Bali Lifestyle better than home or not....?

**noodles** · 19-02-2010 02:00 AM

Forget the water pollution, cultural/language issues and general anxiety we face. Most expats say it's cheaper here, but we should quantify it further.
Those expats who have been relocated and/or who have started their own business and/or who moved here and have changed careers are the intended participants. There may also be some minor differences to consider along these lines, everyones answers/analysis will differ. This is not an easy task to complete - the results are purely subjective and may surprise you as well depending on your income/lifestyle.
Use RP values only with current exchange rate(pray to EUR/USD donnt swift drop anymore). Calculating present value of past expenses adjusted for inflation are challenging for most people even without the exchange rates that would need to be factored in. Not looking for personal info/details, just a logical thought process to support the results provided.

Specific results (+ better, - worse, = equal);
1. State Income Tax/sales tax/other taxes (+)
2. Medical/dental/prescriptions/eyecare (-) *cash-no insurance
3. Currency exchange rate (-),
4. Housing (+),
5. Western type foods/snacks/groceries (+),
6. Western style dining/fast food (+) *unless go to tourist area, but they're pricey
7. Local food/snacks/groceries, (+),
8. Local style dining/fast food (-),
9. Car petrol/maintenance costs (=),
10. Car purchase (=) *but no financing here,
11. Car insurance (-)
12. Utilities (-) change TV provider,
13. Clothing (-) *excluding Designer brands
14. Appliances for purchase (+)
15. Vices/smoking/drinking (+)
16. Travel/vacations/entertainment (+) *in-country
17. Personal comfort, A/C, heating, hot water (+)
18. Personal safety, crime (+)

Bali is a good value considering what I originally perceived as a comfortable place for a similar lifestyle. Your numbers may prove different.

**JUDY** · 19-02-2010 07:51 AM

I just went on and on 'bout car insurance, dental and medical insurance, fast food Balinese take-out food, make-up, message, perfume, purses, shoes, and clothing cost versus western cost and values. Anyway, to make this short. Due your homework and buy car insurance. It payed off for me, cause in Aug. of 2000 I bought a brand new car and got a reputable car insurance which payed off within one year no deductible when (I won't mention any names) forgot to put the car brake on when he turned off the car. The car decided to roll out the garage and the door was wide open and boom crashed into the side of the wall. They paid the full bill no questions asked. And the prices for coverage as compared to US costs....forget bout it NO COMPARISON people.

Next: Medical and Dental Coverage. Again people a MUST HAVE. And compared to the US COST...well, all I can say is I sold health, life, disability, annuities, qualified plans, blah blah blah the cadillac plan for l2 years, so trust me I know what I am talkin about. Check out the best overseas plans, most reputable and trust me if you have health issues, problems fly to Singapore if need be; the rest can be handled in Bali hopefully. Americans are being held hostage by the caring, loving, Health Insurance Companies. Dental again is no comparison in cost; therefore, simple find a top notch dentist, a little more difficult but I believe the former owner Bert had a great dentist which should be listed.

Perfume more costly, make-up more costly ladies. However, designer purses, shoes, and clothing heavenly. I found a boutique in Ubud that had amazing purses and shoes for rock bottom prices. Animal in Ubud had fantastic quality and prices.

Food, fast food in Ubud and Campuhan has a number of amazing warang's with delicious food and great prices. Particularly, a lamb kabob with this to die for sauce with bumbu (spices) which is out of this world. Their soup is also very good and the prices are IMHO very reasonable for such delicious unique flavors. In campuhan very reasonably prices warang and very clean. Ate there umteen times.

Make-up too expensive, perfume, sama sama.

**Markit** · 19-02-2010 09:39 AM

Dear, dear Noodles somebody has to tell you this so I will do it in my usual kind and caring manor: I don't generally understand WTF you are on about. Sorry, you always make a great deal of effort and write long and winding posts that are quite complicated - I think!? But see there's the rub - I'm never quite sure what you mean or intend.

With this latest offering I think you may be telling the world what you think the prices on Bali are like. Or are you asking?

Do you want others to contribute? Why? I mean to whom is it pointed? Local Bule, foreigners coming here, tax and immigration, who???

There is a difference!

I know how it is to go to all the effort to write a long and complicated post in a foreign language. And the worst thing is to get no reply.

Can I suggest that you stop using Google translate - it doesn't work! and maybe keep it simple?

There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know.
Donald Rumsfeld

**lumumba** · 19-02-2010 10:12 AM

Car insurance (++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++)
I have I full/comp and for what I pay here I will not be able to have third party fire and theft.

Car petrol/maintenance costs (+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++)
Are you kidding me? The cost in UK is £1.12 (17,528rp) Italy €1.32 (16,670) Germany €1.38 (17,428)

Maintenance (+++)
Pay nothing compare to Europe or wherever.

Clothing (= +) depend on what you are looking for. I don’t see any problems here.

I would like to add few new one to the above list but I have decided not to.

