Student housing in Bali: universities, kos and shared flats

To find student housing in Bali, three options exist: the university residence when it takes in new enrolees, a room in a kos (the furnished room rented by the month, very common in Indonesia), or a shared flat in a shared house or villa. The kos is the most common and most economical solution. According to an intermediary interviewed by BBC News Indonesia in July 2026, most kos rooms rent for between 2.5 and 5 million rupiah (IDR) per month, or about €125 to €250 at the ECB rate of 5 October 2026.

The market is under pressure: rooms under one million rupiah, about €50, are almost always taken, and those above 5 million are often rented by foreigners. The choice of university also determines the area to search in, because the island has no structured public transport network.

Where to study in Bali

The island's main public university is Udayana University (Unud). It has two sites: a campus in Denpasar and the central campus of Bukit Jimbaran, in Badung regency, in the south of the island, which houses notably the rectorate, the central library and several faculties (economics, law, engineering, mathematics). Unud has a university residence that houses new students at a cost presented as affordable, close to the campus, and an international office to contact before departure to learn the access conditions for foreign students.

Before looking for housing, check with your host institution which campus hosts your programme: between Denpasar and the Bukit peninsula, journeys can be long, especially at rush hour.

Housing options and their prices

The university residence

This is the simplest solution for a first year or a semester: no searching on the spot, a supervised setting and direct access to campus. Places are limited: apply as soon as you are admitted, through the international office.

The kos

A kos is a room rented by the month, often in a building with several, with or without a private bathroom. The BBC News Indonesia investigation gives concrete benchmarks:

• most of the supply is between 2.5 and 5 million IDR per month, or about €125 to €250;
• a well-located room, with air conditioning, bathroom, bed and wardrobe, can exceed 5 million IDR per month, about €250;
• a room in a local household, with shared kitchen and bathroom, was rented for 2.5 million IDR in west Denpasar;
• away from tourist areas, unfurnished kos can be found under 1 million IDR, but they are rare and quickly taken.

In Denpasar, kos with more than ten rooms, mid-range or higher, are subject to a 10% local accommodation tax, according to the city secretary cited by Bali Post in August 2026: it may be passed on in the rent.

A room in a coliving or a shared flat

In neighborhoods popular with foreigners, a room in a guesthouse or coliving rents for between 250 and 400 US dollars per month. Sharing a two- or three-bedroom villa is another option: these villas start at around 1,200 dollars per month, bills extra. For a student, these solutions cost more than a kos but are easier to book from France.

Costs to plan for

Electricity often runs on a prepaid top-up meter (pulsa), which quickly becomes the biggest utility cost if you use air conditioning. Water, internet and, in a villa, pool maintenance are generally added to the rent. Always ask what is included before you commit.