Thinking about living in Canggu for a few months while you work remotely or manage your own business? Well, before you move we’d recommend that you check out our comprehensive guide to the area and learn the pros and cons of being a digital nomad in Canggu.
Where Is Canggu?
Canggu is on the South coast of Bali about an hour’s drive in Bali traffic from Denpasar International Airport (Ngurah Rai International Airport).
It’s between the neighbouring towns of Seminyak and Seseh and it’s one of the most popular destinations for digital nomads in Southeast Asia and the most popular in Bali.
The mix of rice fields, yoga classes, excellent restaurants and coffee shops with delicious food, affordable co-working spaces, FINNS Beach Club, surfing spots, etc. makes Canggu very attractive for those who can work from anywhere.
Why Is Canggu A Good Place For Digital Nomads?
So, why should you come to be a nomad in Canggu? We think there are plenty of good reasons including:
- It’s easy to find fast Wi-Fi and it’s generally reliable – so you shouldn’t have to abandon that Zoom call to find another place to work from
- It’s reasonably affordable – you could still get by on $1,000 USD a month (about $1,500 AUD) if you budgeted tightly and with $2,000 USD a month ($3,000 AUD) you can have a great standard of life in Canggu
- It’s very popular with nomads – Canggu is a major draw to Bali and it’s, after Chiang Mai in Thailand, probably the second most popular nomad spot in Southeast Asia. Female nomads, in particular, seem drawn to Canggu.
- It’s got everything you need to feel at home – this part of Bali is modern and efficient and that means you can find everything you need or want (pretty much) in Canggu
- It’s got a huge volume of restaurants and cafes – if you want to eat out all the time, you can. There are also plenty of places for you to buy tasty food to cook at home if that’s more your style.
- The rest of Bali is very accessible from Canggu – if you want to see the whole island, Canggu is a great place to be based in and you can see a lot just using day trips.
- There’s a great fitness and wellness community – for the nomad who’s trying to stay in shape, there are gyms, vegan places, padel courts, and much more to help you in your quest and they tend to be pretty affordable too.
- The visa situation – at the moment, Bali is pretty lax regarding visas and you can do back-to-back visa runs fairly easily (though you do have to leave Indonesia to do them).
What Are The Drawbacks Of Canggu For Digital Nomads?
Let’s not pretend that it’s all a bed of roses though and there are reasons that you might not want to be a nomad in Canggu, Bali too:
- There are a lot of digital nomads – not everyone wants to be surrounded by people like themselves. Check out the Facebook groups for nomads in Bali and see if your fellow remote workers are people you want to share coffee shops and co-working spaces with. Most people love the company but some most definitely do not.
- Canggu is a tourism centre for Bali – that means there are times when Canggu can get very busy and places like FINNS Beach Club are super popular destinations. Crowding isn’t common when you visit Canggu but it is possible.
- The beaches aren’t great for swimming – we love the black sand beach vibe of this town but the current can be a bit violent in the ocean and you might prefer to stick to a swimming pool rather than risk yourself to the sea.
- It’s not the best city for walkability – it’s not impossible to walk in Canggu, the author of this piece does it, but the sidewalks are precarious at best and the roads can be packed and in bad shape. That makes ride-share apps or scooters the transport of choice for most people.
- Scooters are dangerous – this is true of every single part of Southeast Asia, mind you, not just Canggu. But riding a scooter on cramped roads that are in a poor state of repair with no real standards of driving for those around you? It can lead to accidents.
- It can be very warm and humid – most people find the temperate climate of Bali to be a huge positive but for some people, it’s just too hot.
- Traffic – ah, to be fair, traffic is a problem all over the island but wherever you are, at rush hour it can be really unpleasant.
Is It Legal To Be A Digital Nomad In Bali?
It can be legal to be a digital nomad in Indonesia (and thus, Bali). But despite many agents claiming that you can work remotely on a tourist visa or social visit visa, this isn’t correct.
While there are some exceptions for workers on social visas (these visas are often used by unpaid interns from overseas by local companies, for example), remote work isn’t one of them.
If you want to work legally in Bali, then you will need either a digital nomad visa (the E33G) or a job with a local company and the necessary paperwork to go with it.
