Living in Bali with Children
Uprooting your family is not easy, it’s especially challenging to move to a new country with a vast difference in culture and societal norms. It’s a huge leap bringing over kids to explore a new side of the world, but rest assured Bali is very family-friendly for them to grow up in. Bali is an excellent place to relocate for families with children.To expose children to a new culture and is going to shape them greatly.
Much depends on your general plan and your core reasons why you would relocate to Bali. Are you an investor or open a business, are you getting hired by a local company, are you taking a sabbatical for yourself?
Key Things to Consider when moving to Bali with Kids
- Finding the Right School or Kindergarten
- Choosing a Suitable Neighborhood
- Finding Suitable Long-Term Accommodation
- Adjusting to the Culture and Climate
- Sorting Out School Transportation
- Health & International Medical Insurance
- Long-Stay Visas and Temporary Resident Permits (KITAS)
Cost of Living, Expenses & Cash Flow
Cash is King in Bali
Value for money is excellent in Bali. You can eat cheap local food and stay in home stays as a tourist. Also young Digital Nomads, can stay in Bali on a small budget. tWhen it comes to living in Bali with children Bali can become quickly quite expensive. School fees, Medical Insurance, Villa Rental, transportation – all adds up. And imported food & groceries that you might be used to from home, are not cheap at all. You might also need a maid, a gardener and pool attendant, some might even have to get a driver to manage school transportation.
And many things in Bali are prepaid, particularly long-stay rentals. Also school fees, at least for 6 months usually. Cash-Flow needs to be managed properly.
FAQ Moving to Bali with Children
Where to stay with children in Bali? What are the best Residential Areas in Bali?
The choice for your best location when moving to Bali with Children will depend very much on the school or kindergarden you are going to choose. Because traffic can be quite a nightmare, most parents chose their home as close to the school as possible.
The best areas for residential living are:
- Sanur
- Canggu / Babakan
- Umalas / Kerokobak
- Ubud (if kids go to green school)
What are the average cost of living in Bali with a family?
Housing costs and school fees will most likely be the main expenses for most families,For a family of 4 the monthly cost of living can be around USD 6,000
- Housing USD 1,500 / month – of course, the sky is the limit
- Middle school per child can be around USD 1,200 / month / child
- Houshold Management (Maid, Gardener, Pool) USD 500 / month
- Food & Groceries for 4 people USD 30-50 a day – sky is the limit .ca USD 1,000
- Transportation USD 300 / month
- International Medical Insurance USD 250 per family member
- Visas / KItas USD 4,000 per year
Of course one can spend a little less money or much more, depending on the life style you would like to experience. And since school fees are eating up a large part of the budget already, things will look very different if you have only one child or 3 children.
What is the best month to move to Bali?
In general one can say the best month to move to Bali is June. But for many families whose children are enrolled in school in their home country, they have to wait until the school term has ended.
But if you are flexible, June is great because
- This gives you time to settle and and get used to Bali before the start of the academic year
- Dry season with pleasant climate (easier adjustment)
- Not High season yet, property market more relaxed
How do we handle the initial adjustment period?
Assuming that you have already done your research and selected the school, then plan for a 3-month adjustment phase:
Choose Temporary housing while finding permanent home. it’s good you do already research before arriving, so you have narrowed down options, availabilities, different areas, style etc, Real estate agents can help
Once you have moved to your new home, it’s great if you can take time with your family before scholl starts to get to know Bali, the area, enjoy some quality time, get used to the weather and vibe, do some fun activities with the kids,
Other families who have also just moved to Bali are also eager to connect and to get to know people and build there social life. The schools can help you to connect with other families prior to the school starts so you can start to build a social life
What are the non-negotiable preparations before arrival?
Our priority checklist for Families moving to Bali
- Valid passports (minimum 18 months validity)
- Visa / KITAS documentation complete and process started or completed (depends on type of Visa) – work with a reliable agent, that is very important!
- International health insurance secured (check ourt our partner)
- School acceptance letters
- Health check and vaccination status at home
- Temporary housing arranged
- Emergency fund established ($5,000-10,000)
- Finalised your administration in your home country (residency status, insurances, etc)
