Living in Bali for a Month: Bali Digital Nomad Guide
Should you move to Bali as a digital nomad? The place DOES live up to the hype!
Of course, yoga and surfing should be on your Bali bucket list but there's so much more to it. This absolute Bali digital nomad guide will help you decide if you should live in Bali for a month (or more!)
You'll hear me talk a lot about the best places to work as I like to keep up with my minimalist habits and get stuff done. This travel-as-a-lifestyle approach could mean anything to you: maybe you are looking to live in Bali for a while, you are a digital nomad, or you are developing your side project during your vacation.
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Should you be a digital nomad in Bali?
YES. It feels like some places in Bali are made for digital nomads. Living in Bali as an expat is awesome: There are so many cool spots to explore, the internet speed is amazing and it is so easy to move around by motorbike. There are also many coworking spaces in Bali and you can also work at cafes. It's ideal for content creators of course or if you have a remote job. I could live my dream of surfing in the morning and working on my projects in the afternoon.
Cost of living in Bali, Indonesia
How much does it cost to live in Bali? Not much, but it is not as cheap as other popular digital nomad destinations in Asia as there are a lot of people coming on vacation and driving the prices up.
Cost of accommodation in Bali: As luxurious or as frugal you want it to be, there is something for everyone. There are so many cool places to stay in Bali and you can stay in $10 bungalows or in $1000 villas.
You can find monthly Airbnb for as low as $300 a month. You’ll also want to be on the lookout for month-to-month rentals if you plan to be living in Bali as an expat: you can find these on FB groups or just by asking around.
Transportation: Learn how to ride a motorbike! I learned in a day and I LOVED IT. You can rent it directly at your accommodation it will give you so much freedom while being very cost-efficient. Use moto-taxis app like Grab or Gojek otherwise.
Do you need a visa to go to Bali?
Depending on your passport you’ll probably get a 30 or 60-day visitor visa. For longer stays, you can figure out how to get a visa for Bali once you’re there.
Keep in mind that there are talks of specific digital nomad visas in Bali, so you might be able to settle there long term soon!
Be careful: while there are many job opportunities in Bali, you don’t want to be working there on a tourist visa. You’ll also need a dedicated visa if you’re planning on volunteering.
What makes Bali a great base?
Ease of travel: 10/10. Your accommodation can organize everything for you (transfers, sim cards, motorbikes, surfing lessons...), even in peak season there were many airbnbs available when we booked last minute, people speak English and are incredibly helpful. This is what makes Bali stand out as a perfect, worry-free base!
Food: There are a lot of organic, sustainable, and local options. I've found countless healthy restaurants and delicious local options. All of Bali is very accommodating of special diets so if you’re vegan, gluten-free, or have food allergies you’ll have no issues.
Sustainability: You can find a lot of organic food, single-use plastic is limited and there's a wide range of eco-conscious accommodations. I do not recommend biking around Ubud as it can be very hilly but it can definitely be done in Canggu. Take some time to do your research to make sure you are encouraging the right kind of tourism.
The impact of Instagram on Bali cannot be denied. I enjoy waking up early and visiting very well-known places when no one is there but nice pictures bring their share of false expectations. Luckily beauty is almost everywhere in Bali and there are so many off-the-beaten-track places to explore. Be creative, do your research, and be prepared to drive around.
Flights: One thing to note is that while both Canggu and Ubud are close to the airport, Bali is not really a hub for travel. And if you are one of the many Americans living in Bali, you will have to take a few connecting flights to go back home. Your flight to Bali could also be incredibly long depending on where you are traveling from!
Canggu vs Ubud: where to stay in Bali?
Both Canggu and Ubud are awesome bases: I feel Canggu is more for extroverts while Ubud is more a place of introspection and discovery of the local culture. It is incredibly easy to go from one to the other by motorbike in around one hour.
Keep reading for a complete comparison between Canggu and Ubud!
Canggu
What is canggu in Bali really like? If you like surfing, cool hangouts and overall being immersed in an uplifting and dynamic atmosphere where you can meet a lot of young creatives, you will not be disappointed. We first stayed in a traditional wooden house, and then were treated to the Bali luxury villa experience at Villa Sungai.
These were the best things to do in Canggu Bali in my opinion:
Food:
It is so easy to find healthy food in Canggu:
Motion Cafe: If you are a health-conscious foodie this is the perfect place for you. We ate there almost every day. You'll like this place if you have a special diet or an allergy as there are a lot of Paleo and Vegan options and you can build your own plate. I went for their massive salads, their Paleo "caveman bread", sweet potato hash-browns and delicious sugar-free desserts.
Cafe Vida: Their garden seating is so relaxing. I loved being able to order Jamu, the Indonesian tonic with coconut water, turmeric, and spices, by the bottle. Their "Vida Healthy Bowl" has everything you need and their smoothies are awesome.
Cassava: Hands down my favorite place for breakfast. We ate there every morning. My go-to was their vegan take on the traditional Nasi Campur. They make their own nut milk and I started my days with a Coconut or Cashew latte. It was a great place to work as the wifi is amazing and the staff is so inviting: they knew our names by the second time we ate there. We felt welcome to stay as long as we wanted and to use their pool. It is one of the most instagrammable spots in Canggu so you'll often see people doing photoshoots or talking to their camera there.
Hangouts:
Pretty Poison: I felt like I was in an early-2000s pop-punk music video and it was a good thing! They have a massive outdoor area with a skating pool where you can watch local and foreign skaters showing off their bests tricks. Their drink menu is very simple for Canggu. Come with an open mind and expect to be surprised.
La Brisa: It is basically a treehouse on the beach and a perfect place for a Kombucha while you watch the sunset.
