Tax Rate
#15
of 124 cities
19%
Current value (lower is better)
#123 of 124
Asia
Bali
Indonesia
Indonesia
How do salaries and expenses in Bali compare to Irvine?
This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Bali compared to Irvine, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.
Community Insights
NewBali remains a top destination for the lifestyle-focused software engineer, particularly those who value surfing and sunsets over reliable infrastructure. While the financial benefits of geo-arbitrage are undeniable for those earning foreign currency, the reality of living here involves navigating chaotic traffic, spotty internet, and increasing pollution. It is not a tech hub for local employment (median salary ~$13k/year) but rather a playground for remote workers who can tolerate the developing world's friction in exchange for a villa lifestyle.
Sentiment is increasingly mixed. While newcomers often enjoy the "honeymoon phase" of cheap luxury and tropical vibes, long-term residents and recent discussions highlight growing frustration with overcrowding, gentrification, and the traffic crisis in 2024/2025. Many experienced nomads now view Bali as a seasonal destination rather than a permanent home, often leaving during the rainy season or when infrastructure fatigue sets in.
Async-first remote workers who do not have strict meeting schedules.
Surfers and wellness enthusiasts who prioritize access to the ocean or yoga studios over big-city amenities.
Those earning USD/EUR/GBP who want to maximize their savings rate or lifestyle quality.
Engineers with strict US-time zone meetings, as the 12+ hour difference often leads to burnout.
Those who rely on 100% uptime internet or low latency for high-frequency trading or competitive gaming.
People who prefer walkable cities or are sensitive to heat, humidity, and air pollution.
Updated 11/29/2025
A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Irvine.
0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.
Rankings
Tax Rate
#15
of 124 cities
19%
Current value (lower is better)
Cost of Living
#33
of 124 cities
36/100
Current value (lower is better)
Community Events
#75
of 124 cities
0 events on luma
Current value
Safety Index
#81
of 124 cities
49.5/100
Current value
Comfortable Weather
#99
of 124 cities
30/100 weather score
Current value
Home Affordability
#111
of 124 cities
≈17.8 yrs to buy 80m²
Current value
Pollution Score
#112
of 124 cities
79/100
Current value (lower is better)
Net Income
#118
of 124 cities
$10,701/yr
Current value
Purchasing Power
#123
of 124 cities
How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Bali compared to Irvine?
Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Bali to maintain the same standard of living.
Bali has 0 Luma events listed.
Irvine has no listed Luma events for comparison.