Bali, Indonesia is among the top destinations for digital nomads, and for great reasons. Aside from its very affordable cost of living, Bali boasts a laid-back atmosphere and breathtaking natural wonders. Throw in sweet surfing spots, tasty cafes and restaurants, colourful beachfront bars to watch the sunset and roaring nightlife. On top of all this, this Indonesian island has developed tremendously as a hub for digital nomads with its abundance of co-working and co-living options. It has proven that here, with the digital nomad infrastructure already set up you can live as cheaply as you want while discovering a rich culture while enjoying the outdoors. So if you want to be a digital nomad in Bali read through this absolute Bali digital nomad guide written by guest blogger, Marlieke Kemp – Janssen. 

 

What is a Digital Nomad & Why Choose Bali To Be A Digital Nomad

 

A digital nomad is a person who travels to live and work remotely in other countries. They are location-independent people who can work online from different locations such as cafes, co-working spaces and temporary housing. This lifestyle allows for a blend of work and travel that has plenty of pros and cons. If this is the lifestyle you want to live and are looking for your first or next country, the little island of Bali in Indonesia is a popular choice. 

Living somewhere as a digital nomad entails a few important considerations that you need to take into account. Hence, listed following are a few things that will give you some insights of why digital nomads are choosing Bali as home.

 

1. Cost of Living in Bali

 

First on my list of why be a digital nomad in Bali is the cost of living in Bali. Digital nomads choose Bali to live and work because of its lower cost of living. Yep, they can maintain their current lifestyle but for cheaper living in Bali than they can in their home country. Geoarbitrage is the official name of doing this. So if you are wondering how much does it cost to live in Bali, well, not much!

Bali’s cost of living depends solely on how you want to design it. It can be as cheap as 10-20 dollars a day or as expensive as 160 dollars daily. With the wide options on everyday needs, you can decide what kind of lifestyle to have if you choose to live and work in Bali.

 

2. Great Co-Living and Co-Working Infrastructure

 

Lots of tables, chairs and computers in this typical co-working space – with great wifi.

 

Bali is such a popular digital nomad destination because it has gone to great lengths to provide co-living and co-working infrastructure. This means, you don’t have to worry about setting yourself up in accommodation and finding somewhere to work. Because it has already been done.

So what is co-living and co-working? These two concepts are both different yet, intertwined.

Co-Living is where digital nomads share a living space. Basically you will have your own personal space in a bedroom but share the common areas with other digital nomads and remote workers. Co-Living is a great way to meet other digital nomads. Most co-living places are fully-serviced so you can concentrate on your own productivity.

Co-Working is when digital nomads come together in a space and work together. Well you are physically in the same room but working on your own on-line business. Co-working spaces are usually filled with a number of desks, private meeting rooms and large tables both inside and in the case of Bali, outside as well. There will also be shared kitchens and bathrooms. Co-working spaces are a great way to meet other digital nomads who just may become good friends, business investors or even business partners. And Bali has a number of co-working spaces offering monthly packages and day passes.

Being a digital nomad can sometimes be a lonely business. So living and working in one of Bali’s co-living and/or co-working space can provide you with human contact.

 

3. Good Internet Connectivity

 

As a digital nomad, this is probably the first thing that you need to consider in choosing a place to settle in. Your work revolves around working online, so it’s needless to say that you prioritise internet connectivity in your checklist. Thankfully, Bali has invested to improve its internet connectivity. The introduction of 4G and fiber optics has created a positive effect. Hotels and cafes around Bali provide easy access to wi-fi, too. Expect 2 Mbps via cafe wi-fi and a hundred times that in a co-working space. With great access to the Internet you will be able to continue working online in your chosen business.

 

4. Lots of Things To Do And See In Bali

 

The diverse natural landscapes of Bali offer a wide set of activities. From surfing and water rafting to cycling and day tours inland, Bali has it all. As a digital nomad in Bali, it’s important to take this into consideration, as you need a break from your routine sometimes. These activities will help you release some tension and stress so that you come back to perform your job significantly energised, you don’t want to get digital nomad burnout. So while living and working in Bali make time to explore Bali from any Bali bucket list itinerary you may have set yourself.

