Bali is a famous tropical paradise and more digital nomads are choosing to live in Bali for various reasons. The country offers an ideal balance between work and leisure for remote workers. There is a diverse range of experiences for digital nomads to enjoy in the tropical island of Indonesia. From tranquil beaches to bustling streets and cultural diversity, Bali is an enchanting destination.
Sounds interesting? Start discovering what Bali has to offer and how to become a digital nomad in Bali with our detailed guide. From what to love as a digital nomad in Bali to how to obtain a visa and where to stay in Bali, we have got you covered.
Reasons To Love It As A Digital Nomad In Bali
Bali is a popular destination in Asia for digital nomads, thanks to its wonderful landscapes and tropical weather. Photo by Yevhenii on stock.adobe.com
Digital nomads tend to choose destinations that offer reliable internet access for work, good quality of life to find a balance between life and work and affordable cost of living to live comfortably. For those reasons, Bali is considered by many digital nomads as one of the best places in the world to live and work. Here are a few notable reasons.
Budget-friendly Living Costs
Even though the cost of living can vary greatly depending on an individual's lifestyle choices, Bali is a budget-friendly destination for digital nomads. According to Numbeo, renting in Bali is nearly 190% lower than in London, and consumer and grocery pricing are also 130% and 55% less expensive, respectively. Moreover, Bali is ranked in the top 34% among the least expensive cities in the world by LivingCost.
Pleasant Weather And Beautiful Nature
Indonesia's weather is tropical, with high temperatures and humidity all year round. There are two distinctive seasons in Bali: the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season lasts from April to October, while the rainy season lasts from November to March. Bali enjoys lots of sunshine, and its warm climate is ideal for many expats.
Bali attracts travellers and expats around the world for its stunning natural beauty. The island is blessed with beautiful beaches, colourful corals and diverse marine life. Tropical greenery, including jungles and rice terraces, are also highlighted attractions in Bali.
Safety As a Digital Nomad
Digital nomads find Bali to be one of the safest places to work, with minimal risks and low safety concerns, especially for solo female travellers. You can learn more about how to stay safe in Bali here.
Bali is a relatively safe destination, with petty crime and natural disasters being the only concerns for digital nomads. As there is no destination that can guarantee 100% safety, here is what you need to know to stay safe on the island.
Bali is a wonderful destination with distinct beauty and culture. Photo by Igor Tichonow - stock.adobe.com
- Know how to deal with petty crime: Pickpocketing and bag snatching are common in Bali, especially in crowded areas. It is important to ensure your belongings are attended to and avoid leaving your valuables exposed for opportunistic criminals to take advantage of.
- Vaccinations: Ensure you are up-to-date on routine vaccinations and consider those recommended for travel to Indonesia, such as Hepatitis A and Typhoid.
- Travel Insurance: Obtain comprehensive travel insurance that covers medical expenses, including potential evacuation.
- Renting Scooters: If you rent a scooter, always wear a helmet and drive defensively. Road conditions and local driving habits can be challenging.
- Have a plan for natural disasters: Bali is located on the Ring of Fire, which is prone to minor earthquakes. It is also close to the collision area between the Eurasian Plate and the Australian Plate, which is prone to tsunamis. You can stay safe by being aware of the disaster risks, staying tuned for government warnings, and being covered by medical and travel insurance.
CabinZero's Tips: Major security threats such as terrorism are possible but not dangerously high. Digital nomads can minimise the risks by staying alert and taking official warnings seriously.
Thriving Digital Nomad Community
Bali is the top city in Southeast Asia for digital nomads, with nearly 5,000 digital nomads, according to Statista in 2019. You can meet fellow digital nomads at a coworking space, at a local event or in a local group with shared interests. It’s easy to meet and be surrounded by like-minded people.
The island of Bali has a strong digital nomad community with entrepreneurial spirits and welcoming locals, which further attracts more remote workers to come and start living as digital nomads. These are the top reasons that turn Bali into a thriving hub for digital nomads from around the world.