Movement:
Everyone is so fit. Crossfit is a big thing here so get ready for some intense activity with HIIT workouts or Power Flows. Surfing in Bali is, of course, a must, and Canggu is THE perfect place for your surf vacation.
Surfing: It is so easy to find surfing lessons in Canggu, just ask your host or head over to Batu Bolong beach. Although the waves can be quite big and the bottom of the ocean is volcanic rock (and can hurt if you fall on it) it is still a beginner to intermediate spot. If you go on your own, don't forget to check the surf report online.
Yoga: Canggu also has a small yoga scene. I went to the Chillhouse, the hotel attached to Cassava. They offer classes twice a day in their open-air studio and really high-quality equipment. A few other noteworthy places that I didn't try are The Practice and Samadi.
Gym: Avenue fitness was the best gym in Bali for me. It has a whole floor dedicated to functional training, all the weight-training equipment you need and a freacking ICE BATH in the sauna and hot-tub area. I liked how friendly people were there and I feel it would be a good place to meet people.
Feel good:
Massage: There are so many spas in Bali and a lot of quality ones in Canggu. I went to Teja Ayu for a cheap, ultra-efficient, no-appointment-needed dynamic massage that brought me back to life after a morning of surfing. I also tried Vishaka Spa, a more upscale version attached to Avenue Fitness.
Restore: There are many options for sound healing, restorative yoga, but taking a stroll on the beach at sunset is a must.
Connect:
Meet people: A lot of the Bali expat community lives in Canggu. I'd recommend checking out Facebook groups and local events.
Ethical shopping:
The Locals: I loved this shop featuring small Balinese designers. It is the perfect place to buy cute laid-back clothing. I liked the minimalist styles and bought my black swimsuit and striped set that you see on the Villa Sungai pictures. Overal shopping in Canggu was fun but I felt there was a lack of ethical brands!
Day trips:
Seminyak: I spent a night there to go surfing two days in a row at Kuta beach. The sandy bottom, shallow waters, and small waves make it the best surfing spot in Bali for beginners!
Nusa Penida: There are many things to do in Nusa Penida: Stay there one night and rent a scooter to explore less known spots.
Ubud:
Ubud has incredible opportunities for relaxation and introspection, especially if you stay outside of the city center: you'll be able to find a villa in the middle of the rice fields, maybe with a pool. I stayed at this incredible airbnb, a minimalist Bali eco-stay in a local area and it was an awesome cultural experience.
These were the best things to do in Ubud Bali in my opinion:
Food:
The food scene in Ubud is focused on vegan functional foods with a lot of raw options.
Alchemy: Their food is fully raw and organic and TBH I was curious to see what a "raw pizza" would be like. It became one of my hangouts as it has delicious coconut kefir, fresh juices, and quality wifi. It is located in the Penestanan neighborhood, that is slightly less busy than the city center.
Sayuri Healing Food: I loved this one as well. A big part of their menu is raw and they use a lot of superfoods. I had the Ocean Bowl and their Big Boy Brekkie with coconut bacon. It is a great place to work as well.
Seeds of Life: I enjoyed the upstairs seating area and their functional tonics with many different spices.
Coffee:
Ubud Coffee Roastery: The first place we've tried when we arrived. It is a nice place to work but also to try different types of coffee as they give great advice.
Seniman Coffee Studio: The best cashew iced latte I've ever had. Their home-made cashew milk is incredibly creamy and the outdoor seating is ideal to get some work done. They also organize coffee tastings.
Clear Cafe: I liked coming there at opening and enjoy their Zen atmosphere with their round door, floor seating, indoor trees, and fishpond that make it the perfect place to be productive.
Movement:
Yoga: Ubud is THE PLACE for trying new styles of Yoga. I practiced around twice a day, focusing on less physical styles and breath-work. I hung out at Radiantly Alive all the time and loved the community there. They have a very wide range of specialized classes that will be a welcome change from your usual Vinyasa Flow. The Yoga Barn is a classic and their morning flow is accessible to everyone. I really enjoyed the Kundalini class with Greg. I went to Usada that is a smaller space with martial arts classes. Other studios are Ubud Yoga House, Intuitive flow and Ubud Yoga Centre.
Dance: I went to the community Balinese Dance Class at Yoga Barn. It was a great way to experience the culture while getting moving.
Feel good:
Restore: Ubud is the perfect place for this. Restorative yoga, breathwork, reiki, sound healing, meditation... you can find so many relaxing classes at the Yoga studios. I tried Roll and Release at Radiantly Alive, a mix between foam rolling and mindfulness and I explored the link between emotional release and the breath with the Breath Trauma Release class.
Massage: I went to Ubud Skin Organic for a Balinese massage with organic coconut oil. They have Rosehip (a great oil that protects your skin against agng) facials.
Connect:
Meet people: I went to the free Community classes at the Yoga Barn and the free Satsang (Yoga talks) at Radiantly Alive and I met lovely people there.
Experience local culture: I recommend to just be open, and talk with your host or locals as I found people to be very keen on explaining their culture.
Ethical shopping:
Angelo: A great place to buy simple organic oils and beauty products. I bought a lemongrass lip balm there that had only 3 ingredients. You can take a class there to learn to make your own.
Farmer's market at Moksha: This is a small market aimed at foreigners with the usual fruits and veggies and a lot of products you'll want to take home with you. I bought dried Galangal and there was coconut oil and all the "superfoods" you usually see in healthy cafés in Bali but at a better price.
Day trips:
Rice-fields, temples, waterfalls: Ubud is a hub for day trips. I particularly loved the driving around and discovering less-known rice terraces that are a total Bali must-see!
I hope I could help you see that Bali is one of the bests digital nomad destinations with this blog post on Bali.