 

5. Laid-back Environment

 

Can you see yourself working by this pool? I can!

 

Being a top tourist destination, some parts of Bali can be wild with lots of tourists – after all Bali is a hot holiday destination. But despite that, Bali still has maintained a generally laid-back way of life. This is one thing that digital nomads love about living and working in Bali. While you sometimes have to hustle to meet deadlines and expectations, you don’t easily feel stressed out while working here.

However, this works both ways. Some digital nomads also find it challenging to keep up with work because of Bali’s peaceful vibe. Discipline and personal motivation are quintessential to your life in Bali. So amidst work, ensure to enjoy Balinese activities to help keep you fit and healthy. Yoga retreat anyone! Perhaps surfing lessons! What about hiking through the jungles! Or just chill out at the beach!

 

6. Other like-minded Digital Nomads to Meet

 

As Bali is a preferred destination for digital nomads, you are bound to meet like-minded people on the island of the Gods. This is an important benefit for a myriad of reasons. For one, it allows easy networking with peers. Also, it is great to connect with other people who work in the same field as you, or who can complement your business. They say that like-minded people who work and bond together create a positive impact. This can be a change not only to themselves but to the whole community as well. 

 

7. Bali is centrally located in Southeast Asia

 

As a working individual, you can easily feel swamped with work and job responsibilities. As a result, we need to unwind as much as we can. The island of Bali is a popular hub in South-East Asia. Whenever you feel that you need to pack your travel gear and leave Bali for a while, worry not? Bali has direct flights to its numerous neighbouring countries. And ferries to some of the other best places to visit in Indonesia.

 

Bali Visa Requirements

 

Before April 2024 when Bali introduced a digital nomad visa called the Remote Worker Visa (E33G) people would arrive on a visitor visa organised before they arrived or applied for the Visa on Arrival (VOA). The holiday visa would allow a stay of up to 30 days which you could extend for a further 30 days. Those who wanted to stay longer would often do a ‘visa run’ to another country, then return to Bali for another 30 day stay. If you aren’t sure whether Bali is the place for you, you could arrive on a holiday visa.

In April 2024 Indonesia introduced the Remote Worker Visa (E33G). This visa allows a stay of up to 12 months which is renewable. For more details and to apply for a visa to Bali check out the official eVisa site.

 

Where To Live in Bali

 

Digital nomads and expats to Bali set up in either Canggu or Ubud. These two places offer the digital nomad setting up in Bali everything you need to work online while enjoying everything Bali has to offer. Both are quite different also.

If you want to sit on the beach and have a beer watching a sunset and then partying then Canggu is a very attractive option. If you prefer to be near lush forests, with magical waterfalls, lots of rice-terraces while having your chakras aligned and meditating in a sunrise class then setting up in Ubud would be more your scene. So it just depends on what type of digital nomad you want to be in Bali! Why not try both! They are only about an hour away by motorcycle from each other!

Though Canggu and Ubud are very popular options to live and work because of their infrastructure, many are choosing other areas to live in. This is mainly due to owners of services in Canggu and Ubud hiking prices due to the popularity of the places. However, they are still very cost effective. But the choice is yours. As long as you find a place to set up your technical gear you need to work.

There are different ways to find accommodation in Bali. You could book something short-term for your arrival like in a hostel or hotel. For short term accommodation check out Booking.com. Or you could book a long-term rental from the outset. Many find accommodation through one of the many expat Facebook pages and groups that exist. 

 

Are You Ready to Make Bali Your Next Digital Nomad Home?

 

Bali is in the top 10 destinations for digital nomads, remote workers and expats. We all know that taking the step to live work and play in a foreign country can be scary, especially if you’re solo in this journey. Which is why it is great that Bali already has the infrastructure set up for, and welcomes digital nomads to its shores. And, like at any other place in the world, while working in Bali as a digital nomad may not always be easy, I am certain that it’s all going to be worth it. So if you are looking for your first, or next, digital nomad location, consider Bali, Indonesia.