How much does food cost per day in Bali?

Eating at local warungs costs IDR 20,000–40,000 ($1.25–2.50) per meal. Three meals a day at warungs costs IDR 60,000–120,000 ($4–8). Eating at tourist restaurants triples the cost.

What is a warung in Bali?

A warung is a small local Indonesian restaurant, usually family-run, serving rice and noodle dishes, satay, soups, and fresh juices at very low prices. Warungs are the best way to eat cheaply in Bali.

Cheap Food in Bali 2025 — Eat Like a Local for $1.50 a Meal

Bali's food scene is one of the best arguments for coming here on a budget. A full plate of nasi goreng (fried rice), a drink, and fresh fruit can cost IDR 25,000–35,000 ($1.50–2.20). Eat at warungs — the local family restaurants — and your daily food bill will be $4–8/day. Eat at tourist restaurants and you'll spend $20–40.

      ⚡ Quick Answer: Warung meal (nasi goreng/mie goreng): IDR 20,000–35,000 ($1.25–2.20). Smoothie bowl: IDR 45,000–75,000 ($3–5). Western breakfast: IDR 60,000–120,000 ($4–8). 3 meals at warungs: IDR 65,000–110,000 ($4–7) total.
    

🍜 Warungs — Your #1 Budget Food Strategy

Family-run, cash-only, no English menu — and the best food in Bali. Here's what to order.

Dish	Price (IDR)	Price (USD)	What It Is
Nasi Goreng	IDR 20,000–30,000	$1.25–1.90	Indonesian fried rice, egg on top, prawn crackers
Mie Goreng	IDR 18,000–28,000	$1.10–1.75	Stir-fried noodles with vegetables and egg
Nasi Campur	IDR 25,000–40,000	$1.55–2.50	Rice plate with 5–6 side dishes — the best value
Sate Ayam	IDR 15,000–25,000	$0.95–1.55	Chicken satay skewers with peanut sauce
Gado-Gado	IDR 20,000–35,000	$1.25–2.20	Vegetables with peanut sauce — good vegetarian option
Soto Ayam	IDR 15,000–25,000	$0.95–1.55	Clear chicken soup, popular for breakfast
Fresh juice (jus)	IDR 10,000–20,000	$0.60–1.25	Watermelon, mango, papaya — made fresh
Es teh manis	IDR 5,000–10,000	$0.30–0.60	Iced sweet tea — the local staple drink

How to Find the Best Warungs

Look for spots with plastic chairs, handwritten menus, and local customers. If you're the only foreigner — that's a good sign. Walk one or two streets off the main tourist drag in any area and prices drop 30–50%.

In Ubud: Jl. Dewi Sita and the area around the morning market (Pasar Ubud) have great warungs open from 6am. In Canggu: side streets off Jl. Raya Canggu, especially near the rice fields. In Seminyak: walk inland from the beach strip to Jl. Raya Seminyak.

🥗 All Budget Food Options at a Glance

🌙 Night Markets

Night Markets (Pasar Malam)

The cheapest food in Bali. Multiple vendors, BBQ skewers, grilled corn, local sweets, and noodle soups. Cash only. Best after 5pm.

IDR 10,000–25,000 per dish

Best markets: Gianyar Night Market (Ubud area), Pasar Badung (Denpasar), Sanur Night Market.

🥤 Smoothie Bowls

Smoothie Bowls & Healthy Cafés

Bali's Instagram food scene. Acai, pitaya, granola bowls look great and taste better. More expensive but still cheap by Western standards.

IDR 45,000–85,000 ($3–5)

Canggu: Kynd Community, The Shady Shack. Ubud: Sayuri Healing Food, Clear Café.

☕ Budget Cafés

Local Coffee Shops

Bali grows excellent coffee. A kopi tubruk (local black coffee) costs IDR 8,000–15,000. A latte at a café is IDR 30,000–50,000. Both are great value.

Coffee from IDR 8,000

Look for: Warungs with a coffee sign, or smaller independent cafés 1–2 streets back from tourist areas.

🛒 Supermarkets

Supermarkets & Self-Catering

Stock up on snacks, water, and basics. Cheaper than convenience stores. Great if you have a kitchen in your villa or guesthouse.

