Nusa Penida is a little island off the coast of Bali, which means most things are imported from the bigger sister island. This, along with the basic infrastructure, lack of availability and general popularity of the place over the last few years, means that prices in Penida are not quite the same as in Bali. The island is breathtaking and definitely should be visited but just keep in mind you are going to be paying a bit more than in Bali for the same things.
In Nusa Penida, add 20 to 30 percent to your hotel bill
Both rent and hotel accommodation are quite a bit higher than in Bali. For a similar place expect to pay 20 to 30 percent more and perhaps with slightly fewer amenities. Take these into account when choosing your hotel. Penida is a place where it's worth splashing out a bit as many places have breathtaking views and easy ocean access.
Restaurants are a little dearer
You might find Nusa Penida's restaurants slightly dearer than the equivalent place in Bali. Remember they pay more for everything they buy to put on your plate and it's a headache getting fresh produce and all the ingredients. The local night market and street food style places are similarly priced though and just as tasty as in Bali.
Taxi cost more as there is no Grab or Gojek
Everyone in Bali has gotten used to dirt cheap rides – which to be fair rarely pay a living wage to the drivers. Nusa Penida has gone the extreme other way (like Bali used to be before the cheap ride apps) and you may find yourself paying 150 000 IDR (10 euros) for a 15/20 minute drive. Remember the drivers have to pay more for their petrol ( I'll come back to this later) and also often queue for an hour to get it. Don't compare to Bali, just compare to Europe/US/Aus and suddenly it's all fine.
Petrol can be pricey
If you are filling up your bike at a little Petrol street vendor's you may be surprised at the amount they add on top of normal prices. Petrol can be hard to come by in Nusa Penida's 3 petrol stations, with cars sometimes queuing for an hour and bikes easily for 15 minutes. Give the bike a good fill with patience on arrival and if you have to add a litre in some far-flung part of the island just be happy someone took the trouble to bring it all the way there for you when you need it.
Money changer monopoly
There is only one money changer on the island. They can pretty much charge what they want. If you have a lot of cash to change do it before you come over to get a good rate.
Food shopping/ pharmacy etc. with island levy
If you like eating granola for breakfast in your Airbnb, we recommend you bring some over. There are not many places to buy Western-style food and everything needs to be ordered from Bali. The good thing is that if you do really need something you can actually buy it on the island now. There are several mini-marts with some Indonesian produce, a couple of shops with Western food (like the well-stocked Penida Pantry) and pharmacies... Expect to pay a bit more but at least you can buy stuff now, which was not the case a few years ago!
Don't let the slightly higher expense put you off visiting Nusa Penida, just plan a little ahead if you are on a shoestring budget and enjoy your trip.
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