MOVE TO BALI, PROS AND CONS – Living and working in Bali is very different from visiting the island on vacation. There are stresses associated with living there, but they are experienced from a different angle than in the West. If you’re moving to Bali alone, you’ll have no one but yourself to rely on. There is a lot to adjust to when moving to a new country – especially if you’re an expat. Learn Bahasa Indonesia, make friends and be aware of the risks.

Is a move to Bali on your horizon? Read This If You Want To Move To Bali

Many visitors have been drawn to Bali by its beautiful beaches, monuments, temples, and other sights and activities. It’s no secret that Bali has become home to a plethora of five-star hotels, as well as some of the world’s finest spas and yoga studios. Things have changed in Bali since the ’70s, but the island’s unique culture remains unchanged. Famous Australian surfer Joel Parkinson, who has lived in Bali for about five years, has said, “The people in Bali are warm, friendly, and wonderful.” Many international surfing competitions have been won by professional surfer Joel Parkinson.

Moving to a sunny tropical island and escaping the stressful city life sounds like a dream come true. Many people realize that it’s only a dream and have no intention of pursuing it. Many visitors to Bali say they adore the paradise island but could never call it home. But there will always be a subset of tourists who admit they feel a deep connection to Bali: “After arriving in Bаl, I simply realized that I needed to stay,” I finally found my people and my home in Bali.

Like most of the expats in Bali, you’ve probably heard conflicting reports about the island before deciding to move there. You may have heard tales of great business opportunities, touching and inspiring experiences from people living in Bali, as well as tales of business investments that went horribly wrong and a fair share of terrifying and upsetting events. You can read all about Bali you want, but until you live there, you won’t know what it’s really like.

To be sure, Balié isn’t the paradise that most visitors expect it to be. Living and working in Bali is very different from visiting the island on vacation. There are stresses associated with life in Bali, but they are experienced from a different angle than in the West. Don’t assume that everything will go off without a hitch. Yes, you can buy food at street shops for Rp 5000, but visas, imported goods, education, school, and medical care are all very expensive in Bali. Wet or hot, exciting or dangerous, wonderful or dreadful, bаl can be both. Paradise Island is a place where you can either realize your dreams or get lost in the treacherous sea.

You may come to terms with the fact that you will be ripped off by some unscrupulous merchants if you are financially well-off. Things can and will be easier if you hire a local to help you navigate the complex necessities of daily life in Bali, but cutting yourself off from the reality of local life won’t serve you well in the long run. You will not have the background or knowledge to handle the difficulties of life in Bali.

Finding work in Bali isn’t a walk in the park. Employment vs. education is an extremely convoluted issue. Wages will be different from those in the West. The vast majority of Bali’s expat population is self-employed. If you’re serious about landing a job in Bali, though, you’ll need to demonstrate fluency in Bahasa Indonesia. After you’ve lived in Bali for a while and made the right contacts, things will get easier.

A family or couple who has decided to relocate to Bali can lean on and learn from each other’s experiences once they arrive. But if you and your partner don’t share a love of Balinese dance, things aren’t likely to go well. If you’re moving to Bali on your own, you’ll have no one but yourself to ponder your decision. In contrast, you’ll have to deal with many challenges on your own in the early stages. There is a lot to adjust to when moving to a new country, including finding a place to live, making friends, finding a way to make money, learning Bahasa Indonesia, becoming familiar with Bali, and learning how things work here. For the first few months, anyone who has never lived in Indonesia or Bali can expect a significant cultural shock. You might not recognize it as a cultural shock, and you might even think you’re doing well, but you’ll still be perplexed as to why your feelings are so complicated.
Learn Bahasa Indonesia, do some research on things to do in Bali, make some new friends, be aware of the risks, realize that some things are out of your control, and welcome the challenges ahead with open arms. If you truly desire to reside in Bali, you will figure out a way to do so. If you have a genuine affection for Bali, you will find that your time spent here is rewarded in spades by the wealth of invaluable experiences and lessons it affords.