An introduction to Bali
The Island of Bali is located east of Java and west of Lombok and covers 5,780 km虏. It has a total聽population of 4.362 million, which includes about 30,000 expatriates. This Indonesian province聽not only includes the island of Bali itself but is also home to some smaller neighboring islands,聽namely Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Lembongan. They are organized into 9聽districts: Kuta, Legian, Seminiak, Nusa Dua, Sanur, Ubud and Jimbaran Bay with Denpasar, as聽provincial capital. The latter is the second most populous city in eastern Indonesia, with an聽estimated population of just over one million in 2022, but foreigners tend to settle mainly in聽Sanur, Ubud, Seminyak, Kerobokan, Seminyak and Canggu. Furthermore, it's worth mentioning聽that urban development is mainly centered on the southern Bali region of Kabupaten Badung,聽which is known to be the densest zone on the island.
Kuta
Before the island opened to tourism in the 1970s, the district of Kuta was nothing but a tiny聽township with muddy rickshaw lanes. However, with the arrival of the first surfers and a聽constant flow of visitors thereon, the Balinese district has surged into one of the busiest,聽liveliest, and noisiest places on the island. It is an absolute must for any incoming tourist and is聽a vibrant location with restaurants and stores. Traffic jams are constant, as is the noise from the聽many clubs that line the streets.
Since it is a shopping district, many expats tend to flock to Kuta upon arrival, even though the聽district has the reputation of being a noisy and chaotic place. The main reason behind this is聽that one can find five-star hotels alongside budget guesthouses, as well as high-end restaurants聽like Jamie Oliver Kitchen, rubbing shoulders with modest 1-course-menu local establishments聽(warung), or even an award-winning shopping mall. In short, whatever your budget, the district聽of Kuta can be a good place to start your Balinese trip before taking the time to better know the聽island and settling in.
Seminyak
Seminyak is nicknamed "Kuta's poshest sister". As a matter of fact, the area was first聽established as an extension of Kuta, accommodating those who could not settle there.聽Although only 15 minutes from Kuta, Seminyak has a more upscale, and therefore more聽expensive, lifestyle. From lavish hotels to gourmet restaurants, great roads and a wide selection聽of designer boutiques, Seminyak is definitely a class above.
Many beautiful villas with pools and stunningly maintained gardens are to be found there.聽However, if you're planning a long-term move to Bali, it can be complicated to buy a new villa in聽Seminyak due to the overwhelming demand. As for rentals, prices are higher than in other聽areas, as tourist activity is also high in this area.
In tourist areas, prices also tend to be high too. Therefore, if you are looking for affordable rent聽and meals, step out of Seminyak!
Additionally, expat families in Bali may find it difficult to pick an international school in the聽Seminyak area. In that case, try exploring other regions like聽Canggu, Umalas or Denpasar.
Canggu
Just a decade ago, the city was a humble seaside village surrounded by black sand beaches with聽less than 10 expatriates. Today, the sleepy village has awakened to become a vibrant residential聽area. Currently, Canggu seems to be the hottest trend in Bali, to the point, however, that it may聽sometimes feel too westernized for some people. For that reason, it is nicknamed "Kampala聽Bule", or foreigners'聽village, and incidentally, this reflects in the prices, which are slowly closing聽in on European standards. As such, if you wanted to mix with locals when moving to Bali,聽Canggu will not be your best option.
Many young expats prefer Canggu for its eco-friendly, multicultural and laid-back atmosphere,聽in addition to its surf spots, which are among the best on the island. The district is also a place聽where it is easy to find organic grocery stores, world-class beach clubs, and foreign restaurants.
Thanks to its many coworking spaces, high-speed internet connection and networking聽opportunities, Canggu is also renowned to attract most digital聽nomads in Indonesia. Moreover,聽when it comes to accommodation, there is no shortage of options. They range from modest聽homestays to luxurious聽private villas with swimming pools. And if you're looking to be on a聽budget, consider villa sharing, or those other places that offer accommodation as well as聽coworking spaces.
Ubud
Ubud is referred to as the capital of yoga. In Bali, it is the preferred destination for those聽seeking tranquility and closeness to nature. Located in the Gianyar area, Ubud is surrounded by聽a lush forest where the sacred river Ayung flows peacefully. Although experiencing a massive聽influx of tourists, Ubud has retained its charm and is generally quieter than its southern聽counterpart. With many vegan/vegetarian restaurants, yoga studios, and meditation and聽healing spaces, it is the perfect place for those who want to relax.
Nusa Dua and the Bukit area
Jimbaran, Nusa Dua and the Bukit area extend to Uluwatu, and are more family-oriented areas.聽These regions have many luxury hotels and resorts, especially in Nusa Dua and the Uluwatu聽area.
This area features Indonesian-style residential complexes as well as luxurious villas that are聽generally cheaper than in Canggu and Seminyak. One should expect to pay around 3 million聽rupiahs (350 USD) for renting a charming house with a small garden, and if you add another 2聽million rupiahs, you will be entitled to maid service. In fact, to live comfortably, one should聽budget at least 7 million rupiahs (4,500 USD) against 12 million (850 USD) for a shared villa in聽Canggu or Seminyak. Otherwise, because Jimbaran and Bukit are partly westernized and partly聽local, they have some typical restaurants where you can eat nasi campur (rice-based) for as聽little as 2 USD per meal.
Along the shoreline of the Bukit area lie some of Bali's most idyllic white sand beaches. Waves聽are known to attract surfers, and this affects the general vibes, guaranteeing a completely laid-back atmosphere! On the other hand, the roads are empty only from 21 hours.
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