Private vacation houses or rental villas are among the most popular forms of accommodation in Bali. Tourists love to feel at home, whether staying on the island for a few days, weeks, or even months.
Bali’s vacation houses and private rental villas range widely in size, price, and quality. The growing cost of these private rental rooms, however, is one thing that is consistent across the board.
Some people believe that rising rental rates are disproportionate to the size and quality of the villas offered. Even though a portion of the price of private vacation and long-stay villas in Bali can be attributed to the high season, the rising cost of living and inflation, and the post-pandemic economic recovery period.
Ni Luh Djelantik, a social justice activist and entrepreneur from Bali, has joined the internet discussion that is now trending about how the locals are being criticised by short- and long-term foreign tourists in Bali who believe that rental villa costs are skyrocketing.
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Djelantik published screenshots from the Ubud Community Facebook group in a post on Instagram. The group is one of dozens of social media groups and WhatsApp chats on the island dedicated to sharing available rental property.
The photos were taken from an advertisement by Ubud local Made Erik Hart, renting out a recently constructed traditional joglo-style home close to the city’s centre.
Compact yet inclusive, the one-bedroom rental home has a fully functional kitchen, bathroom with a bathtub, a garden, air conditioning, a water heater, and internet speeds of up to 100 Mbps. IDR 13 million (USD 850) is the monthly rental charge, which includes WiFi, electricity, and water.
One netizen compared the freshly constructed teakwood home to a run-down garden shed in one of the comments on the picture, calling the price “totally crazy” and “super expensive.”
Djelantik has spoken on the matter. She is frequently complimented for her commitment to a fair and direct strategy for resolving disputes between locals and tourists in Bali.
Djelantik urged readers to “think before mocking” in her post. She included an estimate of the costs associated with purchasing land, constructing a villa, furnishing it, and maintaining the property over time.
On the other hand, a large number of foreigners who stay in Bali for an extended period believe that the recent increase in rental prices is excessive given the calibre of the villa they are renting and that rental prices should remain reasonable and in line with local costs rather than rising to match those of comparable properties in Europe, Australia, or North America.
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