Steven and Lillian, along with their children Eden (7) and Franklin (6), swapped their busy Sydney routine for a new life in Bali earlier this year. What began as a planned two-year trial quickly turned into something much bigger, just eight months in, they already feel at home and hope to stay for many years to come. Drawn by a desire for balance, cultural exposure, and a slower pace of life, the family has embraced Berawa’s vibrant cafés, welcoming community, and laid-back beach energy.
In this interview, they share what inspired their move, how they’ve settled into everyday life, and what advice they have for other families considering the same leap.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and where you are originally from?
We are Steven and Lillian, with our 2 kids, Eden (7) and Franklin (6). We are from Sydney, Australia, and have lived there for most of our lives.
How long have you been here, and how long do you plan to stay?
We have been here for 8 months and originally told ourselves it would be a 2-year experiment, but we love it so much that we have decided to call Bali home for the long term and hope to stay for several more years.
What inspired your move?
We’ve always had a soft spot for Bali and have holidayed here over the years, including a 3-month stint back when our daughter was a baby and we were in between jobs. It was during this extended stay that we first realised we could genuinely see ourselves living in Bali. But life as we knew it resumed, and we parked the idea for another 7 years – until now.
While life in Sydney was incredibly pleasant, we could literally picture how every day for the next 10 years would pan out if we stayed there. We found ourselves caught up in a typical busy cycle that was on repeat, where every year seemed to involve more work, more stress, but somehow less enjoyment. We craved something different for our family.
We also wanted our kids to feel comfortable living throughout Asia, to open potential doors for their future. We love seeing them experience the vibrancy and delicious food, but more importantly, learn to understand cultural sensitivities and build empathy for all of the diversity that comes with Bali.
How did you come across Our Year in Bali, and why was the service valuable to you?
Our Year in Bali popped up on a Google search when we first started looking into the move. Simone’s guidance has been reassuring, and we still refer to her “Bali Bible” of contacts frequently. What really stands out is how much she genuinely cares about making each person’s move to Bali the best it can be – she really wants it to work out for you. She’s a great listener and makes it her priority to understand what each family is looking for.
Once we were on the ground here, she connected us to fellow school parents or like-minded previous clients. We’ve forged good friendships off the back of her introductions, and this has played a big part in making Bali feel like home quickly.
Where do you live in Bali?
We live in Berawa and chose the area to be near our children’s school. We knew that traffic could be an issue in the Canggu area and wanted to be within walking distance to school, gym, grocery stores, and eateries.
Berawa is so energetic and fun. It’s a wonderful clash of bustling cafes and trendy shops, but also family-friendly facilities and relaxed beachy vibes. While it can get busy at times, we love the buzz and, for now, are enjoying that it’s the complete opposite of the quiet suburban life we had for the last decade.
What school did you choose, and why was it the right fit?
Education is a priority for us and would have been a dealbreaker if Bali didn’t have a school that we felt was suitable. Fortunately, our kids love going to Montessori School Bali. They have always been in the Montessori education system, so it made sense to follow this path. We are thankful that it has turned out to be all we hoped for – passionate teachers, lovely classmates from all around the world, and a very welcoming parent community.
How does everyday life in Bali compare to back home financially?
This is a tricky one. Our fixed costs are big and comparable to Sydney (if not more): rent, school fees, visas, and health insurance. We knew this coming in from prior research, but we still find rental prices in Berawa baffling. However, we manage to keep our everyday costs like groceries, eating out, entertainment, and transport to around 1/3 of what we were spending previously. Overall, it still balances out to be a more affordable living here.
What Bali offers that Australian cities can’t is the ability to flex as high or low as you want in terms of spending. We can enjoy a tasty meal for $2AUD or outsource services such as cleaning, cooking, or laundry for a fraction of the price. Our children are able to do private swimming lessons in our home pool; absolutely not attainable in Sydney. We feel very lucky to have these options if needed, as they help relieve time and effort, which I’m sure all young families crave.
How have you found the medical and health services so far?
Fortunately, the most we have had to do so far is call on a doctor for a home visit for a mild skin rash. Even then, it was a great experience as they come to your house for treatment and deliver medicine, all conveniently arranged through WhatsApp. We found their knowledge, follow-up care, and English to be excellent.
What does a typical day look like for you and the family in Bali?
Weekday mornings are often a blur of making the kids breakfast, packing their school lunches, and hustling them out the door – probably a typical parent’s routine the world over! We always walk to school as a family and do drop-off together. This may not sound like much, but it’s something our schedules never permitted in our home country, and we always had to tag-team.
Between school hours, we will try to hit the gym or a pilates session, do a few hours of work/admin/errands, and we attempt to try a new café or restaurant for lunch together at least once a week. It’s a little weekly kid-free adventure we make for ourselves, and we are grateful to be able to do this here.
After school, the children have a few extracurricular activities or spend time with friends. Most school buddies live nearby, and there are always spontaneous playdates; it reminds us of the more unplanned, free nature of our childhoods in the 90s.
Weeknights are usually home-cooked dinners as a family, or we may order some delivery food if we’re feeling a little lazy. Weekends are a mix of family time, exploring new areas and activities, or social gatherings with friends. Either way, sunshine, saltwater, and cold coconuts are usually involved!
What are some common misconceptions about Bali, and what would you say to set the record straight?
There are plenty of stereotypes about Bali and yes, it’s not always smooth sailing. We have had friends leave because of frustrations with inefficiency, traffic or higher cost of living than anticipated. These are all very real concerns. But every place will have its pros and cons and we love that Bali offers something for everyone; you just need to seek it out and embrace it. A huge part of Balinese culture is about finding balance and harmony, and that’s probably the best approach to take in the chaos and beauty the island has to offer.
There is also a deep fear of Bali belly or food hygiene. This may vary individually but we have barely had any issues, despite being quite adventurous in sampling food from ‘local’ places.
What we have definitely noticed is the lack of general sickness here, especially at school. We were used to constant runny noses and coughs, fevers, outbreaks of hand foot and mouth disease, head lice etc. Perhaps it’s the warmer weather but it’s nowhere near as common here in and kids barely have any sick days off school.
How have you immersed yourself and the family in the local culture?
We feel like culture is so deeply intertwined in everyday Balinese life that you don’t need to seek it out. It’s there in the Canang Sari offerings that are placed around the garden every morning, the temples we see on every corner, the towering Penjor hanging over cafes and shops, and the generous attitude of the local people.
We have definitely learnt to slow down, go with the flow, minimise the need for material things, and to be grateful for more quality time and simple pleasures.
What should other families think about before making the move?
It’s vital to do some homework and sound financial forecasting to ensure you’re able to set up the life you would like here. If you’re planning on riding a motorbike, get some lessons before you jump on! Accidents are frequent, and there isn’t a proper ambulance service in times of emergency.
Otherwise, just come with an open mind, realistic expectations about living in a developing country, and have respect for Bali as it is. There is so much to love about living here!
Is there anything else about your Bali experience you’d love to share?
You really do acclimatise to the weather! We were constantly puffed out and sweaty at the start, itchy from mozzie bites and the kids would complain if we had to walk more than 200 metres. But our bodies adjusted after a few months and we now even joke about sometimes needing a light jacket on the beach in the evenings. We still get bitten by mozzies but far less and the bites aren’t as impactful anymore.
