10 Budget-Friendly Ways to Enjoy Indonesia

With a million rupiah roughly translating to about US$65, you'll feel like a millionaire as soon as you arrive in Indonesia.

If you opt for a laid-back beach lifestyle, plan to spend around a million rupiah weekly. On the other hand, you can indulge in luxurious five-star hotels at low-season rates that are much more affordable than in other locations.

This daily cost guide, paired with money-saving tips, will assist you in planning your budget for Indonesia.

Cost of Living

• Local coffee at a roadside warung: $1

• Cappuccino in an upscale café: $2.50

• A filling plate of fried rice or noodles: $1

• The same dish at a tourist spot: $4

• Happy-hour cocktail at a beach bar: $5

• Beer in a hotel bar: $3

• House wine at a resort: $6 (can reach up to $25!)

• 1.5L (50oz) bottle of water: $0.25

• Surfboard rental: $0 per session

• 90-minute yoga class: $10 (cheaper with a package deal)

1. Choose from a myriad of islands

Bali tends to be pricier than nearby Java, which is slightly more expensive than Sumatra. However, the intense competition for tourist dollars allows for very affordable stays. In Bali, a couple can manage on around $20 a day, covering a private room, meals, and scooter rental.

Generally, as you venture to less-traveled islands, the cost of living tends to decrease. However, keep in mind that in the remote regions of Indonesia, such as the Alor archipelago or the distant Maluku islands, prices are higher due to the transportation costs associated with delivering goods, vehicles, and fuel to these isolated areas.

2. Select the most affordable time to visit

From October to April is the rainy season in Bali and central Indonesia, making it the cheapest time to travel here. Unless you're venturing deep into the wilderness for jungle trekking or volcano climbing, this period is often delightful in Indonesia, with brief downpours followed by lovely sunny days (just steer clear of the Christmas school holidays and New Year).

3. Secure an affordable flight

Join Jack’s Flight Club for timely alerts about budget flights to Jakarta or Bali. Within Indonesia, national carriers like Garuda Indonesia, Air Asia, and Lion Air connect all the major islands. For a ballpark figure on flight costs, one-way tickets between Jakarta and Bali start around $40, while flights from Bali to Labuan Bajo (gateway to Komodo) begin at approximately $36.

4. Secure the best-value lodging

While you can certainly book ahead, if you're on a tight budget, consider reserving just your first night or two. The best deals—especially in hostel-heavy Kuta—are often discovered by inquiring locally. With private rooms starting as low as $2 in certain areas of Indonesia, dormitories are quite uncommon.

Renting a long-term bungalow or villa through an apartment rental website can often be more economical than paying for nightly hotel accommodations. For instance, a decent air-conditioned double room in Bali can be found for $8 per night (breakfast included), while a self-catering bungalow in central Ubud with its own garden and kitchen may cost around $6 per night if booked for a month.

5. Renting cars and scooters is affordable

Public transport in Indonesia is economical but often unreliable, leading many travelers to choose vehicle rentals. To save money, consider long-term rentals. Scooters are budget-friendly (usually around $2–3 per day for a week or more), but for added safety and security, you might want to upgrade to a car, which typically costs about $15 per day—especially budget-friendly if you're traveling with friends. With petrol priced under $0.65 per liter ($0.17 per gallon), self-driving in Indonesia is quite economical.

Driving in Indonesia, particularly in Bali with its bustling motorbike traffic, can be daunting. If you'd rather not drive yourself, you can hire a car with a driver for around $30 per day.

6. Utilize taxi apps for local fares

Bluebird Taxis operates 23,000 vehicles across Indonesia. While they offer convenience, their fares can be about twice as much as those from Grab, the Singapore-based service that absorbed Uber in Asia.

Before you leave home, make sure to download the apps for Grab and Gojek, which boasts two million motorbike taxis across Southeast Asia. These services ensure you'll only pay local rates for transportation, eliminating the need to haggle for every car or motorbike taxi ride, as well as simplifying communication about destinations and directions.

7. Ferries, buses, and trains are affordable but time-consuming

Ferries link some islands and are budget-friendly, though they can be unreliable and lengthy. For instance, the weekly ferry from Labuan Bajo to Bali costs less than $20 but takes 33 hours, whereas a flight is just an hour.

On larger islands, long-distance buses connect the main cities, but rail travel is mainly available on Java and parts of Sumatra. Typically, train fares are about $1.50 for each hour of travel, and you can book through Kareta Api Indonesia. Bus tickets are usually slightly cheaper and almost always faster than Indonesian trains.

8. Opt for local cuisine to save money

While Indonesia may not boast the diverse culinary scene of smaller nations like Malaysia, Thailand, and Singapore, you can still find filling local dishes at great prices. Outside of tourist hotspots, a standard meal—usually nasi goreng (fried rice) or mie goreng (fried noodles)—can often be had for under $1. Since these meals are prepared fresh, the ingredients are typically both fresh and tasty.

The West Sumatran city of Padang has shared its rich culinary heritage, and you can find Masakan Padang (Padang-style cooking) restaurants—usually buffet-style—where you get a plate of rice and choose your favorite extras in nearly every town across the country. You can often enjoy a hearty meal for about $2; aim for places that consistently have a good flow of customers.

9. Limit your alcohol consumption

The most effective way to keep expenses down in Indonesia is simply to skip the alcohol. A bottle of Bintang, the popular local beer, costs around $2, while a bottle of 'affordable' wine starts at about $10, and imported gin or whiskey may set you back $30 or more. These are supermarket prices; expect them to triple at trendy bars. If you want to enjoy nightlife without overspending, look for the common two-for-one happy hour specials.

10. Haggling is a cultural norm

Bargaining is integral to life in Indonesia, and outside of large, fixed-price malls and supermarkets, you'll likely need to negotiate prices for most items. While many travelers find haggling uncomfortable, you'll soon realize that a friendly smile, a joke, and a few reliable phrases can turn a mundane shopping trip into a chance to connect with locals. At its best, haggling can make a simple transaction feel more personal.

'Bukan harga bule' (not foreigner price) is sure to elicit a smile.

'Saya sudah bankrupt' (I’m already bankrupt) is guaranteed to get some hearty laughs.

Keep in mind that your haggling should aim to reach a fair price that benefits both sides. Some travelers take pride in their bargaining prowess, thinking that vendors always make a profit. However, this isn't always the case; many shopkeepers would rather sell at a loss than go without the means to feed their families for the night.