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Bali has long established itself as one of the top digital nomad destinations in the world. With its beautiful beaches, low-cost of living, fast wifi speeds, countless coworking spaces, and fantastic social scene, it's no surprise that the tropical island is a nomad's dream.
If you're thinking of visiting Bali as a digital nomad, either long term or for a short stay, this is everything you need to know about being a digital nomad in Bali, by someone who has been coming to the island as a nomad for years.
Why be a Digital Nomad in Bali?
- Low cost of living - If you want to live in a tropical paradise without breaking the bank, Bali is the place to do it. While the island is a little more expensive than elsewhere in Asia, it's still extremely budget friendly, with lots of affordable accommodation, food, and attractions.
- Active community - Bali is one of the world's top digital nomad destinations with a huge community of expats, nomads, and remote workers. Networking events take place almost every day of the week and its super easy to meet others with similar interests to you.
- Plenty of places to work - Major nomad hubs on the island like Canggu and Ubud have loads of fantastic coworking spaces and laptop friendly cafes. You'll never be short of somewhere with great coffee and fast wifi to get some work done.
- Great place to stay active - While Bali may be known for its parties, there's also a super active fitness scene, with a fantastic availability of modern gyms, exercise classes, running groups, and yoga studios.
- Established infrastructure - Being a popular tourist destination, Bali is well equipped for international visitors. There's plenty of modern accommodation, strong wifi, and a great range of shops and restaurants. Most locals who live and work in tourist areas can speak a good level of English.
- Something for everyone - No matter what your interests are - surfing, yoga, spirituality, business meet-ups, parties - there's a place and a community in Bali for every type of nomad.
- Beautiful and diverse nature - From its beautiful white sand beaches to the thick jungles and lush rice paddies, Bali's diverse nature offers an endless array of exciting activities and attractions to fill your spare time.
Best Areas to Stay in Bali as a Digital Nomad
Canggu - Best for an active social calandar
Once a laid-back surf town, Canggu has grown into Bali's thriving hub for digital nomads and remote workers, with more co-working spaces and laptop-friendly cafes than anywhere else on the island. It's also where we spend most of our time, so we may be a little biased here!
The lively coastal town has a huge expat and DN community, with networking events almost every day of the week, from breakfasts and business meet-ups to pool days and boozy beach-side parties. It's perfect for those looking to combine productivity with an active social scene.
Ubud - Best for spirituality and nature
If Canggu sounds a little too much for you, Ubud is another popular nomad spot with a more wholesome and peaceful atmosphere.
Nestled among the island's thick jungles and lush rice terraces, it's great for those who want to be close to nature without compromising on great coffee and fast wifi.
Ubud is also known as Bali's spiritual and wellness hub, with countless yoga studios and meditation centers. Plus its vibrant arts scene and huge variety of plant-based cafes make it an ideal base for those seeking a more balanced and holistic lifestyle.
Uluwatu - Best for surfers and a laid-back vibe
Uluwatu is Bali's most up-and-coming digital nomad neighborhood right now, with many remote workers ditching the crowds of Canggu for a more laid-back way of life on the beautiful Bukit Peninsula.
Sitting on Bali's southern tip, Uluwatu is known for its gorgeous white sand beaches and world-class surf. The area has some great cafes to work from, with a handful of coworking spaces opening in the last couple of years too.
With a less established DN scene, Uluwatu doesn't yet have the same packed calendar of meet-ups and social events as Canggu and Ubud. But this is beginning to change, and we imagine there will be far more going on in the near future.
Sanur - Best for nomad families
While not exactly a digital nomad hub, Sanur does have an active expat community and is particularly popular among young families. If you're a DN family looking for a base for a few months, it could be a good option.
The Boundless Life School in Sanur even offers short-term education for nomadic kids and social events for families.
Our Go-To Bali Insurance
We’ve used SafetyWing for over 2 years while exploring Bali and beyond and honestly couldn’t imagine traveling without it. It’s simple, reliable, and perfect for digital nomads like us.
We love that it:
Auto-renews monthly (one less thing to think about)
Works globally
Can be purchased while already abroad
Covers tech for just $10 extra
Accommodation in Bali
Homestay
Homestays are one of the most affordable accommodation options in Bali and are a popular option among nomads on a budget.
Homestays are small family-run guesthouses where you stay in a private room in a separate area of the complex allocated for guests. There’s often a communal kitchen area and sometimes even a pool for guests to share.
Not only are homestays super affordable, but they're also a great way to support local businesses and meet friendly and super-accommodating locals.
