“Should I really do this on my own?”
It’s one of the most common questions we hear from women considering a solo retirement in Bali, and it’s completely understandable. Moving overseas alone, especially after a big life transition, takes courage. The logistics feel daunting, the unknowns feel enormous, and the idea of being far from home without a partner or close family nearby can feel risky.
But here is what we have seen time and again through the women we have helped relocate: Bali is not just manageable as a solo retiree. For many women, it turns out to be the best decision they have ever made.
Cath Kirkham, a retired educator from Brisbane, Australia, is one of them. She moved to Sanur earlier this year on her own and has not looked back. Her story is one we come back to often because it answers so many of the questions we hear from women in the same position.
Is Bali Actually Safe for Solo Women Retirees?
Let’s address this head on, because it is the question that sits underneath almost every other concern.
Bali is generally very safe for solo women. Crime against tourists and expats is rare. The Balinese are deeply community-oriented, and that extends to how they treat the people who choose to live among them. Many solo female expats report feeling safer in Bali than in their home cities.
That said, smart habits matter wherever you live. Here are a few things that make a real difference:
- Choose your area thoughtfully. Sanur in particular has a strong reputation as one of the safest, most settled areas for expat retirees. It is calm, well-lit, walkable, and has a long-established community.
- Consider a gated community or residential compound. This is not just about physical security. It also gives you immediate neighbours and a built-in sense of community from day one, which is valuable when you are new.
- Get to know your neighbours early. This is one of the most practical tips we give every solo movers. When the electricity goes out, your Wi-Fi drops, or you need help with something you cannot Google your way through, having a trusted local contact nearby is genuinely invaluable.
- Use apps like Grab or Gojek for transport rather than hailing random motorbikes. They are affordable, trackable, and the drivers are rated.
Why Sanur Is the Top Choice for Solo Female Retirees in Bali
When Cath was choosing where to settle, she was drawn to Sanur for very specific reasons. She wanted somewhere close to the beach, with a relaxed atmosphere, a mix of local warungs and Western-friendly cafes, easy access to the airport, and proximity to quality medical facilities.
Sanur ticked every box. It is not loud or chaotic like some parts of Canggu. It does not have the altitude and remoteness of Ubud. It is connected, accessible, and has one of the most established expat communities on the island, with a particularly strong presence of older solo expats who have been living there for years.
For the client we spoke with recently, a 62-year-old retired teacher from Queensland planning a solo move to Bali in early 2027, Sanur was the natural answer for the same reasons. She specifically asked about gated communities for the added comfort of having neighbours close by, and that is something we actively help clients find through our network on the ground.
Healthcare in Bali for Solo Female Expats: What to Know
Healthcare is a completely legitimate concern for anyone retiring abroad, and it deserves a real answer rather than a reassuring brush-off.
Sanur is particularly well positioned here. It sits close to some of Bali’s most reputable hospitals and medical clinics, and international-standard care has improved significantly in recent years. Dental care is excellent and a fraction of the Australian price. Cath has already had her six-monthly check-up and clean and was impressed by both the standard and the cost.
For solo expats in particular, we recommend a service called Padma Care, a healthcare concierge that costs around $30 AUD per month. It provides vetted doctor referrals and, critically, hospital advocacy. This means if you end up in a medical situation where you need someone in your corner to navigate the system, cut through language barriers, or make sure you are being treated appropriately, Padma Care does that for you. For a solo woman without a partner to advocate for her, this kind of service is genuinely reassuring.
You will also need a local Indonesian or Asia-wide health insurance policy. Your Australian Medicare card does not cover you overseas and neither will basic travel insurance, so sorting this before you arrive is essential. Our Year in Bali work with great insurance providers who can give quotes for retirees up to age 80 for health insurance.
Building Community as a Solo Retiree in Bali
This is where Bali surprises people. Solo retirees consistently tell us they expected to feel lonely and discovered the opposite. The expat community in Bali is warm, welcoming, and genuinely easy to tap into.
Cath’s experience is a perfect example. Within a short time of arriving in Sanur, she had joined Facebook and WhatsApp groups that organise regular dinners, drinks, and social events. She formed real friendships with other expats. She was also welcomed into a local Balinese family, who have since invited her to a baby ceremony, a wedding, a cremation, a house-building ceremony, and temple celebrations on holy days.