**Jimbo** · 19-02-2010 05:29 PM

In the last year the dollar and the pound have dropped 10% of their value which if you are on a fixed income can be devastating. Compared with 4 years ago the value has gone down over 20%

**Jesse** · 19-02-2010 05:56 PM

With the Dollar and Euro recovering fast, the result might differ a few years later. The internet markets have been helping the Bali economy too so I pray living here is a good investment.

**MiSO** · 19-02-2010 10:31 PM

You write 'home'... that's a bit tricky, because for most expats Bali is their home.
The country where we lived before Bali? Or where we're originally from? Where we grew up, worked?
For you it's easy, because you have a 'home' to return to, d'you understand?
Anyway, I'll shut up and just answer your question.

"Better"...I don't know... but different, yes that's for sure. As it comes to money: I don't translate Rupiahs into Euros, because after a week you get a sense of the value of the Rups here. For example Japanese food is relatively just as "expensive" as in Europe. And housing (rentals) is relatively more expensive. When you know what it costs to build and for how much they rent it...well...balance is lacking.
.
.
.
I have a hard time answering your question, it is too broad and hits too many fields. You can't grade it in only +/-, explanation is needed!
Yes about everything is cheaper (so better?), but what about quality...? And choice? (always less choice than on mainland, except for the local stuff)

Shopping
13. Clothing (-) *excluding Designer brands
- There is cheap or Designer brands, nothing in between. (Designer brands is btw 'cheap')
- I find shopping less convenient, the irregular and high stoops, the heat outside, airco inside-35 Degr. Celsius outside
- Natural cosmetics (brands): hard to find. I tried many so called 'natural' soaps, cremes etc... mmm... my skin told me it was not so natural.
- Sportclothing..mmm...limited (and yoga things are more expensive than in Europe, so BYO)
- Gyms
+ Beautiful silk,sarongs, for tropical outfits, yep enough there is.
+ Beautiful handmade things of natural materials.

Traffic
-Roads are dark, have big holes, so less safe.
-I inhale more smoke (motorbikes, cars, fires along the road)
+haven't seen serious accidents so far
-public transportation, lacking (or dirty & old vehicle)

Food
- Quality veggies not so so-so
+Tropical fruits
- Avocados are watery
- Local food in general: fatty, sugared, MSG. Flavours are too strong, in my opinion not in balance (spicy I can handle)
+ Spongecake from Purimas, Jl. Kerobokan :-)

Cigarettes & booz
- Too cheap!! It's too easy for (young) people/ foreigners to start smoking!
Same with booz

But I know for some of you Bali is a real paradise...

Housing (rentals up to 4 mill. Rups/month in Seminyak & Ubud area)
-Houses are generally very dark, small windows. Too open. More effort is needed to find a suitable house than before (bright, spacious, everything closed) I pay slightly less than I did in Europe, and have less comfort and space (before I had 2 bedr, living, kitchen, garden etc.)
+But the views are amazing! This alone would cost a fortune where I lived before.

+ Different landscapes

- Internet, the costs and speed

Culture
-Religion is very prominent in daily life, streets. You have no other choice than to swallow it.
+People/family members looking after each other, grandparents living with their children til they go to Bali-heaven
+ Men look super in sarong, all of them! Also the 'ugly' ones!

Safety
-I don't have much faith in health care on Bali
-Mozzies
-Barking dogs coming after you when riding the bicycle...

++++ Weather

Conclusion:
Both countries/places are fine, but the weather is for me the most important plus.

**pollyanna** · 20-02-2010 06:09 AM

Noodles and Miso, I'm enjoying this post so thanks for taking the time to write down your observations. And I agree that adding some comments rather than only the + or - are really helpful.

**begonia** · 20-02-2010 12:43 PM

[QUOTE=MiSO;49062]
+ Men look super in sarong, all of them! Also the 'ugly' ones!

hehehe sorry sorry, I could not shut my mouth!!!
Miso, since I came to Bali the first time I found men look not only super but very very sexy with the sarong!!!!

+ eating outside +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I love to eat things selling on the stalls on the streets, mertabak, godoh (I am not sure how to write this), roti bakar, es kelapa, yagung (corn), sate ayam, sometimes tipat or bakso, pisang goreng, es campur, lumpia on the beach, rujak, salad fruit............
When I go to Spain, even I can not "afford" to go to a restaurant, buy a bocadillo (I love bocadillos, bread type of bagguete with many diferent things inside), eat tapas o even a pizza!!!!!!!!!!!! they are already sooooooooo expensive!!! one pizza in spain I think cost 10 euros!!!!!!!!!! and here in Ubud 2 or 3 euros!!!
I love the feeling to have the chance (the choice) to eat outside of the house without spending a lot money and enjoy the food as well as local people does.
Have a good weekend!!

**bolli** · 20-02-2010 07:10 PM

well maybe 6 years ago I may have said the lifestyle was better, but no longer. I can eat as cheap, shop as cheap, buy better quality white goods, enjoy a change of seasons without feeling constantly dusty, eat more variety and have a more luxurious home in Australia.
I also earn lots more.
These things I like, so Bali is still just a visiting friends, holiday destination. Maybe when I no longer need to work. ?

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