A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bali vs. Adelaide for Food, Nightlife, Beaches, and Couples

Should you visit Bali or Adelaide?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bali and Adelaide can help you decide which place is right for you.

Bali

Bali is a tropical, lush, and frequented island. Bali is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Other reasons to visit include beaches, hiking, and shopping. See Bali travel costs.

Adelaide

Adelaide is a elegant, welcoming, and friendly city. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife. See Adelaide travel costs.

Bali and Adelaide: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bali or Adelaide?

Travelers will generally find more things to do in Bali than Adelaide. While Adelaide is larger than Bali, Bali has more sights and attractions for tourists. Bali is very popular for its food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Adelaide attracts visitors for its museums and attractions. Bali is more touristy than Adelaide and is popular for its many temples, beautiful beaches, world class scuba diving, and cultural retreats. It is also well known for Pura Lempuyang. Adelaide is famous for its wine scene, vibrant festivals, green spaces, and local sporting events.

How is Bali different from Adelaide?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Adelaide and Bali. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bali or Adelaide?

Adelaide is very good for its sights and museums. However, Bali does not have museums and landmarks.

Adelaide offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. There are some interesting buildings along North Terrace such as the Parliament House, the State Library of South Australia, and the South Australian Museum. At the Botanic Garden there's the Santos Museum of Economic Botany. Also make sure you check out the Art Gallery of South Australia.

Bali does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Bali or Adelaide? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bali is renowned for its restaurants. Also, Adelaide is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

Many restaurants in Bali have been singled out for their culinary prowess. The food is rich and diverse with a lot of spices and complex flavors. Turmeric is a common spice and many dishes use coconut milk. Popular local dishes include Nasi Ayam (a chicken dish), Satay (grilled chicken), and Babi Guling (a pork dish).

Visitors will find a budding food and restaurant scene in Adelaide. There's great wine, local restaurants, and charming cafes. You'll find local dishes as well as international flavors around town. The local produce is good and the restaurants offer fresh and delicious recipes.

Is Bali or Adelaide Better for Nightlife?

Bali is renowned for nightlife. Also, Adelaide is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Bali is a destination that you simply have to visit at least once for nightlife. The island is known for its crazy raves and all night pool parties. There are multi-story dance clubs as well as upscale bars and beach clubs that host parties late into the night. The best nightlife areas are around Kuta, Seminyak, and Canggu.

Adelaide has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. The nightlife scene is filled with rooftop bars, live music venues, and boutique wine bars. Whether you're looking for trendy and luxury or casual and laid back, there are many places to spend a night out.

Is Bali or Adelaide Better for Resorts?

Bali is renowned for its luxury resorts. However, Adelaide is not a resort destination.

Bali is a world class resort vacation destination. The island has resorts as well as private villas that cater to everyone from celebrities to families or even budget travelers. Private villas offer a more secluded vacation while resorts usually have more amenities and the opportunity to socialize with other guests. There are also many family-friendly resorts around the island.

Adelaide is not a resort destination.

Is Bali or Adelaide Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Bali is renowned for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Adelaide is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Bali is a world class destination for scuba diving and snorkeling. The waters are crystal clear and the marine life is abundant making scuba diving and snorkeling popular around the island. There are many snorkeling day trips that you can arrange and there are also dive shops that will take you out on the water.

Adelaide is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Bali or Adelaide Better for Beaches?

Bali is renowned for its beaches. Also, Adelaide is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for the beach.

Bali is considered to be a world-class beach destination. The island is large enough that it has a diversity of beach styles. There are popular beaches with water sports as well as secluded bays where you can enjoy a more peaceful setting. Some beaches are dramatic with limestone cliffs while others are lined with palm trees.

Many people visit Adelaide for it's beautiful beaches. Part of what makes the city's beaches so great is how accessible they are. You don't have to go far to be at some of the area's best beaches. Glenelg is a family-friendly beach near town. It's also the most popular and most accessible. Brighton is relaxed with cafes and small restaurants nearby. And for seafood, head to Henley.