We should note that, to date, the Indonesian authorities have been turning a blind eye to the co-working spaces and cafe workers in Bali but this can change at any time.
How Long Can You Stay In Bali Or Indonesia?
It very much depends on the visa that you use to enter the country with. The most common is the tourist visa on arrival or e-visa that is sold online through the Indonesian Government Portal.
This visa provides visitors with the right to stay for 30 days and it may be extended for a further 30 days for a total of 60 days – once the 60 days are over, you must leave Indonesia.
It is a tourist visa which means that you cannot legally work on this visa and if immigration suspects you of working, you might be arrested and deported.
There is also a social visit visa (B211A) which can be used by tourists and some other groups for a longer stay in Bali.
This visa is valid for 2 months on arrival (60 days to be precise) and then it can be extended twice for a period of 60 days each time, to a maximum of 180 days. After 180 days you must leave Indonesia.
This visa also does not allow you to legally work in Indonesia. It’s also single-entry – so if you need to leave Indonesia at any time, you will need a new visa on your return.
Is There A Digital Nomad Visa For Indonesia?
More recently, Indonesia has released the E33G visa. This visa allows you to carry out work remotely for an overseas company (you may not work for a domestic entity while on this visa).
The visa lasts for 1 year and you may travel to and from Indonesia as often as you like during this period, and you are also free to carry out any tourist-related activities.
You can’t however take a job with a local firm, or sell any goods or services in Indonesia and you must leave Indonesia when the year is up.
While this visa is relatively new, it has not proven to be as popular as using other visas, yet, because it requires more documentation and is more expensive.
If you want to use this visa you must meet the following visa requirements:
- A passport with validity for, at least, 6 months
- A recent photograph (in colour)
- A personal bank statement showing a balance of greater than $2,000 USD for the last 3 months and the statement must show your name, the dates and the balance
- Proof that you have an annual income of $60,000 USD or more
- A contract as a remote worker with an overseas entity
- The certificate of incorporation for your employer’s company
You can apply for this visa if you’re in Indonesia on another single-entry visa. It costs roughly $1,000 USD from an agent with discounts for applying from outside of Indonesia and for a slower processing speed.
Should I Use A Tourist Visa As a Digital Nomad?
We can’t advise you to use a tourist visa (either the e-visa or the visa on arrival) to work when you visit Canggu.
If you do, you’ll be breaking the law in a foreign country and while you’re unlikely to get caught, if you are – you may find yourself in a lot of trouble.
Having said that, we would note that if you work wholly online, don’t work for any Indonesian businesses and stick to coffee shops and co-working spaces, you’re unlikely to be noticed as you add to your bank account.
Speaking of banking – you can only open an account in Bali if you have the right to work here and an Indonesian tax number. Otherwise, you will need to keep banking at home.
What Does It Cost To Live In Canggu For Digital Nomads?
Canggu is no longer as cheap as it once was and you won’t find a 2-bedroom villa with a pool going for a song anymore – in fact, even if you were prepared to rent one for a year or more, you’d be shocked to learn that most people pay a year or more’s rent in advance here, so you’d still need pretty deep pockets to bring the rental costs down.
However, you should be able to rent a 1-bedroom villa for around $1,000 USD ($1,500 AUD) a month or do what most nomads do and stay in a guesthouse (which will have a pool) at around $500 USD a month ($750 AUD).
A motorbike and gas or Grab/Gojek ride-shares will set you back about $100 USD ($150 AUD) a month.
We should note that we never recommend that you rent a bike and while it might seem romantic to wind through the rice fields on a scooter on your way to yoga classes. The reality is that it’s hard to be road-legal and if you’re not road-legal, you aren’t insured (your insurer will invalidate any insurance you think you have when you try to claim).
And if you’re not insured and you have an accident, it can get very expensive. We’ve seen GoFundMe campaigns trying to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for people who get hurt on the roads in this hipster town. It really is better to use a ride-share app.
Groceries will come in at around $100-$200 USD ($150-$300 AUD) a month depending on whether you want cheap fresh produce or expensive Western food (it’s all good food in Bali but there is a real premium on imported products).
