When an expat in Bali moves to the island for the very first time, they will usually settle first in Sanur, Umalas, or even Canggu. They rent a furnished villa on a month-to-month basis while they look out for neighborhoods and schools before committing to a long-term stay.
The guide below will compare each location, atmosphere, things to do, and family suitability. It helps you choose the perfect place to stay, such as at SOLO villas located in the areas mentioned above.
Renting temporary housing in Bali has become a thing among expats moving to Bali for the first time. It gives you, as an expat, time to understand the island’s neighborhood, daily routines, housing conditions, and practical costs before signing a longer agreement.
Each area offers a completely different lifestyle. For example, Canggu and Pererenan are popular for social life, surfing, cafés, and coworking, while Sanur is preferred by families and retirees who want a tranquil coastal environment.
Renting temporarily also helps the expat understand monthly villa rental in Bali. Annual payment is still common for houses, even though monthly arrangements may be available at a higher overall price for short-term stays.
A housing decision for an expat should fit their legal stay, employment arrangements, family plans, and expected time in Indonesia. Circumstances such as a digital nomad visa, work situation, or personal priorities may change during the first few months.
Sanur has become a family-friendly area in Bali. It offers tranquility in Bali province, which is perfect for families or retirees seeking a slower pace of life with a sophisticated neighbourhood.
Unlike busier hubs like Canggu or Seminyak, Sanur generally feels more organized and less nightlife-driven. It is what makes the area suitable for families with young children to enjoy morning walks or cycling along the coastal area.
If you are looking for a neighbourhood that feels ‘alive’ yet tranquil, you can choose Umalas for a temporary stay. Umalas is known as a quiet area for families despite being close to Canggu, one of the most vibrant areas in Bali.
The area suits families who value privacy while still wanting convenient access to Bali’s attractions, like restaurants, beach clubs, coworking spaces, and everyday services. However, the traffic can be high, so you should test your usual routes before a long-term stay.
Moving to Bali with family can be a huge challenge if you choose the wrong area to stay. For a trendy neighbourhood with coworking-heavy facilities for expats, you can choose Canggu, which is suitable for a temporary place to stay.
Preparing a budget for Bali for a convenient stay in Canggu is important because the area has various types of villas, from the cheapest to the most expensive. A well-prepared budget allows you to stay conveniently before committing to a long-term stay in Bali.
As an expat, you should understand the visa basics that give you a permit for a temporary stay. One of these is B211A, a social-cultural visa that allows you to stay in Bali legally and is valid for 2–6 months.
Another visa that permits you to stay legally is KITAS Bali. It is typically valid for one year or more. Holding a KITAS does not automatically allow you to stay in Bali, so ensuring the specific visa is important.
You have to be aware that visa rules change often, including the requirements, validity periods, government fees, and renewal rules. As an expat, you ought to check the rules through Indonesia’s official immigration and eVisa platforms before committing to a long-term move.
You may wonder what a monthly villa rental usually includes. Usually, it already includes Wi-Fi, housekeeping, pool and garden maintenance, rubbish collection, and basic security that keeps your villa clean and comfortable
However, electricity, water, cooking gas, and laundry are not often included in the monthly villa rental you pay. It requires you to ask for a written breakdown of every included service, any usage limits, maintenance responsibilities, and additional monthly charges.
Property owners typically have room to bargain on a long-term villa rental in Bali. You may be able to request a reduced monthly rate, extra cleaning sessions, included electricity, or more flexible payment terms when booking for three, six, or twelve months.
Expat families should prioritize a home close to international schools, supermarkets, pediatric care, and, supermarkets, pediatric care, and even a place for kids to do gymnastics. Families may live comfortably because all amenities are available to them while they are in Bali.
Keeping routines is very helpful for your kids to adjust to a new environment that they are not familiar with. Regular mealtimes, bedtime schedules, school preparation, and favourite weekend activities can provide stability during the transition.
While understanding ways to settle with kids, it's worth knowing which pediatric care suits your kids. Ensuring that pediatric care accepts expats’ health insurance in Indonesia can make a temporary stay feel more convenient.