Is Bali or Adelaide Better for Hiking?

Bali is a very popular place for its hiking trails. Also, Adelaide is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its hiking experiences.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Bali. Walking on the island is beautiful and with its varied landscapes you can explore scenic rice paddies or pristine rainforests. You'll find the most challenging hikes in West Bali National Park, where a guide is recommended, but there are many other shorter hikes on the island that can be explored independently.

Adelaide offers some nice hiking trails. Outside of town there are national parks and reserves with hiking trails. You don't have to go far to explore the coastline or bushland in the area.

Is the Shopping Better in Bali or Adelaide?

Both Bali and Adelaide are superb shopping destinations.

Bali is a popular shopping destination with plenty of stores. A big appeal of shopping on the island is the affordability. There are many local items that are fun to bring home including jewelry, handicrafts, furniture, and clothing.

Many visitors explore the shopping areas in Adelaide. Rundle Mall is the most well known shopping area in town. You'll find boutique shops as well as large department stores. Whether you're looking for international fashion brands or something more local, there are many places to explore.

Is Bali or Adelaide More Beautiful?

Bali is renowned for its scenery and beauty. However, Adelaide is not a destination known for its beauty.

Bali is considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. The island is famous for its beautiful beaches and stunning countryside. It's also a very cultural island with a lot of spirituality.

Adelaide is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Bali or Adelaide Better for Families?

Bali is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Adelaide is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Bali is a very family-friendly destination. The island has countless activities that kids can enjoy. There are watersports, snorkeling, surfing lessons and beautiful beaches. You can also expose your kids to the spiritual side of the island with kid-friendly yoga classes. Animals lovers will enjoy getting to see the monkeys up close and for a unique culinary experience, you can take a family cooking class.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Adelaide. There are kids museums, water parks, playgrounds, and beaches that are fun to explore with children. The city has a family-friendly vibe with kid-friendly restaurants and a welcoming personality.

Is Bali or Adelaide Better for Couples?

Bali is renowned for romance. Also, Adelaide is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Bali is a great island for couples, as it has plenty to offer. This beautiful island offers stunning beaches, adventure sports, and world class snorkeling. There are beautiful resorts with spas as well as couples yoga classes impressive natural areas.

Adelaide makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. A great date activity is a night at the opera. There are also boat rides, hot air balloon rides, and nice restaurants that make for a fun evening out.

Is Bali or Adelaide Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bali is renowned for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Adelaide is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for backpackers.

Many backpackers frequent Bali. Backpackers flock to this beautiful island for its stunning setting and affordable accommodation. There are many nice places where backpackers can hang out and get to know other travelers. If you want to get off the beaten path, it's best to head into the countryside and away from the main tourist hubs.

Plenty of backpackers visit Adelaide. It's not high on the list for many backpackers, but those who venture here will enjoy a great wine scene, beautiful beaches, and lively festivals.

Is Bali or Adelaide Better for Students?

Adelaide is very good for students. However, Bali is not popular with students.

Adelaide is a good city to visit for students. It's a friendly and affordable city that has a nice student culture. It's very livable and accessible to other interesting places.

Bali is not popular with students.

Is Bali or Adelaide Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Adelaide is a well-known place for its public transit. Also, Bali is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for times when you don't have a car.

Public transit in Adelaide can get you to some places easily. There are bus, trains, and trams throughout the city center.

Bali has some public transit options. There are minibuses and tourist shuttle buses around the island. You can also hire a taxi or rent a car, scooter, or bicycle.

Is Bali or Adelaide a more walkable city?

Adelaide is a well-known place for its high level of walkability. However, Bali is not a good island for its ease of walking around.

Adelaide is a very walkable city. The city is compact and laid out in a grid pattern, so it's easy to explore on foot.

