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Renting a villa vs Renting an apartment for families

Most families moving to Bali end up choosing between a private villa with its own garden and pool, or an apartment inside a managed building with shared facilities. Villas are far more common on the island and dominate the rental market, while apartments are a smaller, more concentrated option usually found in the busier towns.

By the Knowmads Bali family — parents on the ground in Bali · Updated 3 August 2026

Renting a villaRenting an apartment
Setting and spaceA villa usually sits on its own plot with a garden, a private pool and separate floors or buildings, giving young kids room to run and play outdoors.An apartment is one unit inside a larger building, so private outdoor space is limited to a balcony, with a shared pool and courtyard downstairs instead.
Beach accessVillas are spread across many different areas, so how close you end up to the beach depends entirely on which neighbourhood you rent in.Apartments are fewer in number and cluster in a smaller set of towns, some near the coast and some more inland, so it is worth checking the exact location first.
Pace and trafficVillas often sit down small side lanes, so the immediate street can be quiet even when a busier road runs nearby.Apartments tend to sit on or close to main roads for easier access, which can mean more passing traffic and noise right outside the building.
CommunityVilla neighbourhoods with a lot of expat families often build informal parent networks over time, but you have to seek that out yourself.Apartment buildings put families in shared lobbies, pools and playgrounds, so you tend to run into other parents just by living there.
Schools and commuteVilla areas are spread out across the island, so the school run can be short or long depending purely on which neighbourhood you pick relative to the school.Apartments are concentrated in fewer locations, which can mean a longer commute to international schools clustered elsewhere, so this is worth mapping out before signing.
Cost levelVilla rents vary widely depending on size, pool and finish, and a private pool and garden add ongoing upkeep on top of the rent itself.Apartments are generally simpler to budget for, since building maintenance and security are often folded into one regular fee.

Choose Renting a villa if…

Choose Renting a villa if you want private outdoor space, a garden and pool for young kids, and don't mind taking on more of the upkeep yourself.

Choose Renting an apartment if…

Choose Renting an apartment if you prefer a smaller, easier to manage footprint with built-in security and shared facilities, and like being close to other families in the same building.

Still weighing it up for your family?

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