Hi there!

I am currently looking at moving to and living in Bali for 2008. I have a few friends currently living over there, working on surf charters and what not, which will be providing me with SOME work. I am however, looking at funding the move entirely before I go, so that living expenses like rent, food, power etc are covered for the entire year before I move. $$$

For this reason, I am currently doing lots of research into what things cost in Bali, including a small 7-10day trip in July/August to suss things out further. Some of my friends have local friends who are willing to help out also.

Anyway, I need to know things like how cheap can you rent a reasonable place for (3-4 bed, a/c), for a year lease? How much is day to day living (food etc)? Yes, I am willing to eat lots of rice. Power, gas, water bills? other bills which will pop up?

And just out of interest, does anyone know if you buy machinery like sewing machines, silk screens and other fabrication/sewing products there and how much? and what is the fabric like there, and how much can you get that for?

Well, thats about all I can think of for now. Any hwlp would be greatly appreciated!

I look forward to hearing from you all!

Ella

Living in a Balinese village in the boonies, renting a local type place, eating local food = $1,000 a year rent plus $5 a day for food.

Living in a tourist area you can rent a 'kost' room for $50 a month (10ft * 10ft room with bathroom, cold water / fan) and have access to backstreet food places.

Its possible to live cheap in Tuban / Kuta too, but there is a lot of temptation.

Hi Ella- I looked at fabric in a very high end shop and nearly fainted at the prices. I ended up buying sarongs for about $3.00 US for 6ft long pieces, already painted. So surely you could buy plain fabric even cheaper.

Just picking up and moving to Bali is a very challenging proposition, especially for Westerners. It's not impossible, but you should do a lot of research and spend a lot of time there beforehand (not a one-week trip, mind you). Indonesia's immigration laws are incredibly complex, the laws do not encourage people to move there, and the bureaucracy is difficult to negotiate.

Read here: http://www.expat.or.id/info/bali.html
And here: http://www.bali-information.com/expat_forum/

Buying stuff in bulk (sarongs / material etc) go to Denpasar. You can buy sarongs on the street for 20,000rp (10,000-15,000rp if you push them or buy more than 1). I'm sure if you visited a factory and bought in bulk you'd get a good deal. Labor is cheap here so if you plan on silk screening stuff, find a factory in Denpasar that already does that, and hire them to make your stuff.

You'll get an idea of the prices when you come out in July, that is really the best way to figure stuff out. Its totally possible to move to Bali, if you can live cheaply for a year.