Australian families can save at least $320 a week by moving to Bali – realestate.com.au

An Aussie family has revealed why they packed up their lives and moved to Bali.

Kate and Leigh were chatting casually in a cafe in Sydney’s Erskineville when they made the bold decision to move abroad with their two children.

“I imagined us wandering aimlessly around Sydney, drinking coffee with no real purpose. But then we realised: why not do something extraordinary?” Kate told me The Daily Mail.

Within months, the family had traded the sky-high costs of Sydney for the breezy affordability of Bali. They settled in Canggu.

One of the things the family noticed was the cost of living.

Villas ranged from $25,000 to $140,000 per year, and often included housekeeping staff, cleaners, gardeners and pool maintenance.

The $25,000 price tag equates to $480 per week, a substantial difference from the average weekly cost of renting a home in Australia for $800 per week, according to PropTrack data.

The cost of a local meal for a family of four is just $15, while transportation via Gojek scooters rarely cost more than $1.20.

“We live in gym clothes,” Leigh said.

“We’ve simplified everything. It’s healthier, cheaper and we spend more time together.”

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Kate, Leigh and their children (pictured) packed up their lives in Sydney and moved to Bali. Image: supplied

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The family’s story comes as a number of Australians move abroad as the cost of living continues to rise.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, more than 30,000 Australians left than returned in 2022-2023, followed by more than 24,000 in 2023-2024, the highest net departures in almost a decade.

Another hotspot that attracts Australians is Dubai, thanks to its zero income tax, safety and luxurious lifestyle.

As more Australians move abroad, experts fear a ‘brain drain’, a loss of talent to countries that offer better lifestyles and financial freedom.

Simone Collins, founder of Our Year in Bali, says the motivations for the move are changing.

“It used to be all about adventure,” she told Daily Mail.

“Now it’s about survival. Families come to Bali because they are overwhelmed by the cost of living in Australia, especially childcare, housing and daily expenses.”

The family says the changes in the cost of living are most noticeable in their lifestyle in Bali. Image: Instagram

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Ms Collins told the newspaper she has seen a wave of inquiries from both young families and retirees, especially from Sydney and Melbourne.

“People are exhausted. They work long hours, pay high taxes and miss time with their children. In Bali, their money goes further and they get their time back,” Ms Collins said.

“Food is at least 30 to 40 percent cheaper. Transport, domestic help and childcare are considerably more affordable.

“Even if housing costs are comparable, you get a villa with a pool and staff, and not a cramped apartment.”

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