Overview
The island of Bali has become a popular destination for digital nomads from all over the world. With its beautiful beaches and diverse culture, Bali offers a unique combination of natural beauty and modern convenience. The island has everything a digital nomad could need, from coworking centers to affordable accommodation and a welcoming community of fellow remote workers. As a digital nomad, you can work from anywhere in the world, and Bali offers the perfect environment to balance work and life. Imagine working on your laptop in a laid-back coworking center overlooking the ocean, taking a break to explore a hidden waterfall, or attending a local cultural festival. This Guide provides all the information you need to live and work as a digital nomad in Bali.
This Guide is divided into the following sections:
Why Is Bali a Center of Digital Nomads
In recent years, Bali has gained a reputation as a popular destination for digital nomads. With an affordable cost of living, diverse coworking hubs, and a great community, Bali has become a top choice for remote workers looking to change the office environment for something new with a wide range of out-of-hours activities.
Cost of Living
One of Bali's biggest draws for digital nomads is its affordability. Compared to cities in Europe or North America, the cost of living in Bali is relatively low. Accommodation, food, and transport are all affordable, making it an attractive option for those who want to maintain the standard of living of developed countries while saving their budget.
Coworking Centers
Another reason Bali is a popular destination for digital nomads is the abundance of coworking centers. Bali has a thriving remote worker community, and coworking centers have sprung up almost all over the island. These spaces offer a place to work and opportunities to network and meet other digital nomads. In addition, they provide a variety of amenities, including high-speed internet, meeting rooms, and spaces for social or business events, for example.
Lifestyle and Culture
Bali's unique culture and lifestyle are also a big draw for digital nomads. The island is famous for its breathtaking natural beauty, temples, and rice terraces. The pace of life is slower than in many Western cities, which can be a refreshing change for those used to the fast-paced pace of city life.
Bali is also home to many artists, entrepreneurs, and creatives. It welcomes digital nomads and offers many opportunities to get involved in local events and initiatives.
Weather
Another factor that makes Bali an attractive destination for digital nomads is its tropical climate. The island has high temperatures all year round and alternates between rainy and dry seasons. The most popular season for visitors is the dry season, which lasts from April to October.
Bali's weather allows outdoor activities such as surfing, yoga, and hiking all year round. This can be interesting for those used to spending long hours in front of a computer screen.
Legality
If you choose to become a digital nomad in Indonesia, you must familiarize yourself with all the ins and outs that working remotely from Indonesia requires.
Visas
For all visa information available when traveling to Indonesia, please refer to the Visa Guide.
⚠️ Warning: Only a special Working Kitas visa entitles you to work in Indonesia. It is pretty complicated to obtain, and you need a company to vouch for you and for which you will work.
However, if you live in Bali (Indonesia) and work online remotely for companies outside Indonesia or on your own, being a digital nomad is perfectly legal de facto with any visa. In addition, The Immigration Department introduced a new so-called "Remote Worker visa E33G" in early 2024 for all digital nomads. This visa allows you to stay in Indonesia for one year with a possible extension, and you can apply for it via the official website https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id.
In our experience, if you work on a PC and pay your taxes in your country, no one can prove that you work on a PC. And therefore, it doesn't matter if you have a VOA tourist visa, or perhaps a K/ITAS temporary residence permit.
⚠️ Warning: We strongly advise against doing anything other than working online for a living while in Bali. Jobs where you expose yourself to the eyes of the locals, such as fitness trainers, yoga or diving instructors, etc., will make you a big target for the immigration department and most likely get you deported from the country sooner or later without a work permit.
Taxes
If you are working in Indonesia, check your home country's tax requirements if you are working remotely. Each country has a different approach to this issue, so getting your information based on your home country is advised.
For some countries, if you live in Bali for more than 183 days a year and work remotely as a freelancer, you can decide where to pay income taxes, whether in your home country or Indonesia. But Indonesian income taxes are pretty high. You have to decide where it is more profitable for you to pay taxes. You will also have to register as a taxpayer in Indonesia, get a tax number, and probably be much more in the public eye and under the scrutiny of the immigration department. We do not recommend exposing yourself to the attention of the Indonesian authorities in this way unnecessarily.
Coworking Centers
Bali offers a relatively large number of coworking centers. These usually provide a pleasant and productive work environment and collaboration with like-minded people. The centers typically have modern facilities with a restaurant or café and possibly other services such as a fitness center or massage.
When choosing a coworking space, consider the following factors:
Location
Choose a coworking space that is close to where you live. The main hubs of digital nomads in Bali are:
Facilities
Look for a workplace that offers the facilities that are important to you. Highlights include high-speed internet, meeting rooms, a café, an adjacent fitness center, etc.
Community
Choose a coworking space that has a community of like-minded people.
Cost
When choosing a coworking space, consider the cost and membership options.
💡 Tip: If you are not the networking coworking center type and prefer to work primarily in private, you can take advantage of the dozens to hundreds of "digital nomad friendly" cafes and restaurants in Bali that offer fast internet access and a relaxed atmosphere.
Livit coworking space, Sanur
Other Information
As a digital nomad, you'll also be interested in our other Guides, which we recommend reading:
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