Bali is generally not a very walkable island. There are some walkable towns and cities on the island, but many areas can be challenging to navigate on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Bali Worth Visiting? and Is Adelaide Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Adelaide or Bali?

How long in Bali or Adelaide?

It's fun to spend time in either Bali or Adelaide. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Bali due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 7-14 days is a good amount of time for Bali, and 2-4 days is enough time in Adelaide.

Families should spend more time in Bali than Adelaide. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Bali, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Bali than Adelaide. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Bali that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bali than Adelaide if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Bali.

One day in Bali or Adelaide?

The beautiful island of Bali offers food and scuba diving and snorkeling. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Visitors enjoy the food and shopping when visiting the destination of Adelaide. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Bali or Adelaide?

Bali is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Adelaide is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It's also a great beach destination, too. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Bali or Adelaide?

Bali is a popular choice for travelers. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than five days exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

You'll find museums and nightlife around the welcoming destination of Adelaide. This city offers something for everyone. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bali or Adelaide?

Bali is a great place to explore. It is common to spend one week here. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bali has to offer. This island offers something for everyone.

The friendly city of Adelaide offers nightlife and food. You'll find plenty of activities on the beach. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bali and Adelaide, we can see that Adelaide is more expensive. And not only is Bali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bali is in Asia and Adelaide is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Bali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bali and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Adelaide would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Adelaide than you might in Bali.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bali Expensive? and Is Adelaide Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bali or Adelaide?

Adelaide has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Bali. When comparing the sizes of Bali and Adelaide, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.

When is the best time to visit Bali or Adelaide?

Adelaide has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Bali experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Bali or Adelaide in the Summer?

Both Adelaide and Bali during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bali because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, many visitors come to Adelaide in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Bali is generally a little warmer than Adelaidein January. Daily temperatures in Bali average around 27°C (81°F), and Adelaide fluctuates around 22°C (72°F).

In Adelaide, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Bali. In the summer, Bali often gets less sunshine than Adelaidein January. Bali gets 253 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Adelaide receives 330 hours of full sun.

Bali usually gets more rain in July than Adelaidein January. Bali gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Adelaide receives 19 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year. April to September is the dry season in Bali.

Should I visit Bali or Adelaide in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Bali and Adelaide. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bali year-round. Also, most visitors come to Adelaide for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.

Bali is much warmer than Adelaide in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bali averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Adelaide fluctuates around 18°C (64°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Adelaide this time of the year. In Bali, it's very sunny this time of the year. Bali usually receives more sunshine than Adelaide during autumn. Bali gets 266 hours of sunny skies, while Adelaide receives 215 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In October, Bali usually receives more rain than Adelaidein April. Bali gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Adelaide receives 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the autumn. Also, October to March is the rainy season in Bali.

Should I visit Bali or Adelaide in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Bali as well as Adelaide. Bali attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Adelaide because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

In the winter, Bali is much warmer than Adelaide. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bali in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Adelaide averages at about 11°C (52°F)in July.

In the winter, Bali often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Adelaidein July. Bali gets 170 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Adelaide receives 159 hours of full sun.

Bali usually gets more rain in January than Adelaidein July. Bali gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Adelaide receives 67 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March in Bali is the rainy season.

Should I visit Bali or Adelaide in the Spring?

Both Adelaide and Bali are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bali throughout the year. Also, the beaches are the main draw to Adelaide this time of year.

In April, Bali is generally much warmer than Adelaidein October. Daily temperatures in Bali average around 27°C (81°F), and Adelaide fluctuates around 16°C (61°F).

It's quite sunny in Adelaide. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bali. Bali usually receives less sunshine than Adelaide during spring. Bali gets 226 hours of sunny skies, while Adelaide receives 256 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Bali usually receives more rain than Adelaidein October. Bali gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Adelaide receives 37 mm (1.5 in) of rain each month for the spring. The dry season in Bali is April to September.

Typical Weather for Adelaide and Bali