Then, you will want a budget for eating out, activities, etc. and that’s really down to your lifestyle. We’d put around $500 USD ($750 AUD) a month in this category but you could easily spend much, much more. Homebodies might spend much less, though.
You will probably also need a laundry at some point (say $40 USD/$60 AUD a month) and if you want to use a gym expect to pay $50-$100 ($75-$150 AUD) a month for that.
So, a single nomad can live comfortably on $1,500 USD or less and a couple might live easily enough on $2,000 a month. If you want to splurge you absolutely can and if you want to save a little – then it’s possible to tighten your belt and even keep things under $1,000 USD a month.
Popular Areas To Stay In Canggu For Digital Nomads
Canggu has no city center as such but, instead, it has four awesome beaches that most digital nomads and remote workers will opt to base themselves around.
Batu Bolong Beach
Batu Bolong Beach is probably the most popular part of the area and if you visit Canggu, you will definitely want to head down to this area at some point or another.
However, we think it’s, perhaps, too busy to live in this area and you might prefer working near one of the other beaches and visiting Batu Bolong, instead.
The road leading to the beach is packed with boutique stores, bars, restaurants and hotels and it can become very crowded, particularly during high season.
The beach itself is great for beginner surfers and you will find plenty of places nearby where you can learn to surf or hire a board for the day.
Berawa Beach
Berawa Beach is the second busiest part of the island and it’s also the home of FINNS Beach Club, the world’s best beach club. Nearly 1 in 8 visitors to Bali will head to FINNS Beach Club during their stay on the island and it’s absolutely worth visiting.
This beach is also excellent for beginner surfers and the majority of surf schools and camps will come to Berawa at some point during their training. You can also easily rent equipment around Berawa Beach.
You’ll also find that the area has plenty of boutique stores, bars, restaurants and hotels and it’s much easier to walk around than Batu Bolong. Jalan Pantai Berawa is one of the more pedestrian-friendly parts of town too.
However, while there are plenty of coffee shops and cafes where you can work from in this area, there aren’t as many co-working spaces as you might like and again, you might opt to live a little further out and visit Berawa from elsewhere in Canggu.
Echo Beach
Echo Beach is not the Echo Beach of the famous Martha and the Muffins song, but it is a very popular spot with more advanced surfers. This beach is more challenging than the other beaches in Canggu and you don’t want to tackle Echo Beach as a beginner surfer.
The area around Echo Beach is still very busy and again, there are coffee shops, cafes, restaurants and hotels galore and it’s easy to find a spot with some outdoor seating where you can get to work on your latest project.
Pererenan Beach
This area is a little less popular than the other 3 beaches and there are more coworking spaces in this part of the island. So, if a good working space with some air conditioning is a priority for you – this may be the best place to stay when you visit Canggu, Bali.
However, wherever you choose to stay in Canggu, you should be able to find a nice place and it’s easy to explore the rest of the area, so you won’t miss out on anything.
Just be warned that the traffic can lead to things getting pretty congested at certain times of day, so make sure to plan your journeys carefully.
Things You Should Know As A Digital Nomad In Canggu
OK there are a few things you should know to make your life in Canggu Bali a little easier when you get here:
- Ride-sharing is your friend – the local equivalents to Uber are Grab and Gojek. You can download these apps onto your phone before you come to Bali and use them immediately from the airport onwards. They are safe and the cost of any trip is fixed before you get into the car.
- The local language is Bahasa Indonesia – “Bahasa” actually just means “language” so it’s the language of Indonesia. There is a Bahasa Bali but it’s very rarely used. The good news is that the second language on Bali is usually English, so most people have, at least, a smattering of English words.
- The climate is hot and humid – it rains more between November and March and the period from April to October is the “high season” and it’s less rainy and a bit cooler. It’s cheaper in the rainy season, however.
- You can haggle at markets, street stalls and on the beach – don’t expect to haggle in a high-end boutique unless you’re buying serious volumes of gear or in a supermarket or convenience store but souvenir stands, etc. are great places to haggle and haggling is expected, you won’t offend anyone.