We regularly stay in homestays in Bali, opting for monthly rates to get the best deals. In areas like Canggu and Ubud, you can find local homestays for as little as 6 million IDR (£295 / $388) a month.
Villa or shared villa
Private villas are another popular option for digital nomads in Bali. The island is packed with stunning luxury villas, offering privacy, comfort, and features like swimming pools.
Of course, renting an entire villa will set you back quite a bit more than a homestay. For a nice one-bedroom villa in a good area of Canggu, you can expect to pay at least 30 million IDR (£1.5k / $2k) a month at a minimum.
A slightly cheaper option is to rent a room in a villa with other nomads. You'll often find people looking for roommates through digital nomad WhatsApp chats and Facebook groups, like Bali Cheap House and Room Rental.
Coliving spaces
If you're looking for a built-in community the minute you arrive in Bali, a coliving space is another option. These are often connected to coworking spaces and are a great way to network and meet other people.
However, coliving spaces in Bali can be rather expensive and, in our opinion, not always worth the money. You often get a room for the price of a villa.
We think you're better off getting private accommodation and signing up for a coworking space and attending free social events. It's really not difficult to meet other nomads in Bali.
What about hostels?
Some areas of Bali like Canggu do have loads of great hostels. However, these are more targeted toward backpackers and travellers than digital nomads. As someone who stayed in a hostel for 2 weeks when I first arrived in Bali, I can tell you I did not get a lot of work done... or a lot of sleep!
Getting Around in Bali
Scooter
Many nomads who stay in Bali for a longer period tend to hire a scooter. Having your own scooter gives you greater freedom and is an affordable option, with rental costing as little as 60,000 IDR for a day or 1 million IDR for a month.
We suggest renting from Bikago who have branches across Bali or can drop-off and pick-up the scooter at your accommodation.
But we'd only recommend renting a scooter if you have experience and an International Drivers Permit. The roads in Bali can be busy and dangerous.
If you don't have experience when you arrive, you can take classes with companies such as Canggu Scooter Lessons - this is who Emily learned to ride with.
Online Taxis
If you don't feel comfortable driving yourself, another option is to use online taxi apps such as Grab or Gojek (similar to Uber).
Online taxis are an affordable, reliable, and safe way of getting around in Bali. Rates are controlled, drivers have reviews, and your journeys are tracked. You can also book a scooter or car taxi depending on what you need.
The only downside is that online taxis can be difficult to get during bad rainstorms or particularly busy periods.
Coworking and Laptop-Friendly Cafes in Bali
There's no shortage of fantastic places to work all across Bali. Coworking spaces offer a more organised environment with dedicated quiet spaces, plenty of sockets, ergonomic chairs, and regular community events.
However, if you're in Bali on a budget, the island's many laptop-friendly cafes offer a slightly cheaper and more casual alternative. Just remember these are still businesses so be respectful and always order drinks and food while you work.
Top coworking spaces in Bali:
BWork (Canggu)
Tropical Nomad (Canggu)
Biliq (Seminyak)
Outpost (Ubud)
Monday (Uluwatu)
Livit Hub (Sanur)
Laptop friendly cafes around Bali:
Insurance for Nomads in Bali
Having insurance is vital when travelling anywhere as a nomad. And Bali is no exception. While it's generally a super safe place, accidents and illnesses can happen, and you want to know you have the right insurance.
We've both used SafetyWing's nomad insurance for several years and would highly recommend them.
SafetyWing offers monthly subscription style travel medical insurance for nomads that covers 180+ countries, including Indonesia. It's ideal whether you're planning on staying in Bali long term or nomading your way around the world.
Their Nomad Insurance covers most activities in Bali, including surfing, snorkelling, and kayaking as standard. It also covers motor accidents as long as you have the correct licence and are wearing safety equipment.
You can add on electronics theft insurance for an extra $10/month to cover your laptop, tablet, and any camera gear you're travelling with.
Insurance is easy to purchase, even if you're already on the road, and SafetyWing recently revamped their claims process to make it even faster and simpler.
Visas for Nomads in Bali
There's currently a variety of visa options for digital nomads in Bali.
- VOA (2 months) - The Visa On Arrival is the most common visa for tourists visiting Bali. Cheap and easy to get online or at the airport, a VOA gets you 30 days in Indonesia which you can then extend for another 30 days. This is ideal for nomads visiting Bali for a shorter period of time.
- Single Entry Visa B211A (6 months) - This visa is valid for 60 days, with the option to extend twice for another 60 days each time. But you can't leave the country during this 6 month period. This is a popular option for DNs.
