How Cheap Is Indonesia?
Very. In local warungs you'll eat a full meal for €1–2. A comfortable guesthouse in Bali costs €15–25 per night. A local bus or shared minivan costs cents per kilometre. If you eat and sleep like a local, €30 a day is very comfortable. Even living relatively well — occasional nicer restaurants, AC accommodation — €50 a day covers everything.
Accommodation on a Budget
Homestays (often called 'losmen') are the cheapest and often most characterful option. In Ubud you'll find lovely family-run guesthouses with breakfast included for €15–20 per night. In Java, budget hotels in cities like Yogyakarta start at €10 per night. In Lombok and the Gili Islands, beach bungalows go for €20–35.
Food Budget
Eat at warungs for breakfast and lunch. A nasi campur (mixed rice with side dishes) at a good warung costs €1–1.50. Street food (bakso carts, sate stands, nasi goreng vendors) is even cheaper. Save nicer restaurants for the occasional dinner treat.
Transport Budget
Use GoJek or Grab for short urban hops (rarely more than €2). Use public buses (angkot) or shared minivans (travel) for longer journeys — slow but very cheap. Book domestic flights early — Lion Air and Citilink often have sales with flights for €20–40.
Sights Budget
Many of Indonesia's greatest sights are cheap or free. Borobudur costs around €25 for foreign visitors (worth it). Most beaches are free. Sunrise hikes up volcanic peaks (Ijen, Batur, Rinjani) cost €5–15 with a guide.