For a proper short-term stay in Bali, you may consider SOLO’s family villas to feel refined and at ease for a little while. The villas are located strategically, near the center of the region you are staying in.
One of the villas to stay in is Nara Villa, a Canggu villa suited for a longer stay. You can also choose Earth Villa, as these two properties have adequate amenities and facilities to support your stay as an expat in Bali.
In addition to Canggu as the trendy place for a temporary stay, you can also consider Kedungu as one of the quietest areas in Bali. Staying at Cabana Kedungu allows you to enjoy an intimate stay by the hustle and bustle.
An expat in Bali can start their temporary stay in Bali around Sanur, Umalas, and Canggu as the starting points. Renting a villa month-to-month will help the expat consider which area is perfect for them before committing to a longer stay.
If you are ready for a temporary stay in Bali, you can consider a SOLO villa as a flexible base. All of SOLO's villas are ideally situated in an existing upscale neighbourhood, making it simpler for you and your family to meet your needs while you are here.
There is no fixed number of days after which every expat automatically needs a KITAS, officially known as an ITAS. The correct permit depends on the purpose of the stay, not only its length.
Sanur is generally better suited to families seeking a quieter coastal environment, calmer water, and a more relaxed daily routine. Its beachfront is known for gentle waves and activities such as swimming, walking, and cycling.
Canggu may appeal more to families who prioritise trendy cafés, surfing, fitness facilities, coworking spaces, and an active international community. However, its busier atmosphere and heavier traffic may be less convenient for families with young children.
The better choice ultimately depends on school location, commute time, housing budget, preferred activities, and proximity to healthcare. Families should temporarily rent in the area and test their daily routine before signing a long-term agreement.
Yes. Monthly villa rentals are widely available in Bali, particularly in areas popular with expats. Some landlords accept rolling monthly arrangements, while others require a minimum stay of two, three, or six months. Longer commitments often receive a lower equivalent monthly rate.
Before paying, tenants should confirm whether electricity, water, Wi-Fi, housekeeping, pool maintenance, rubbish collection, and security are included. The payment schedule, deposit, cancellation terms, maintenance responsibilities, and notice period should also be recorded in a written rental agreement.
Requirements vary according to each family member’s visa and circumstances, but families commonly need:
Family-dependent ITAS applications may require proof of marriage, birth certificates, and copies of the principal family member’s valid visa or stay permit. Some documents must be translated into Indonesian by a sworn translator, although certain immigration categories accept documents written in English without translation.
Schools may separately request copies of the child’s and parents’ passports, visas or KITAS documents, birth certificates, previous school reports, photographs, and immunisation records.
The correct visa depends on why you are living in Indonesia. Longer-term options include limited-stay categories for employment, investment, remote work for an overseas company, education, retirement, family reunification, and other eligible purposes.
The term social-cultural visa is still commonly used informally, but it should not be treated as a general long-term residency visa. The current C6 visa is intended for specified social activities, initially allows a stay of up to 60 days, requires a sponsor, and may be extended to a maximum of 180 days. It does not permit paid work.
Someone relocating for a year or longer will usually need a suitable limited-stay visa that results in an e-ITAS. For example, Indonesia currently provides a one-year E33G category for eligible remote workers employed by companies established outside Indonesia. Different categories have different financial, sponsorship, and activity requirements.
Bali can be a good place to raise a family for parents who value an international community, outdoor activities, cultural exposure, and access to private or international education. Several neighbourhoods also provide family-oriented housing, healthcare facilities, extracurricular activities, and social communities.
However, the experience depends heavily on income, school choice, transport arrangements, access to healthcare, and tolerance for traffic, humidity, infrastructure differences, and visa administration. It is more accurate to say that Bali works well for many expat families rather than presenting it as the ideal choice for everyone.
There is no single reliable monthly figure because family expenses vary significantly according to neighbourhood, villa size, school fees, healthcare coverage, transport, childcare, dining habits, and lifestyle.
A family using international schools, private health insurance, a large villa, and a private car will have a very different budget from a family renting a modest home and using local services. Monthly living expenses should also not be confused with the average cost of a family holiday in Bali, which is calculated over a shorter period and usually includes different accommodation and activity patterns.