Bali at a Glance
Moving to Bali
Indonesia is a cluster of more than 17,000 islands, including Bali.
When you move to Bali, it is probably expected of you to anticipate lush palm trees, white sandy beaches and vacation feeling year-round. Although this may indeed be the case, depending on your reason for moving to Bali, you should be prepared to enter a culture which may differ significantly from yours.
With its natural beauty and rich cultural history, Bali is indeed a favorite vacation spot; therefore, you should be prepared to be treated as a tourist after first moving to Bali. However, if you want to truly submerse yourself in Balinese life and take full advantage of moving to Bali, you will quickly note that simply by being curious and open, you will see the culture unfold itself in front of your eyes.
Moving to Bali: Your Arrival
Bali’s international airport, Ngurah Rai International Airport, is easily accessible from most cities. It is located on Tuban Island, not far from the island’s southernmost tourist attraction points in Bali, and is also easily accessible from Denpasar.
It is recommended to pack light when moving to Bali, as customs rules on what you are permitted to bring into the country are strict. Shipping a container can be quite expensive as well, as the daily rates are very high and it is possible that you are required to leave your container in the harbor for several days or even weeks while awaiting clearance.
Additionally, one should keep in mind when moving to Bali that the humid climate may not necessarily be ideal for some furniture. Ideally you will have put in storage or sold most of your furniture before your move to Bali, to avoid any unpleasant surprises either at customs or during the rainy season. Rest assured that moving to Bali does not mean dropping off the face of the earth, and that there are many furniture stores where one can easily and inexpensively furnish one’s home.
Move to Bali: Accommodation
Before you move to Bali it is a good idea to get some sort of feeling for what expects you in terms of where to settle down.
When moving to Bali you will discover that most Balinese live in bungalows with large shaded terraces to escape the daytime highs. Expats living in Bali who are looking for something more conventional can rest assured that there are plenty of expat housing areas with caretakers for the grounds. If you move to Bali and plan on living in such accommodation catering to foreign residents, be aware that you will be paying more than what you may expect from the standard of living.
Moving to Bali: Expat Destinations
Denpasar is the capital of Bali with roughly 370,000 inhabitants. Unfortunately, over recent years, large quantities of residential and commercial building sites have sprouted across the city, drastically reducing the amount of green space for its residents. In addition, people moving to Bali and familiar with its unique architectural style, will notice that Denpasar has become a smaller version of Jakarta with close to no buildings in the original Balinese design.
Singaraja is Bali’s former capital city and borders Bali’s National Park on the west side of the island. As it has only 81,000 inhabitants, expats moving to Bali will be met with less congestion and fewer crowds. Singaraja boasts an impressive amount of preserved colonial buildings, which give this tropical city extra flair.
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