Where To Stay In Bali As A Digital Nomad
Bali is a sizable island with approximately 5,780 km². Each area of the island is characterised by special traits and uniqueness. With the majority of Bali's agricultural land consisting of rice fields and fruit plantations, you can find the cities quite crowded. The digital nomad community in Bali has a strong presence in Canggu, Ubud, and many other areas.
Canggu
The hot spot for everything in Bali. Mx. Granger, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
What’s it like? Vibrant, surf-centric, with a strong digital nomad community.
Located in southern Bali, Canggu is surrounded by lush terraced rice paddies. It has perfect waves for surfing and offers a bustling nightlife for digital nomads to unwind after work. Canggu is undoubtedly a wonderful place for digital nomads to achieve their ideal work-life balance.
Canggu has plenty of working places, from cafés to coworking places. Canngu has a more laid-back way of life and plenty of things to do for fun. As one of the most popular destinations in Bali, Canggu can be crowded at certain times of the year. However, it offers a wide range of accommodation types for digital nomads.
Ubud
Ubud is surrounded by lush greenery and offers serenity. Photo by tashka2000 on stock.adobe.com
What’s it like? Cultural heartland, surrounded by nature, ideal for those seeking tranquillity and spiritual experience.
Located in Central Bali, Ubud is a beautiful and peaceful area with a serene local community. This place is ideal for people who wish to spend more time in nature and explore their spiritual vibes. As Ubad is located in the centre of the island, it is surrounded by rainforest and rice paddies without easy access to beaches.
Ubud is also a neighbourhood with a vibrant culture. There are many places to practise yoga and plenty of meditation facilities to choose from. Shared villas are the most common type of accommodation between digital nomads in Ubud. You can look for villas with multiple bedrooms to share with other digital nomads and make friends while keeping the cost of living down.
CabinZero's Tips: If you enjoy staying in a modern villa with a private pool or are planning to stay in a single-bedroom villa, expect the renting prices to be two or three times higher.
Uluwatu
While not as bustling as Canggu, Uluwatu has a growing community of digital nomads. Artem Kavalerov, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
What’s it like? Luxurious, surf-focused, with stunning cliffside views.
Located in Southern Bali, Uluwatu is an alluring place to live with laid-back vibes. Uluwatu has wonderful beaches and ideal waves for digital nomads who are surfers. Famously known for its impressive cliff views of the Indian ocean and vibrant community, Uluwatu is definitely among the top areas to live in Bali for digital nomads.
Uluwatu is home to a sizable expat community, which makes socialising and connecting with fellow digital nomads easier for first-time visitors. With more affordable rental options than Canggu, Uluwate is becoming a popular hotspot for digital nomads in Southern Bali.
Seminyak
Seminyak offers high-end boutiques and world-class restaurants. Photo by Nate Hovee - stock.adobe.com
What’s it like? Upscale, trendy, with a bustling nightlife.
Located in Southern Bali, this beach resort area attracts digital nomads for its international community, beach life and luxury touch. Similar to other expat-friendly places, Seminyak has many places for digital nomads to work and connect with like-minded individuals. Being one of Indonesia's tourist destinations, Seminyak has unscaled shopping malls, gourmet restaurants and luxury villas.
There are plenty of options for rentals when it comes to Seminyak. Depending on your budget, you can choose to stay in a more budget-friendly guesthouse or stay in a more comfortable luxury villa. Seminyak is a trendy place to unwind and socialise after work at beach bars as well as other popular nightlife hotspots.
- CabinZero's Tips: As one of the most touristy areas in the island of Bali, power outages are known to be common in Seminyak, which has certain effects on the reliability of the internet. It is one of the things for digital nomads to consider.
Sanur
Sanur offers a different vibe compared to the busier parts of Bali. Photo by Reezky - stock.adobe.com
What’s it like? Laid-back, family-friendly, perfect for a relaxed lifestyle.
If you prefer somewhere easier to focus on work and unwind away from the tourists, consider Sanur. It offers a calmer and more laid-back atmosphere compared to busier areas like Canggu or Seminyak. While not as abundant as in other parts of Bali, there are several coworking spaces catering to remote workers. Prefer some even more piece and quiet? You can take a look at North Bali, where many young families are moving there.
