16 destinations · 6 comparison metrics · instant results

Bali vs Costa Rica

Bali from about $45/day against Costa Rica from about $70/day — compared on daily cost, the months to go and what each one is actually best for. Add a third destination below to widen the comparison.

🇮🇩

Bali, Indonesia

Southeast Asia

BeachSpiritualDigital NomadSurfing

🇨🇷

Costa Rica

Central America

WildlifeEco-TourismAdventureBeaches

Destination 3

Metric	🇮🇩 Bali, Indonesia Southeast Asia	🇨🇷 Costa Rica Central America
Daily budget	$45–$80/day budget → mid	$70–$120/day budget → mid
Safety	Level 2 · Exercise a high degree of cautionAustralian Govt advice, 2026-10-07	Level 2 · Exercise a high degree of cautionAustralian Govt advice, 2026-03-12
Visa	Visa on Arrival The 30 days extends ONCE to 60, applied for online before it expires. Overstay is IDR 1m/day.	Visa-free · up to 180 days at officer discretion Return ticket and proof of about US$100 per month of stay are asked for on arrival.
Internet	🟡 Good	🟡 Good
Best months	JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec	JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Vibe	BeachSpiritualDigital NomadSurfing	WildlifeEco-TourismAdventureBeaches
Avg meal	$2–8/meal	$6–15/meal
Stay	$15–60/night	$30–100/night
Best for	Solo travelers, couples, digital nomads, surfers	Wildlife enthusiasts, adventure seekers, eco-travelers
Avoid	July–August (peak crowds), Nyepi Day (everything closed)	May–November (green/rainy season — still beautiful, just wetter + cheaper)

Destination details

🇮🇩

Bali, Indonesia

Southeast Asia

Ubud rice terraces

Seminyak beach clubs

Mount Batur sunrise

Tanah Lot temple

Language: Bahasa Indonesia / English spoken widely

Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)

Transport: $5–15/day (scooter)

🇨🇷

Costa Rica

Central America

Arenal volcano

Manuel Antonio sloths

Monteverde cloud forest

White-water rafting

Language: Spanish / English widely spoken

Currency: Costa Rican Colón (CRC)

Transport: $10–25/day (bus or rental car)

Verify before you book

Daily costs here are planning estimates, not quotes, and the visa and safety figures are editorial summaries rather than official determinations. Entry rules in particular change without notice and depend on your own passport — confirm them against these primary sources before you spend money or board a flight.

IATA Travel Centre entry requirementsPassport, visa and health rules by nationality and destination — the dataset airlines check at check-in.US State Department travel advisoriesOfficial US destination risk levels, entry requirements and country-specific safety guidance.UK FCDO foreign travel adviceUK government destination advice covering safety, security, health, entry, and local laws.Australia Smartraveller destinationsAustralian government destination advice levels and recent advisory changes.