On top of that, she had done an intensive Language course in her previous visits to Bali.
That depth of connection is not unusual in Bali. It is one of the things that makes it so different from retiring quietly in a suburb somewhere back home.
Groups and Communities Worth Joining in Bali
Getting plugged in quickly makes the early weeks much smoother. Here are some of the best ways to find your people:
- Facebook groups for expats in your area (search Retire in Bali, Sanur Expats, Bali Expats, Women in Bali)
- WhatsApp communities
- Other retirees that have worked with Our Year in Bali
- Morning walking groups, yoga classes, and beach fitness sessions, all of which tend to have a regular crowd of expats
- Language classes, particularly Bahasa Indonesia courses like Cinta Bahasa, which are a brilliant way to meet other newcomers and locals simultaneously
- Local cafes and warungs where the same regulars turn up. Simply showing up consistently is often enough
Cath’s advice is simple: join a few groups, chat with the locals, and give it time. Bali has a way of drawing the right people to you.
The Right Visa for Solo Retirees Relocating to Bali
If you are over 55 and planning to retire in Bali long-term, the Retirement KITAS is the most appropriate visa. The cleanest way to apply for it is offshore, meaning you submit your application from Australia before you arrive. This approach waives the local requirement to hire two members of Indonesian staff and have a lease agreement, which significantly simplifies the process.
You will need to demonstrate proof of funds, roughly $3,000 AUD per month for three months, and your visa agent will act as your local sponsor. You can use a short-term address for the initial application and update it (called an Address Mutation) for a small fee once you are settled. The visa is renewable annually and after four consecutive years can convert to a KITAP, which is a five-year stay permit.
It sounds complicated written out like that, but with the right support it is genuinely straightforward. This is exactly the kind of process we walk our clients through step by step.
What Does It Actually Cost to Retire Solo in Bali?
This depends significantly on your lifestyle, but solo retirees in Sanur are typically very comfortable on $2,000 to $3,500 AUD per month. That generally covers accommodation, daily meals at a mix of local warungs and Western cafes, transport via Grab and Gojek, health insurance, Padma Care, and activities and day trips.
If you want a two-bedroom villa with a pool to have space for visiting family and friends, as many of our clients do, budget approx $2,000+/- AUD per month just for accommodation in Sanur (subject to location, length of stay, inclusions etc). That is still a significant saving compared to renting anything comparable in Brisbane, Sydney, or Melbourne.
Cath’s advice on this is worth following: prepare a flexible budget before you go, identify your non-negotiables, and find local alternatives for everything else.
How Our Year in Bali Supports Solo Female Retirees
Moving to a new country on your own is a different kind of challenge from moving as a couple or a family. There is no one to divide the research with, no second opinion to reality-check decisions, and no built-in support system when things feel uncertain.
That is exactly where Our Year in Bali comes in. We help solo retirees like Cath, and like the client we spoke with recently, navigate every part of the process: visa applications, finding the right area and property, healthcare setup, insurance, community introductions, and ongoing support once you are on the ground.
The Silver Package is what we most commonly recommend for solo retirees who are already familiar with Bali on holidays. It includes full onboarding, access to our trusted network of providers, property search support, and resource guides covering every aspect of the move.
Key Takeaways
- Bali is genuinely safe for solo women retirees, particularly in Sanur
- Getting to know your neighbours early is one of the most practical things you can do
- Healthcare is accessible and affordable, especially with Padma Care support
- The expat community is warm and easy to connect with through Facebook and WhatsApp groups and you can get involved in so many great activities and hobbies
- The Retirement KITAS is the right visa, and applying offshore is the smoothest route
- Solo retirees can live very comfortably in Bali on $2,000 to $3,500 AUD per month
- Get your finances in order prior to arriving (i.e. income and assets, pension, accounting and tax, will etc)
- You do not need to figure all of this out alone
Planning your own solo move to Bali? Book a free discovery call with Our Year in Bali and get personalised guidance built around your timeline, budget, and lifestyle goals for your solo retirement.