Cost Of Living In Bali
Depending on your lifestyle choices and preferences, the cost of living for a digital nomad in Bali can fall between $1,000 and even over $10,000 per month. A more comfortable lifestyle yet still pocket-friendly can cost around $1,300 to $1,500 for a single person. Here is what a month's cost of living in Bali can be divided into:
- Rental prices: Depending on where you live and your type of accommodation, it can range from $600 to $800 for a budget-conscious digital nomad.
- Food: Food and groceries are relatively cheap in Bali. A meal in a restaurant can cost about $20 to $30, a meal at McDonald's costs from $3 to $5, and street food costs from $1 to $2.
- Utilities: Water in Bali is about $0.13 per 1m3, and electricity is charged about $0.1 for 1kWh. You should ask your rental place for the exact prices and whether other additional expenses are required.
- Transportation: Buses are inexpensive in Bali with about $0.33 per ticket. Ride-sharing apps such as Grab/Gojerk start from $0.5 per trip. Renting a motorbike on a monthly basis can be around $100 per month.
- Internet service: A standard Wi-Fi package in Bali can cost about $30 per month, while mobile plans can range from $19 to $99.
- Entertainment: A beer in Bali at a bar is about $3, depending on your chosen place and location. A full-day island-hopping tour is about $125 per person.
Many types of accommodations are catered towards digital nomads, including renting villas, living in co-living spaces, and staying in guest houses or apartments. Each has its own perks; you can start discovering accommodation types after selecting which area in Bali to live in first.
A Quick Guide To Life In Bali
The cost of living in Bali can vary depending on an individual's lifestyle. Photo by Fxquadro - stock.adobe.com
There are many things to consider before moving to another country to live. For digital nomads, knowing where to comfortably work at, how to safely get around the island and how to stay healthy is among things to consider before moving to Bali. Here is our quick guide to life in Bali for you to think about before heading to Bali.
The Right Visa
To select the most suitable visa, it is important to consider your planned length of stay. If you are employed by a company abroad, you can apply for the E3GG Remote Worker Visa. This visa is valid for up to one year and there are two requirements including an employment contract and a yearly income of over USD 60,000.
If you are working as a freelancer, you can apply for the 211A Visit Visa, which allows you to stay up to 180 days with two extensions. It is important to note that with both types of visa, digital nomads are not permitted to work for clients in Indonesia as well as being hired by an Indonesian company or getting paid in Indonesia.
The Internet
Monthly prices for basic speeds can range from $18 to $27. You can expect to pay from $29 to $68 monthly for mid-tier and high speeds. Globalextreme is considered one of the best choices in Bali.
Starlink internet service is also available in Bali, however, the cost is significantly higher. There are also 5G SIMs like those from Telkomsel, with data packages from 7GB up to 70 GB. You can have your SIM card delivered to your hotel by Klook or pick it up yourself at the airport.
The internet is not the most reliable, but it can get the job done. Photo by luengo_ua - stock.adobe.com
According to SpeedTest, Indonesia's median internet speed for mobile download is 28.35 Mbps and for fixed broadband, 31.38 Mbps. The speed is good; however, it’s hard to say the same about consistency.
Our recommendation is to sign up for an internet provider along with a 5G SIM card. When the fixed connection acts up, you can switch to cell phone data and vice versa. Or, if a stable internet connection is crucial to your work and you have the budget for it, you could have a backup IPS from a different provider.
CabinZero's Tips: Certain sites like Reddit are banned in Bali. Use Virtual Private Network (VPN) to add extra security and enable access to those sites.
Getting Around
Remember to wear a helmet and buy travel insurance if you plan on renting a bike. Photo by luengo_ua - stock.adobe.com
There are many options for getting around, such as buses, taxis, motorbikes and ride-hailing services. For buses, you can use public buses, which operate on a few routes in the city centre, while minibuses for tourists are operated on more routes.
For taxis and ride-hailing services, they can be convenient. Grab, Gojerk, and Bluebird are the most reliable, with good service and good rates. A private driver is another good choice, but it may cost a bit more.
