Bali for digital nomads
Bali for Digital Nomads: Canggu vs Ubud
Bali is the world's most-established digital nomad destination, but the experience varies dramatically between Canggu (younger, social) and Ubud (slower, wellness). Here's the breakdown.
Visa
30-day Visa on Arrival ($35) extendable once = 60 days. B211A 60-day visa requires sponsor (extendable 2x for total 180 days). Indonesia announced Digital Nomad Visa (DNV, 5-year) but rollout slow. Confirm at imigrasi.go.id.
Cost of living (monthly)
Canggu villa room shared: $400-800. Private villa: $800-2,000+. Coworking: $150-250/month. Food: $400-700 (warungs + cafes mix). Scooter rental: $50-80. Total: $1,200-3,000/month comfortable.
Internet
Variable. Canggu has fiber (50-200 mbps). Ubud is mostly 25-100 mbps + occasional outages. Coworking spaces have reliable enterprise WiFi.
Coworking spaces
Outpost (Ubud + Canggu) — most established. Tropical Nomad (Canggu): most social. Dojo Bali (Canggu). Famous. Roam (Canggu), co-living + coworking combo. $150-300/month.
Canggu vs Ubud
Canggu: younger, more party-focused, beachside, motorbike traffic. Ubud: slower pace, yoga + wellness, rice terraces, cool nights. Many nomads split time between both.
Community
Massive nomad scene. Bali Nomad Cruise + Nomad Summit + WordCamp events. Coffee culture supports impromptu meetups. Slack/Telegram groups active.
Healthcare
BIMC Hospital (Kuta + Nusa Dua) handles expat-level care. Travel/expat insurance critical — $60-150/month.
Weather
Tropical year-round 26-31°C. Wet season (Nov-Mar) brings afternoon showers but workable. Dry season (May-Oct) ideal.
Downsides
Bali Belly + traffic + scooter accidents. Recent tourist tax (150,000 IDR/$10) on arrival. Wet-season power outages. Increasing development + commercialization.