- Multiple Entry Visa D1/D2 (12 months) - This visa is available for tourist or business purposes and is valid for 12 months, but you can only stay in Indonesia for 60 days at a time.
- KITAS (2 years) - This working visa allows you to stay for up to 24 months, but you must be employed by a local company. A KITAS is more complex and expensive than other visas and not applicable for most nomads.
- Digital Nomad Visa (5 years) - Indonesia's new DN visa, or "second-home visa" was launched in 2023. It allows remote workers to live and work in Indonesia tax-free with increased benefits. However, the requirements for this visa are fairly strict so it's currently not the easiest to get (read more).
Working in Indonesia
It's vital to remember that if you are in Indonesia on any type of tourist visa - VOA, B211A, D1 etc - you cannot work for Indonesian companies or get paid in Indonesia.
SIM/e-SIM for Nomads in Bali
There are two main options for getting a sim card in Bali; a traditional physical SIM or an e-SIM.
Traditional SIMs tend to be the cheaper option and can be ordered in advance or picked up when you arrive. However, if you're planning on staying in Bali for over 90 days, you may have an issue.
By law, mobile devices using a local phone number must have their IMEI number registered to work in Indonesia. All tourists receive a free registration for 90 days. But after 90 days, your SIM will stop working unless you register it. By registering, you’ll have to pay tax based on the value of your phone.
To avoid this problem, we'd suggest getting an e-SIM. An e-SIM is a virtual SIM that you install onto your device from providers such as Airalo or Maya Mobile.
Most e-SIMs can be set up before you arrive in Bali for internet access as soon as you land. It’s also easy to check how much data you have left on the app and top up. An e-SIM also allows you to keep your existing physical SIM card in your device, so you can continue to receive calls or texts on your home number.
How To Get a SIM Card or e-SIM in Bali
Read Now →Digital Nomad Communities in Bali
Bali has a large and extremely active digital nomad community. There are plenty of opportunities to meet other nomads and expats every single day of the week.
One way of meeting other remote workers is to join a coworking space. These spaces often hold community events, business sessions, and social meet-ups to help members mingle with one another.
Another option is to attend social events through established digital nomad communities. We regularly go to events organised by Nomeo, a fantastic Bali-based community with regular meet-ups including brunches, dinners, games nights, beach days, and huge parties. We met many of our closest friends in Bali through attending Nomeo events.
Cost of Living in Bali
Below are some rough estimates on what you can expect to pay in Bali as a digital nomad based on our experience and detailed research.
These estimated prices are based on digital nomad friendly areas such as Canggu and Ubud. You can find cheaper prices in more remote regions of the island.
IDR | GBP (roughly) | USD (roughly) | |
|---|---|---|---|
One month in a guesthouse | 6,000,000 - 9,000,000 | £300 - 450 | $400 - 600 |
One month in a villa | 25,000,000 - 75,000,000 | £1,200 - 3,500 | $1,600 - 5,000 |
Monthly scooter rental | 800,000 - 1,500,000 | £40 - 75 | $50 - 100 |
Coworking for a month (unlimited) | 2,500,000 - 4,000,000 | £120 - 200 | $160 - 250 |
Monthly membership at modern western-style gym | 1,000,000 - 2,500,000 | £50 - 125 | $65 - 160 |
Meal in a cheap local restaurant | 20,000 - 40,000 | £1 - 2 | $1.30 - 2.60 |
Meal in an international restaurant | 80,000 - 250,000 | £4 - 12 | $5 - 16 |
Beer (small bottle) | 20,000 - 40,000 | £1 - 2 | $1.30 - 2.60 |
How to be a Responsible Digital Nomad in Bali
- Support local businesses - As a digital nomad, it's important to make sure you're contributing to the local economy as much as you can. You can do this by staying in locally-owned homestays or villas, eating in local warungs, and shopping from local markets and businesses.
- Learn the language - While we're not suggesting you become fluent in Bahasa right away, it's respectful to learn some words and phrases if you're staying in Bali for a long time. Many locals offer private and group classes. Suksma!
- Learn about and respect local culture - As a DN anywhere in the world, it's easy to end up in a little bubble of other nomads and expats. But Bali is a beautiful island with super friendly locals and a deep-rooted culture. Make the effort to learn about the Hindu religion and the island's many amazing ceremonies. Be respectful of local beliefs and cultural events.
- Volunteer and attend clean up events - When staying in Bali for a prolonged time, you can give back to the island by volunteering with local charities or attending beach clean up events.
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