Living and Working in Bali in 2025: Your Top 10 Questions Answered
For the past few years, our team at Bali Solve has helped countless people from around the world make this beautiful island their home. As one of Bali’s premier consulting agencies, we've noticed the same questions coming up again and again. So, here are the top 10 things people ask us about living and working in Bali - with fresh answers for 2025.
Bali is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, attracting millions of visitors every year.
Q1: Can I work as a freelancer in Bali?
A: The short answer to this is no. For anyone looking to work legally in Indonesia, having someone willing to employ you is necessary. Secondly, you’ll need a proper Working KITAS (Limited Stay Permit) which allows you to be legally employed in Indonesia. With this system in place, it’s not possible to work as an independent freelancer, and if you do so and get caught, you could face both fines and deportation.
Q2: How difficult is it to start a business in Bali in 2024?
A: In recent years, system digitalization has made opening a business in Indonesia more streamlined. However, although you can now establish a company within as little as a week, that’s just the beginning of the journey. If you want to run a genuinely successful business here, you need to invest, commit yourself and maintain compliance with local and tax related obligations.
While there are many successful businesses in Bali, proper planning and expert consultation is highly recommended before starting to make sure you are ready for the specific challenges related to owning a business in Indonesia. If you want to know more, take a look at this checklist of things you need to know when starting a business in Bali.
Q3: Do I need a visa to visit Bali?
A: This depends on your nationality, length and purpose of stay. As of now, only citizens from the below countries can come to Bali with free 30-day tourism visas.
ASEAN countries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Laos, Singapore, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Myanmar, Vietnam
Other nations: Timor-Leste, Hong Kong, Colombia, Suriname
If you’re not from one of these countries, you need a visa to come to Bali. Feel free to check our visa services page.
There are various types of visas you can apply for to stay in Indonesia, depending on your purpose for staying in the country.
Q4: Can I work while holding an Investor KITAS?
A: No. The Investor KITAS strictly allows you to:
Stay in Indonesia
Hold shares in your investment company
Attend investor meetings
If you have one, you can’t do operational work within the same company, i.e. if you are a director of a company with an Investor KITAS, you can’t do any other role, including social media marketing. For example, let’s say you’re the director of a property rental company - that would mean you aren’t legally allowed to promote properties that you want to rent on your social media, as to do so would require an IMTA work permit as a marketer.
Q5: Can I buy a motorbike in Bali?
A: If you’d like to purchase a vehicle in Indonesia under your name, you’ll need:
A valid KITAS
SKTT (population number)
If you have a VOA (Visa on Arrival) or Visit Visa, you can’t register a motorbike in your name.
Q6: Is the Bali property market still a good investment?
A: The Bali property market has really boomed in recent years, creating both challenges and opportunities for new investors.
Considerations:
1. Due to extensive and rapid development, especially in the south of Bali, there is now increasing competition in the housing market.
2. Land and labour has become much more expensive than in the past.
3. There are now calls for restrictions on developments that cater to tourists as rapid development continues.
Opportunities:
1. Having a sustainable or unique offering would be one of the things that could set you apart in such a saturated market.
2. There is still a steady influx of tourists.
3. Many Western expats are continuing to relocate to Bali.
Q7: What's the current cost of living in Bali?
A: Bali can quickly become pricey if you want high-end luxury – but it is still comparatively cheaper than most Western countries and you will most likely get much better value for money with regards to entertainment and eating out. Your lifestyle choices will really determine how much you spend.
Housing: Rental prices have increased in recent years, but generally speaking, you can find something from $300 and up. Many people stay in guest houses which range from $300-$500 USD (around 5-8,000,000 IDR). These kinds of guest houses sometimes come complete with a pool or common area, as well as cleaning included.
Alternatively, there are villa shares where you will have access to a much more private and perhaps more luxurious experience, especially once the price rises above $1000 (15,000,000 IDR.) If you’d like to rent your own villa, the price usually ranges between $1000 (15,000,000 IDR) to $6,500 (100,000,000 IDR) for more high-end luxury.
Food: You can eat in local warungs (small restaurants owned by Indonesian families) for $2-$3. Western restaurants will likely cost more, but they are still very reasonably priced for the standard offered.
Getting Around: Renting a scooter is the best way to get around - expect to pay around $50-100 per month.
The cost of living in Bali varies depending on lifestyle, location, and personal needs.
Q8: Can I own land in Indonesia?
A: When it comes to owning land on a freehold basis (Hak Milik), you have to be an Indonesian citizen. However, you can purchase land on a leasehold basis (usually for 20-30 years) with the possibility to extend after. For foreigners to get as close as possible to owning freehold, you can buy land through a PT PMA and get a land certificate with a land title HGB, which permits extensive land extensions over the decades.
Q9: How do I know which visa I need?
A: The visa you need depends on:
Your nationality
Purpose of stay
The duration of stay
To find out more, take a look at our visa services page to understand which visa you’ll need (link here).
Q10: Do I need to pay taxes in Indonesia?
A: If you plan on staying in Indonesia for more than 183 days, we would recommend:
Getting the correct KITAS visa
Applying for an Indonesian tax ID
If you visit Indonesia whilst on a Visit Visa or Tourist Visa, you can’t get a tax ID. If you’d like to know more about how much tax you can expect to pay during your time here, please visit our accounting page.
Need more specific guidance? Our team is here to help you with any questions you might have about living, working, or investing in Bali. Contact us for personalized assistance or expert business consultation.
Written by Team Bali Solve
06 January 2025