- Don’t drink the tap water – seriously, don’t. The locals won’t drink it either. The tap water in Bali may contain bacteria, amoeba and heavy metals. Buy bottled water or drink filtered water. If you really must use tap water for rinsing your tooth brush, we’d recommend that you boil it first.
- The local currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) – there is no other legal tender in Indonesia. The good news is that card payments are way easier than they once were and are accepted in most places, but do carry a little cash, just in case.
- Tipping is not mandatory – it’s welcome though. Be aware that hotels, bars, restaurants, etc. have a service charge on the bill and yes, that goes to the staff. So, you don’t have to tip. This charge is nearly always itemized at the bottom of the menu, along with the service tax. So, be prepared for meals, drinks, etc. to cost 20% more than the menu price.
Things For Digital Nomads To Do In Canggu
There are plenty of things to do in Canggu and some of the most popular choices include:
- Check out a sunset at FINNS Beach Club – it’s the best sunset in the world and nothing beats lounging in the beachfront infinity pool with a cold cocktail in your hand enjoying the light show in the sky. And after the sun sets, you’ll find that the entertainment at FINNS is the best on the island.
- Go surfing – Canggu, Bali is a great place to learnt to surf and Echo Beach is a good place to hone your skills if you’re already surfing well.
- Visit Tanah Lot – it’s not in Canggu but this world famous temple on an island off the coast is a short drive from Canggu. You can’t enter the temple itself but it’s a spectacular sight and at low tide, you can walk out to the island the temple sits on.
Some Great Cafes For Working Remotely In Canggu
If you’re looking for a coffee shop to work from then you’re going to be pleased to find plenty of nomad friendly locations in Canggu. Some of our favourites include:
Zin Cafe
Zin Cafe is one of the best places to work and it has an inbuilt coworking space and you don’t have to pay to use it – it’s free when you buy some food or drinks.
This does make it one of the most popular places for nomads, though, and if you want to be sure of a seat, we’d recommend getting there early in the day.
They also have their own onsite accommodation options if you think its’ the perfect place for you and you want to wake up near your desk.
Sangkala Cafe
Sangkala Cafe is a little way off the beaten path and that means it’s one fo the quieter places to work in Canggu. They have air conditioning in the main area which makes it a comfortable place to spend a day or so.
Their Wi-Fi is excellent and you’ll find that the staff are very welcoming and won’t shoo you out with your laptop the moment that you finish your drink.
Their chicken sambal is legendary and if you want to experience a taste of Bali, this is a great place to get fired into satay with an accompanying tub of sambal matah. We’re also big fans of their lattes.
Amola’s Cafe
Amola’s Cafe is another nomad-friendly venue in Canggu, Bali and you can easily work here for most of the day as long you’re buying something every now and again.
It does get fairly busy at times, but it never seems to get to the point of “full” either.
They have a really cool outdoor seating space which is very comfy and their indoor area has air conditioning too. It’s an excellent spot if you’re missing Western food as they have a big menu full of all your favourites from back home.
A Few Co-Working Spaces To Try In Canggu
Digital nomads won’t be surprised to learn that there are plenty of cowrking options in Canggu and, in fact, we think it has more coworking spaces than anywhere else on the island. Why not try:
Tribal
Tribal is one of the OG spaces for digital nomads and it’s very popular. If you want to work here, you just need to purchase something from their extensive menu for the first three hours. After that, you will need to spend 100,000 IDR to stay and use the facilities for the rest of the day, that’s pretty easy to do, to be fair.
BWork Bali
BWork is another popular coworking option, but you should be aware that if you want to use all of their facilities – you will need to pay a membership fee (this varies depending on whether you join for a day, a week, a month or longer).
The coworking cafe space is free, but the air-conditioned rooms, lectures, pool space, events and yoga classes are all included in the membership.
We think they provide amazing value for money for most nomads and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend a membership here.
Tropical Nomad Coworking Space
This place has a real emphasis on cultivating a creative community within a sustainable workspace and it’s one of the most attractive places to work here on the island.
They have a kitchen, cafe, a hot desking area, a printing area, a backyard chill space, Skype booths, meeting rooms and even standing desks.
Their membership plans are also super flexible and there’s something that’s good value for everyone at Tropical Nomad.
