The island has become increasingly popular with digital nomads in recent years, especially since Indonesia introduced a visa for remote workers last October.
In a list compiled by the community website Digital Nomads, two cities in Bali – Canggu and Ubud – were included among the top five choices for remote workers. The list recognized the best places to live for digital nomads based on factors such as monthly cost of living and Wi-Fi speed.
The town of Canggu, known for its world-class surfing, ranked third. The location is excellent for remote workers who want to live near the sea. There are “plenty of coworking spaces, cafes, events and workshops,” the website says.
In Canggu, digital nomads should anticipate monthly costs of about $1,350 and a reasonable Wi-Fi speed of 25 Mbps.
“Canggu has so much energy and excitement,” one digital nomad posted on Nomad List in January, a website devoted to the ins and outs of working remotely. Nomad List gathers anonymous reviews of destinations.
Ubud, which came in fourth on their list, was commended by Digital Nomads for its natural beauty and biodiversity. According to the website, the town is a “hotspot for yogis,” and it’s ideal for people seeking a laid-back lifestyle.
The Digital Nomad claims that Wi-Fi connections outside coworking spaces can be unreliable, but usually have a speed of 20 Mbps. In Ubud, remote workers can expect to pay $1,200 per month.
Ubud is “pretty damn good,” according to a digital nomad who posted about it on Nomad List. It has plenty of waterfalls, jungles, and a beautiful beach.
Living in one of these well-known spots for digital nomads can cost more than $1,000, while other areas of Bali can be far more affordable. Nomad List estimates, for example, that remote workers in the Seseh area of Bali only have to spend $520 per month.
According to Digital Nomads’ list, three of the top five locations for remote workers are in Southeast Asia.
Portugal’s capital, Lisbon, came in first. Melbourne, Australia, and Chiang Mai, Thailand, ranked second and third, respectively.