Pantai Berawa beach in Canggu, North Kuta in Bali, Indonesia Didier Marti/Getty Images
Marielle Descalsota Feb 7, 2023, 5:12 PM
Bali, a province in Indonesia, is one of the world’s top travel destinations.
In recent years, the island has become especially popular with digital nomads, especially as Indonesia launched its remote work visa in October last year.
Despite only being around the size of Delaware, two towns in Bali — Canggu and Ubud — were named among the top five destinations for remote workers in a ranking published by community website Digital Nomads. The ranking compiled the best places for digital nomads to live, based on factors like the monthly cost of living and Wi-Fi speed.
Canggu, a town renowned for its world-class surfing, ranked third on the list. According to Digital Nomads, the town is great for remote workers who want to live by the sea. The website noted that it has “plenty of coworking spaces, cafes, events, and workshops.”
Digital nomads can expect to spend around $1,350 a month in Canggu, and enjoy a decent Wi-Fi speed of 25 Mbps.
“Canggu has so much energy and excitement,” one digital nomad wrote on Nomad List in January, a website dedicated to the ins and outs of working remotely. Nomad List collects reviews about destinations anonymously.
Digital Nomads praised Ubud, which ranked fourth in its list, for its natural beauty and wildlife. The website described the town as a “hotspot for yogis,” adding that it’s perfect for those looking for a relaxed lifestyle.
While Wi-Fi connection can be unstable outside of coworking spaces, it usually numbers at 20 Mbps, according to the Digital Nomad. Remote workers can expect to spend $1,200 a month in Ubud.
One digital nomad wrote on Nomad List that Ubud is “pretty damn good,” with an abudance of waterfalls, jungles, and a stunning beach.
While it costs over $1,000 to live in either of these popular digital nomad destinations, it can cost much less to live in other parts of Bali. For example, remote workers can expect to spend only $520 a month in Seseh, a seaside neighborhood in Bali, according to Nomad List.
Three out of the top five remote work destinations in the Digital Nomads’ ranking were in Southeast Asia.
Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, took top spot. Melbourne, Australia, and Chiang Mai, Thailand, both finished second and third respectively.