Basics from IDR 5,000

Chains: Pepito (Canggu, Seminyak), Bintang Supermarket (Seminyak), Tiara Dewata (Denpasar).

🥗 Vegetarian / Vegan

Vegetarian Bali

Bali is one of the easiest places in Asia to eat vegetarian. Traditional dishes like gado-gado, tempeh, and many nasi campur options are naturally plant-based.

From IDR 20,000

Ubud is the world capital of vegan cafés. Canggu has dozens of plant-based spots.

🐟 Seafood

Fresh Seafood

At local warungs near the coast (Jimbaran, Uluwatu, Amed), fresh fish and seafood is cheap. Avoid the famous Jimbaran "seafood by the kilo" restaurants — they're overpriced for tourists.

From IDR 30,000

Ask locals where they eat fish. Never let a seafood restaurant weigh your food without a firm price agreement first.

Cheap Food by Area

🌿 Ubud

Ubud has the best combination of cheap warungs AND good healthy cafés. The morning market (Pasar Ubud) opens at 6am — vendors sell rice dishes, grilled meats, and local sweets for IDR 10,000–20,000. For sit-down, head to Jl. Dewi Sita for mid-budget options. Avoid restaurants right on Jl. Monkey Forest — tourist prices.

🤙 Canggu

Canggu has more upscale cafés than Ubud but warungs still exist. Head to the Old Man's beach area side streets. Batu Bolong has great little spots. The "healthy food" scene in Canggu is excellent value for what you get — $4–6 bowls beat $15 smoothie bowls in Australia or Europe.

🌊 Seminyak

The most expensive area for food. However, walk one block back from the beachside restaurants and prices halve. Jl. Basangkasa and Jl. Oberoi side streets have great local warungs. The Seminyak Square area has a good night market.

🌊 Uluwatu

Cliff cafés have great views but charge for them. For cheap food, head into the local Pecatu village warungs — a 5-minute scooter ride from Padang Padang Beach. Excellent, cheap local food.

What to Avoid (Food Scams)

Seafood "by the kilo" restaurants — particularly in Jimbaran and Tanjung Benoa. They weigh before you see the price and bills are often IDR 400,000–800,000+ for 2 people.
Restaurants right next to temples — tourist traps with no posted prices. Always ask for a written menu.
Minimart drinks — a 600ml Aqua water is IDR 3,500 at a warung. Minimarts charge IDR 7,000–10,000. Buy water from local shops or warungs.

Daily Food Budget Plan

Here's a realistic $6/day food plan:

Meal	What	Cost
Breakfast (7am)	Nasi goreng + iced tea at warung	IDR 28,000 ($1.75)
Lunch (12pm)	Nasi campur + fresh juice	IDR 35,000 ($2.20)
Dinner (7pm)	Mie goreng + coconut water at night market	IDR 30,000 ($1.90)
Snack	Rambutan from street vendor	IDR 10,000 ($0.60)
Total		IDR 103,000 (~$6.45)

FAQ — Eating Cheap in Bali

How much does food cost per day in Bali?

Eating at local warungs costs IDR 20,000–40,000 per meal ($1.25–2.50). Three warung meals per day totals IDR 65,000–110,000 ($4–7). Add a coffee or smoothie bowl and you're still under $10. Eating at tourist restaurants triples the cost to $20–35/day.
Is street food safe in Bali?

Generally yes — look for stalls with high turnover (fresh food being cooked constantly). The main risk is drinking tap water — always buy bottled or filtered water. Bali belly (food poisoning) is common but usually mild and avoidable by choosing busy, clean-looking stalls.
What is the best cheap food in Bali?

Nasi campur is the best value — a rice plate with 5–6 sides including tempeh, vegetables, chicken, and sambal for IDR 25,000–40,000 ($1.55–2.50). It's filling, nutritious, and delicious. Every warung serves it.
Can vegetarians eat cheaply in Bali?

Yes — Bali is excellent for vegetarians and vegans. Traditional dishes like gado-gado, tempeh manis, and many nasi campur combinations are naturally plant-based. Ubud has the best selection of vegetarian restaurants in Asia, with many budget options under IDR 50,000 ($3).

Also see: Budget hotels in Bali · Cheap transport guide · Full Bali cost of living breakdown

Cheap Food in Bali 2025 — Eat Well for $4–8/Day