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The total monthly occupancy cost in Bali depends on the type of accommodation and the area. A kost (Indonesian boarding house) is the most affordable option for students, with basic rooms starting from around IDR 1,500,000 per month in Denpasar or Jimbaran, according to Flokq (2024). A studio apartment or furnished room in a mid-range kost typically ranges from IDR 3,000,000 to IDR 8,000,000 per month (source: visa-indonesia.com, 2024).
Bali in brief for international students: The main student hub is Jimbaran, home to Udayana University's main campus. Kost rooms start from around IDR 1,500,000 per month; studios range from IDR 3,000,000 to IDR 8,000,000 per month. Most landlords require 6 to 12 months of rent paid upfront plus a security deposit. Utilities are often billed separately. Always request a bilingual lease and prepare your rental file (passport, visa, university letter) before searching.
Finding long-term accommodation in Bali as an international student requires understanding a rental market that operates quite differently from Europe or North America. The dominant form of student housing is the kost — a furnished boarding house room, often with a private bathroom, that can be rented on a monthly basis. For longer leases (6 or 12 months), landlords typically require the full rent to be paid upfront, making it essential to plan your finances carefully before arriving. The most student-friendly areas are Jimbaran, close to Udayana University, and Denpasar, which offers good transport links and a wide range of kost and apartment options at accessible prices. Whether you are enrolling at Udayana, Warmadewa, or ITB STIKOM Bali, securing your accommodation before arrival — or within the first days of your programme — is strongly recommended, as demand near campuses can be high at the start of each semester.
Bali is an increasingly popular destination for international students, primarily thanks to Udayana University (UNUD) in Jimbaran, the island's largest and best-ranked institution, which welcomes over 2,000 international students each year through programmes such as BIPAS. Warmadewa University in Denpasar and ITB STIKOM Bali also offer English-taught programmes for exchange students. The most practical and affordable student neighbourhoods are Jimbaran (near the main Udayana campus) and Renon/Denpasar, where kost rooms start from around IDR 1,500,000 per month. A key local rental practice to understand is that most landlords require rent to be paid 6 to 12 months in advance, along with a security deposit of one to two months' rent. Students should also budget separately for utilities (electricity, water, internet), which are frequently not included in the quoted rent.
Finding long-term accommodation in Bali as an international student requires understanding a rental market that operates quite differently from Europe or North America. The dominant form of student housing is the kost — a furnished boarding house room, often with a private bathroom, that can be rented on a monthly basis. For longer leases (6 or 12 months), landlords typically require the full rent to be paid upfront, making it essential to plan your finances carefully before arriving. The most student-friendly areas are Jimbaran, close to Udayana University, and Denpasar, which offers good transport links and a wide range of kost and apartment options at accessible prices. Whether you are enrolling at Udayana, Warmadewa, or ITB STIKOM Bali, securing your accommodation before arrival — or within the first days of your programme — is strongly recommended, as demand near campuses can be high at the start of each semester.
Bali offers a wide range of rental options for international students, from budget-friendly kost rooms in Denpasar starting at around IDR 1,500,000 per month to more comfortable furnished studios near the Udayana University campus in Jimbaran at IDR 4,000,000 to IDR 8,000,000 per month. One important local practice to be aware of: most landlords in Bali require rent to be paid 6 or 12 months in advance, which means students need to have a significant sum available before moving in. Kost-style accommodation is the exception, often allowing monthly payment. Always clarify whether utilities (electricity, water, internet) are included in the quoted rent, as they are frequently billed separately and can add IDR 400,000 to IDR 1,000,000 per month to your total costs.
One of the most common mistakes international students make when renting in Bali is underestimating the upfront cash required. Unlike many Western countries where rent is paid monthly, most Bali landlords — especially for villas and apartments — require 6 or 12 months of rent paid in advance, plus a security deposit of one to two months' rent (source: mudahbacahukum.pro, 2024). Students who budget only for the first month's rent are often caught off guard.
Other frequent errors include:
Aim for Jimbaran, the main student hub, home to the main campus of Udayana University: Jalan Raya Kampus Unud is lined with kost. Denpasar (Renon, Imam Bonjol) is the other option, close to Warmadewa and ITB STIKOM.
Rumah123, Flokq and OLX Indonesia let you spot listings before you leave; a local Home Finder can view on your behalf, with photos or video.
The usual documents are a copy of your passport, your student visa or KITAS, and sometimes a letter from your university, rather than a guarantor. Landlords do ask for a deposit equal to one or two months' rent, and often for rent paid 6 to 12 months in advance.
A Home Finder helps you prepare this file and backs your application.
Start before you leave, using Rumah123, Flokq or OLX Indonesia to spot kost in Jimbaran and Denpasar: contacting landlords in advance gives you an edge. Also line up the funds, as most ask for 6 or 12 months' rent upfront.
If you can, book a guesthouse or a kost short-term for your first two weeks, so you can view places in person before committing.
Expect from IDR 1,500,000 a month for a kost room in Jimbaran or Denpasar, and IDR 3,000,000 to 8,000,000 a month for a studio. Add IDR 400,000 to 1,000,000 a month for bills if they are not included.
The deposit equals one or two months' rent; most landlords ask for 6 or 12 months upfront, except in a kost.
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