BALI, INDONESIA

 Bali is a province of Indonesia and the westernmost of the Lesser Sunda

Islands. Located east of Java and west of Lombok, the province includes the
island of Bali and a few smaller neighbouring islands, notably Nusa
Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan. The provincial
capital, Denpasar, is the most populous city in the Lesser Sunda Islands and
the second largest, after Makassar, in Eastern Indonesia. Bali is the
only Hindu-majority province in Indonesia, with 83.5% of the population
adhering to Balinese Hinduism.

 Bali is part of the Coral Triangle, the area with the highest biodiversity of marine
species. In this area alone, over 500 reef-building coral species can be found.
For comparison, this is about seven times as many as in the entire Caribbean.
Bali is the home of the Subak irrigation system, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site. It is also home to a unified confederation of kingdoms composed of 10
traditional royal Balinese houses, each house ruling a specific geographic area.
The confederation is the successor of the Bali Kingdom. The royal houses are
not recognised by the government of Indonesia; however, they originated
before Dutch colonisation.

 The island of Bali lies 3.2 km (2.0 mi) east of Java, and is approximately 8
degrees south of the equator. Bali and Java are separated by the Bali Strait.
East to west, the island is approximately 153 km (95 mi) wide and spans
approximately 112 km (70 mi) north to south; administratively it covers
5,780 km2(2,230 sq mi), or 5,577 km2 (2,153 sq mi) without Nusa
Penida District its population density is roughly 750 people/km 2 (1,900
people/sq mi).

 Being just 8 degrees south of the equator, Bali has a fairly even climate all
year round. Average year-round temperature stands at around 30 °C (86 °F)
with a humidity level of about 85%.
 Day time temperatures at low elevations vary between 20 to 33 °C (68 to
91 °F), but the temperatures decrease significantly with increasing elevation.
 In 1970s, the Balinese economy was largely agriculture-based in terms of
both output and employment. Tourism is now the largest single industry in
terms of income, and as a result, Bali is one of Indonesia's wealthiest regions.
In 2003, around 80% of Bali's economy was tourism related. By end of June
2011, non-performing loan of all banks in Bali were 2.23%, lower than the
average of Indonesian banking industry non-performing loan (about 5%).

 The economy, however, suffered significantly as a result of the Islamists'

terrorist bombings in 2002 and 2005. The tourism industry has since
recovered from these events.
QUALITY OF LIFE IN BALI:

COST OF LIVING RANGE:

 $650 to $1,700 per month for a single person, families and couples sharing
rental costs will save a bit. And it’s possible to spend significantly more on a
higher lifestyle.

INTERNET:
 High speed internet is not widespread throughout Bali. Although you can find
internet in every corner of the island, Ubud is your best-bet for a solid, reliable
connection. Smaller towns and the beach communities have internet access,
but it can vary wildly. Expats in rural areas often rely on satellite internet.

CURRENCY:
 Indonesian Rupiah; pegged roughly 1:13,000 with the US dollar (IDR rate
here)

SAFETY:
 Relatively safe. Motorbikes are the preferred style of travel; while this is
convenient, it is also dangerous. The “Bali Kiss” is the name given to the
muffler burn and road-rash on the bodies of travellers who don’t understand
how to properly use a motorbike. Motorcycle accidents are common; it’s
advisable to carry an insurance policy that covers such accidents.
AVERAGE LOCAL SALARY:
 The minimum wage salary for a local in Bali is about $140 per month; those in
high paying jobs bring home around $500 per month .
 Notably for many expats is the cost of alcohol. Alcohol is highly taxed in Bali
and it will not fit into those on an extreme budget. If you are looking to live
somewhere both affordable in general, and affordable for a daily drink,
consider other spots in Southeast Asia like Thailand and Vietnam.

MEDICAL CARE
 Is a concern for some expats considering moving to Bali. The main
hospital, Sanglah Hospital, is located in Denpasar. If you have a major injury
or illness, this is where you will need to be treated. Other areas of the island
have clinics, but there is not a strong medical infrastructure and for a life-
threatening injury you would be using the Denpasar hospital. Additionally,
many expats report that they fly to Bangkok or Singapore for planned
surgeries and procedures.

PROPERTY PRICES IN BALI, INDONESIA:

POLLUTION IN BALI, INDONESIA: