separately from your monthly running costs.
School fees: the line item that changes everything
This is where family budgets in Bali genuinely diverge. Annual tuition for a single child ranges enormously depending on the school: Dyatmika School runs roughly $5,000 to $9,000 a year, Canggu Community School roughly $8,500 to $18,000 a year, and Green School Bali roughly $20,000 to $30,000 a year and up. On top of headline tuition, expect to add 20 to 30% for registration fees, building or capital levies, uniforms and transport, most of which are one-time or annual rather than monthly. We go through exactly which school fits which budget in our guide to the best international schools in Bali for expat kids.
Health insurance: $150–$500 a month for the family
International health insurance for a family of four typically runs $150 to $500 a month depending on the children's ages, your deductible, and whether you want coverage that includes medical evacuation and treatment outside Indonesia. This is not an optional line item: Bali's private hospitals are good for most needs, but serious cases are often referred to Singapore or Jakarta, and you want a policy that covers that before you need it, not after.
Everyday living: $700–$1,500 a month
Groceries, scooter fuel or car costs, electricity and water, phone and internet, and weekend activities for the kids typically add up to $700 to $1,500 a month for a family of four. Where you land in that range depends heavily on lifestyle: shopping at local markets and warungs versus imported-goods supermarkets makes a real difference, as does how often you eat out at Canggu-style cafés versus cooking at home.
Household staff: $150–$400 per role, per month
This surprises a lot of first-time families, but household staff in Bali is a real line item, not a luxury. A full-time nanny, driver or cleaner typically costs $150 to $400 a month per role, and most working parents in Bali employ at least one of these, especially with young children and no extended family nearby to help. Many families find that a part-time helper for cleaning plus school-run driving covers what they need without three separate full-time salaries.
What it adds up to
Putting it together: a family renting a mid-range villa, sending one child to a mid-tier international school, carrying a reasonable health insurance policy, living moderately, and employing part-time help lands around $3,000 to $4,000 a month. Add a second school-age child, a premium school like Green School or Canggu Community School's upper years, and a Canggu-area villa, and $5,500 a month or more is realistic. Families choosing Sanur or inland Umalas over Canggu, and a school like Dyatmika over Green School, can meaningfully undercut both ends of that range. It's also worth budgeting $2,000 to $4,000 a year separately for flights home, which families often forget until the first Christmas.
Get numbers specific to your family
Generic budgets are a useful starting point, but the number that actually matters is yours: how many kids, what ages, which schools you're considering, and which area you'd live in. SO Living Bali builds personalised family budgets for exactly this reason, based on real villa pricing and current school fees rather than averages pulled from a blog. Message our team on whatsapp and we'll put together a budget specific to your family, free, before you commit to anything.