Is It Cheaper to Eat Out or Cook at Home in Bali?
We get asked all the time… do you actually cook in Bali? And is it cheaper than takeaway? Well… $15 x 6 burgers + drinks OR $20 for groceries to make tuna quiche, salad, and steamed corn. Sometimes takeaway wins, sometimes cooking does, but I love knowing what’s going into our food (and not eating grab/gojek every night!). And yep, you can order super cheap meals on the apps too... it just depends on the day.
We get this question all the time: Is it cheaper to eat out or cook at home in Bali? The answer? Well, it depends!
If you’re traveling with your family and trying to stick to a budget, here’s a typical breakdown from our own Bali kitchen table. One night, we grabbed six burgers and drinks for the family through a delivery app — that came to about $15 USD. Not bad, right?
But on another evening, we spent just $20 USD on groceries and whipped up a homemade tuna quiche with a fresh salad and steamed corn. Plenty of food, cleaner eating, and leftovers included!
While cooking at home can be more affordable in the long run — especially when shopping local markets for produce and staples — Bali’s food delivery apps like Gojek and Grab make it super tempting (and sometimes shockingly cheap) to order in. You can find tasty local meals for less than $2 USD per dish if you're sticking to nasi campur or warung-style eats.
We love the flexibility of mixing it up. Some days, we're all about the convenience of takeaway, especially after a long beach day with the kids. Other times, cooking at home not only saves money but lets us know exactly what’s going into our meals (super handy for picky eaters or dietary restrictions).
So, is it cheaper to eat out or cook in Bali? It really comes down to your family’s lifestyle and preferences. The great part? Bali offers both options affordably, so you can enjoy a delicious balance while living or vacationing here.