Where To Stay Fit In Canggu
There are plenty of gym options in Canggu and you can easily get somewhere with a nice view of the rice fields as you work out. However, gyms can get quite pricey too and you’ll need to think hard about your budget before you decide on where to spend time exercising in the area.
We can recommend:
Brother GYM
This place is cheap and cheerful. That means no air con and no changing rooms though, so you need to rock up ready to work out and be prepared to sweat.
It has all the basic cardio equipment that you could possibly need, though and both machine and free weights.
It’s the price tag that makes this place appealing to some nomads, though; a monthly membership is less than $30 USD ($45 AUD) at 350,000 IDR!
Nirvana Gym
At the other end of the scale, you can also join the poshest gym in town at Nirvana Gym. This place has everything you could ever dream of for working out in comfort.
There’s an onsite cafe with a nutritionist service. All types of machines and weights. There are lessons for every type of fitness including yoga, pilates and much more.
However, you do tend to get what you pay for when it comes to gyms in Bali and a 1 month pass at this gym is 3,100,000 IDR (++ which means they will charge tax and service charge on top of this fee, an extra 20%!) and that means it’s more than $200 USD ($300 AUD) a month to be a part of this gym!
If you hunt around, you’ll find there’s a gym near you that suits your budget in Canggu without a doubt. There are nearly as many gyms here as there are rice fields.
Other Useful Services For Digital Nomads In Canggu
You may also need some or all of the following while you’re in Canggu:
- Pepito Market – this is the most popular supermarket in the area though there is also Canggu Station and Frestive. We find the prices are a bit higher than normal here, but it’s super convenient when you need bread, cheese, toiletries, etc.
- Pharmacies – just look for the big green cross outside or for a brand name like Guardian (there’s one near FINNS Beach Club on the Berawa Beach Road). Generally speaking, most things are cheaper here than back home but be prepared to pay through the nose for suntan lotion, it’s better to bring it with you if you can.
- Laundry Services – most places here don’t have laundry facilities, so you will need to add somebody like Heavenly Cleaner Babakan to your call list. They will come out and pick up your washing, clean it, press it and bring it back for a reasonable fee. But be warned, the Bali traffic means that drop off times are very approximate sometimes.
- ATMs – always use ATMs in banks, malls or stores. ATM skimming is super common in Bali and the easiest place to fall victim is at an outdoor ATM.
- Emergency Services – the main number for emergency services here in Bali is 112 (0361 112 on a smartphone with a local SIM or +62 361 112 if you’re using your overseas SIM).
FAQs
Is Canggu Good For Digital Nomads?
Yes, Canggu is good for digital nomads. The area is one of the most popular destinations for digital nomads in Southeast Asia and that’s because there’s much more to Canggu than just some coworking spaces with good coffee and air conditioning.
The cost of living is lower than in most Western countries and while you may have got a better price on a two-bedroom villa a few years ago, it’s easy to find a decent place to live with a good working space and enjoy the unique culture of the island at the same time.
Our digital nomad guide, above, will walk you through everything from the cost of living to the accommodation options in the area and more.
Which Part Of Bali Is Best For Digital Nomads?
At this moment in time, nomads tend to either head to the beach town of Canggu or the cooler central town of Ubud. They’re both relatively low-cost places to live and they both attract many expats and nomads as well as plenty of tourists.
We think Canggu’s beautiful beaches, coffee shops and cafes, vibrant nightlife, and amenities make it the most attractive place to be in Bali right now. And you don’t need to learn Bahasa Indonesia to be able to get by in Canggu.
Final Thoughts On Digital Nomads In Canggu
Canggu is a great place to be a digital nomad and it’s not just the low cost of living that brings people to this part of Bali. There are plenty of accommodation options and it’s easy to find an open space to do your remote work from.
The food is excellent and island life tends to suit most people. It’s an excellent spot to base yourself from to explore the rest of Bali too and you can take a day trip to Ubud, Seminyak, Nusa Dua or even the famous Tanah Lot temple easily enough from this area.
Of course, it’s also one of the best places in Indonesia for reliable fast Internet which makes the act of remote work as easy as possible too.