The real cost of running villa in Bali
28
Jul
The real cost of running villa in Bali
aka: Why Owning a Bali Villa Isn’t Just “Passive Income Vibes”
So you wanna own a villa in Bali?
You’re imagining waking up to ocean breeze, checking Booking.com and seeing money rolling in…
But let’s be so real right now:
Running a villa in Bali is not cheap.
Like, AT ALL.
The villas you see on Instagram?
Yeah, they cost a small fortune to maintain.
And because ATERA Hospitality lives this every day, we’re giving you the REAL, unfiltered breakdown of what it actually costs to keep a Bali villa running — and running well.
Let’s dive in before you accidentally think this is some "set it and forget it" investment. ✨
1. STAFF — The Heart (and biggest expense) of the Villa
Gen Z loves “minimalism” but trust me, villas DO NOT run on minimal staff.
A functioning villa needs:
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A housekeeper (or two, if you're boujee)
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A gardener
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A pool guy
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A villa manager
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Security (aka your nighttime guardian angel)
Monthly damage:
👉 USD 1,200 — 2,000+
Luxury villas?
Add another zero emotionally. 😭
And no, you cannot “cut costs” with fewer staff.
Guests WILL complain and your rating WILL plummet.
2. ELECTRICITY — Bali’s most toxic relationship
AC running all day?
Pool pumps working nonstop?
Hot showers five times a day? (Tourists LOVE long showers lol)
Say hello to your bill:
👉 USD 300 — 1,200/month
Yes, electricity in Bali is expensive.
No, you cannot avoid it.
Unless you want guests melting like ice cream.
3. WATER — Not expensive, but sneaky
Regular bill? Small.
Hidden problems? Big.
Water pump dies?
Bye USD 200.
Fancy bathtub in your villa?
Say goodbye to your water savings. 💀
4. POOL MAINTENANCE — The sparkly blue money eater
That IG-worthy pool?
Yeah, it doesn’t clean itself.
Monthly pool care:
👉 USD 80 — 350
One big rainstorm?
Your pool guy will cry.
And so will your wallet.
5. LAUNDRY — The endless loop of towels and sheets
Guests LOVE fresh linen.
Guests also LOVE using 7 towels a day.
So your laundry bill becomes:
👉 USD 150 — 350/month
Plus linen replacement because stains happen.
(And no, you can’t charge them for every little stain unless you want a 3-star review.)
6. REPAIRS — The “surprise!” category
Running a villa is basically:
-
Fix something
-
Another thing breaks
-
Repeat
Common Bali villa pain:
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AC leaks
-
WiFi dying in the heat
-
Garden floods
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Termites (yes, they’re real and they’re unbothered)
-
Pool tiles popping off
Monthly average: USD 100 — 400
Big repairs? USD 1,000+
Pain? Limitless.
7. GARDEN MAINTENANCE — Jungle aesthetic, jungle cost
Tropical gardens look cute…
until you realize they grow like they’re on steroids.
Monthly cost:
👉 USD 100 — 200
Fancy gardens?
Double it.
8. AMENITIES — Small things that low-key add up
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Shampoo
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Soap
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Coffee
-
Tea
-
100 bottles of water
-
Fresh flowers
-
Scent diffusers for ✨vibes✨
Monthly total: USD 50 — 150
Luxury setups? More.
9. OTA COMMISSIONS — The silent killer
Airbnb & Booking.com taketh away:
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Airbnb fee: 3–15%
-
Booking.com: 15–20%
-
Management fee: 15–25%
You list your villa for USD 300/night?
You might only get USD 180–220.
“Passive income” who?
Never heard of her.
10. TAXES & COMMUNITY FEES
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Property tax
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Permits
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Waste management
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Banjar fees (local community support)
Monthly: USD 50 — 150
Small but unavoidable.
SO WHAT’S THE REAL TOTAL?
🏡 Normal 3–4 bedroom villa:
👉 USD 2,000 — 3,500/month
🏰 Luxury villa:
👉 USD 4,000 — 8,000+/month
And to break even?
You need around 45–60% occupancy — consistently.
Suddenly “buy a villa and make money” doesn’t sound that simple, right? 😭
BUT HERE’S WHY PEOPLE STILL DO IT
Because when managed properly, a villa becomes:
✨ A lifestyle investment
✨ A long-term asset
✨ A profitable business
✨ A slice of Bali paradise
✨ A legacy
And that’s exactly where ATERA Hospitality comes in.
We handle the chaos —
so owners handle the champagne.
Thinking of managing or owning a villa?
ATERA covers everything:
✔ Full operations
✔ Staff training
✔ Pricing strategy
✔ OTA optimization
✔ Maintenance oversight
✔ Guest experience management
✔ Revenue reporting
You get the income + the vibes.
We handle the stress.