Motorbikes are popular in Bali. You need a licence to ride, and motorbikes can be easily rented in Bali. Renting a bike in pretty good condition for a day or two will set you back around $3-6 per day (about 50,000-100,000 in local currency).
For motorbike rental, Sewa Motor Bali offers services in many areas of Bali, such as Canngu and Seminyak, as well as shuttle services. Bikago is another reputable motorbike rental company with services offered in areas including Ubud, Seminyak, Canngu and Uluwatu.
CabinZero's Tips: Good safety tips when riding a motorbike are avoiding isolated and dark areas at night, wearing a helmet at all times, keeping your valuables hidden when riding, and not riding under the influence.
Working Spaces
Wi-Fi hotspots in Bali are widely available, and the internet infrastructure is quite reliable. You can choose to work in cosy or bustling cafés, in productive co-working spaces with a friendly digital nomad community or simply stay at your rental. Depending on where you live, co-working spaces exist to explore, such as Outpost Ubud Coworking and Beluna - House of Creatives in Ubud or Tropical Nomad Coworking Space and B Work Bali in Canggu.
Staying Active and Staying Healthy
Staying active is one of the best ways to stay healthy. Signing up for a gym membership near your rental places, joining a fitness class like yoga or swimming and getting yourself used to a running habit are ways to keep up your fitness. Depending on your requirements, you can set aside $20 to $40 or more to sign up for gym memberships.
CabinZero's Tips: Bali is famous for its yoga, which is a part of wellness. Yogis enjoy many benefits, including flexibility, breathwork, and strength-building. Consider exploring the strong culture of yoga in Bali and keep yourself safe from common health problems that digital nomads suffer, like back pain and stress.
Shopping, Groceries and Local Food
Bali has many fresh markets, wet markets and supermarkets to get groceries and food. In traditional markets, it is best to have a few negotiating tactics to have good prices unless prices are displayed as fixed. A few major supermarket chains in Bali are Bintang Supermarket and Coco Supermarket, which offer delivery and service in many areas of the island.
For food, Bali is a wonderful country with many tasty local eateries that are budget-friendly and convenient. There are restaurants and fine dining restaurants to go to as well. You can ask for recommendations from other fellow digital nomads or locals. Seeking online reviews is a proactive way to look for hidden gems and avoid sketchy places.
A Backpack As Adaptable As You Are
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FAQs
1. Does Bali have a digital nomad visa?
Digital nomads can apply for the 211A Visit Visa with length of stay up to 180 days. The main requirements to apply are a valid passport with at least six months after entry and a bank statement with a minimum balance of USD 2,000. Tourist visa costs about IDR 1,500,000 to apply directly via the Ministry of Law and Human Rights Directorate General of Immigration.
It is helpful to note that for the 211A Visit Visa, nationals from the following countries cannot apply: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Guinea, Israel, Kosovo, Liberia, Nigeria, North Korea, and Somalia.
2. Is Bali Good For Digital Nomads?
Bali is a wonderful destination for digital nomads thanks to its low cost of living, friendly locals, stunning landscapes, pleasant weather and the growing community of expat in Bali. There are plenty of coworking spaces and diverse options when it comes to long-term rental places. Furthermore, it is relatively safe for digital nomads in Bali.
3. How Much Does It Cost To Live In Bali As A Digital Nomad?
The average cost of living in Bali for digital nomads typically ranges from $1,300 to $1,500 for a budget-conscious digital nomad. Depending on your lifestyle and spending habits, this amount can be lower or higher depending on your choices. Overall, the cost of living in Bali is considered low compared to other destinations in the world.
The Complete Guide To Digital Nomad In Bali
Being a digital nomad in Bali certainly has many perks. From pleasant weather, low cost of living, and plenty of entertaining things to do on this tropical island of Indonesia, there are many reasons for you to love life in Bali as a remote worker.
It does not take much to pursue the lifestyle that interests you. Remember to plan ahead and rely on your community for practical tips as well as useful guidance. Find this article helpful. Be sure to share it with your fellow digital nomads.
Chau Dao
