Indonesia · Asia
Denpasar, Indonesia: cost, safety and best time to visit (2026)
Population: 670KCurrency: IDRTime zone: Asia/Makassar
US travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Best months to visit
Jun, Jul, Aug and Sep
highest visit score, Open-Meteo climate record
About Denpasar
Denpasar is the main city of Bali, in Indonesia, with a population of about 670,000. It is not the national capital, but it serves as the administrative and transport hub for the island. Visitors often pass through or base themselves nearby while exploring the wider region, and the city itself has a working mix of markets, government offices, and residential neighborhoods rather than a resort-style layout. Daily costs are modest: a budget traveler can expect to spend around $25 a day, a mid-range traveler about $60, and someone traveling in comfort closer to $130, which adds up to roughly $175, $420, or $910 over a full week. The best months to visit, based on long-term weather patterns, are June through September, when rainfall drops and sunshine hours climb toward 11 hours a day. Earlier months, January through March, are cheaper and quieter but noticeably wetter. Safety guidance for the country is general rather than specific to this one city, so it is worth reading in full before finalizing plans.
Weather through the year
Average high in °C and monthly rainfall in mm, from the Open-Meteo archive.
Jan
29°
245mm
Feb
30°
311mm
Mar
30°
203mm
Apr
30°
177mm
May
29°
160mm
Jun
28°
99mm
Jul
27°
91mm
Aug
28°
39mm
Sep
29°
116mm
Oct
30°
75mm
Nov
31°
181mm
Dec
30°
234mm
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a week in Denpasar cost?
Over seven days, a budget traveler should plan for about $175, a mid-range traveler about $420, and a traveler wanting more comfort about $910. These figures scale from the daily estimates of $25, $60, and $130.
When is the best time to visit?
June, July, August, and September are the best months, based on lower rainfall and more sunshine hours per day compared to the rest of the year. September, for example, still gets over 11 hours of sunshine a day while rainfall stays under 120mm.
Is Denpasar safe to visit?
The US State Department rates the country at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, and UK guidance flags terrorism risk, crime, and drink-spiking concerns, but these are country-level assessments rather than city-specific ratings. Standard precautions around registered transport, drink safety, and awareness in crowded areas are recommended.
Is a budget trip realistic here?
Yes, a budget of about $25 a day is workable for travelers who stick to simple lodging, local food, and public or shared transport. This covers the basics without much room for extras like paid tours or higher-end dining.
When is the cheapest time to go?
January, February, and March are the off-season months and tend to be the cheapest and quietest, though they also bring more rain, including 311mm in February, the wettest month of the year. Travelers who don't mind rain showers can find better value during this period.
What about food and getting around?
Local food is inexpensive and widely available, and transport within the city and to nearby areas is typically handled by taxi or ride-hailing apps, registered companies being the safer choice according to UK travel guidance. Prices for both fit comfortably within the daily budget and mid-range cost estimates.
Keep reading
More on Denpasar
Where it ranks
Country
Sources
- GeoNames city database — CC BY 4.0, fetched September 14, 2026
- Open-Meteo climate archive — CC BY 4.0, fetched September 21, 2026
- World Bank price level and exchange rate — CC BY 4.0, data year 2025
- US State Department travel advisories — public domain, fetched September 21, 2026
- UK FCDO foreign travel advice — Open Government Licence v3, fetched September 21, 2026
AI-written interpretation reviewed against the data above — claude-sonnet-5, generated September 21, 2026. Every number on this page comes from a dataset named here; the formulas are public.