Indonesia · budget cars
Cheap car rental in Bali
The lowest daily rates on car rentals in Bali, Indonesia. Expedia Cars compares budget brands against the majors — economy cars and the majors side by side.
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What things cost in Bali
A warung plate of nasi campur costs 30,000 to 60,000 rupiah, while a Seminyak restaurant charges several times that plus service and tax. Scooter hire runs about 70,000 to 100,000 a day and a car with driver roughly 600,000 to 800,000 for eight hours. Temple entry is usually 50,000 including sarong hire. An hour-long Balinese massage in Ubud sits near 150,000.
What first-timers get wrong in Bali
Every foreign visitor owes a 150,000 rupiah tourist levy under the 2025 provincial regulation, paid online through the Love Bali platform and shown as a QR voucher on arrival. Riding a scooter without an international permit voids your insurance and invites roadside fines. Distances lie badly: Ubud to Uluwatu looks short and takes two to three hours. Grab and Gojek are blocked from collecting passengers in parts of Ubud and Canggu.
What's actually worth your time in Bali
Uluwatu earns the evening: a clifftop temple plus the kecak chant performed at sunset in the open amphitheatre, worth booking ahead. Tanah Lot is a sunset photograph reached through a long souvenir gauntlet. Tegallalang's rice terraces have become paid viewpoints and swings, while Jatiluwih in Tabanan is the wider UNESCO-listed version with a fraction of the people. Tirta Empul's purification spring wants a sarong and patience with the queue.
What to eat in Bali
Babi guling, the spit-roast suckling pig, is a morning dish that sells out by early afternoon at places like Ibu Oka in Ubud. Bebek betutu takes a day of slow steaming inside banana leaf and has to be ordered ahead. Sate lilit presses minced fish onto lemongrass stems instead of skewering cubes. At Jimbaran the beach grills sell fish by the kilo at sunset, with the price agreed before you sit.
Bali after dark
Character shifts within twenty minutes of driving. Canggu runs beach clubs and DJ sets that wind down around midnight, Seminyak is the polished version at Potato Head and Ku De Ta, and Kuta remains the loud, cheap end. Ubud largely stops by eleven and offers dance performances instead. On Nyepi, the Balinese new year in March, the entire island shuts for 24 hours with the airport included.
When to go to Bali
| Best months for cheap-cars | Avg daily high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| July | 18°C / 64°F | 21 days |
| June | 19°C / 66°F | 23 days |
| August | 19°C / 66°F | 23 days |
The month to avoid is January — around 19°C (66°F) with roughly 30 rain days. Prices and crowds track the weather here: July is the sweet spot, January the month most people skip.
Pack for peak season: Layers — t-shirts under a light jacket or sweater, Rain gear is non-negotiable — expect rain on roughly 21 days, Comfortable walking shoes — every guide on this site assumes you'll use them.
Where to base yourself in Bali
- Seminyak — Beach clubs, boutiques, dining strip — touristy but polished.
- Ubud — Jungle, rice terraces, yoga retreats, spiritual heart of the island.
- Canggu — Surf breaks, café culture, the digital-nomad capital.
- Uluwatu — Cliffside temples, sunset bars, world-class surf.