You’ve finally managed to become fully remote, and want to take your skills to work from Canggu on the beautiful island of Bali. Maybe you’ve already seen the beautiful villas and Instagram posts talking about how it’s such an amazing place and you’re probably wondering… does it live up to the hype?
Luckily for you, world traveller and entrepreneur Austin Tuwiner has spent a month living here and has dedicated writing this ultimate digital nomad guide to Canggu for you!
Why Choose Canggu As A Digital Nomad Base?
- Extremely Cheap Cost of Living (Under USD$1.5/month while living like a king!)
- Amazing Community (Friendly locals, lots of other nomads, a booming Meetup scene)
- Beautiful Country (Islands, beaches, rice fields and caves to explore right on your doorstep)
Cost of Living In Canggu, Bali
One of the most attractive parts about the digital nomad lifestyle is the ability to completely uproot yourself to a lower cost of living area or country.
But first, let me introduce myself: I’m from Austin, Texas (high cost of living) and I struggled to spend my rent money in one month in Canggu.
Depending on how frugally you decide to live, $800/month is completely doable. For more information about Canggu and other cities cost of living, check out NomadList.
Food is also very affordable and eating out is fairly normal. Here are some top recommendations on where to eat in Canggu.
Exemplary Cost Of Living In Canggu
| Expense | Cost in USD |
|---|---|
| ATM withdrawals for daily expenses for whole month | $483 |
| AirBnb May 31 – June 17 (3 weeks) | $401 |
| Hostels paid on card 12 nights | $44 |
| Coworking Space – Dojo/month | $120 |
| Scooter rental $3 per day * 20 | $60 |
| Airport pick-up and drop-off | $40 |
| 2hr surfing lesson | $25 |
| 90-minute massage | $15 |
The Canggu Community
I was extremely surprised by just how much I enjoyed the Canggu community.
I met so many interesting and like-minded people in one month in Canggu then in the past year in the States. Coworking and hostels around here provide some great opportunities to meet people from all walks of life.
Meetups are rampant in Canggu, and some don’t even require memberships!
Things That Make Canggu Great
What’s so great about Canggu, is the diversity of the surrounding areas. Compared to other countries, Bali is pretty small.
Feeling adventurous? Take a day trip to anywhere in the surrounding area and have a complete change of scenery. Even though I was based out of Canggu, I made visits to Kuta, Ubud, and the Gili Islands.
If you’re working remotely, you're going to need to find a place to work out of. For this you have two main options:
- Coworking
- Cafes
Each has its own pros and cons which we’ll get into now.
Coworking in Canggu
While there are plenty of options to choose from, the two most popular that we will cover in this guide are Dojo and Outpost. TropicalNomad and HubBali are other worthwhile mentions.
Dojo Coworking
Dojo is likely the more popular of the two coworking spaces. A few minutes from Echo beach, Dojo has a very chill and relaxed atmosphere that you can feel the second you walk in.
Their Internet speed is more than adequate and there is also a delicious cafe inside the space. Dojo is anywhere between $50-$200/month depending on which plan you get.
They also partnered (free entry) with Hubud in Ubud if you are able to make it up that way during your stay.
Outpost Canggu Coworking
Outpost is another fantastic option that has a slightly more professional and corporate vibe than Dojo. Depending on your personal taste, this could be a good or a bad thing.
As far as pricing, Outpost is broken down into different plans depending on how many hours you’ll need. Most of you will probably need an unlimited plan, which is around $190/month.
Overall, no matter which coworking space you join, you’ll gain access to a great network of like-minded people. Both places host great events where you can learn new skills and meet new friends.
Where to Stay In Canggu
You have a few main options for where to stay in Canggu.
Depending on how long you are intending to stay, what your budget is, and what you're looking for, some places are going to be better than others.
- Airbnb
- Hotels
- Hostels/Guest houses
Airbnb’s
Airbnb's are typically more expensive (between $15-$50+) a night, but in my opinion provide the highest level of comfort.
Get 15% off your first stay when you sign up to Airbnb through this link.
Hotels
Did you really come all the way out to Bali to stay in a hotel? Each to their own.
As you’d probably expect, the closer to the beach and the higher the stars, the more expensive the hotel. Keep this in mind when looking for hotels to stay at.
Hostels/Guest Houses
There are some great hostels and guest houses in Canggu, all with varying crowds and prices. Two I recommend are Clandestino and Lay Day Surf Hostel. Almost anywhere you go in Bali is going to have a party atmosphere but these hostels are very affordable, fun, and clean.
No matter where you stay, it’s important to keep in mind the daily commute to your workspace.
Transportation Around Canggu
If you want to get anywhere in Canggu, you’re going to need a scooter. Cars are an option for some, but you’ll constantly see them being trapped in traffic or stuck on the sides of the road while endless scooters zoom by.
There are even some shortcuts here that are pretty much scooter only. The well-known Canggu shortcut is an experience everyone should try at peak traffic. Good luck!
Scooter
Scooters aren’t the easiest thing to learn how to ride, but once you do, they are extremely rewarding and make this beautiful place feel much more accessible.
After a few days you’ll definitely feel much more confident driving. The gas here is ridiculously cheap and is no more than a few dollars a week.
For scooter rental, expect to pay a few dollars a day (20,000Rp-50,000 Rp) depending on how long you’re renting for.
Some places may try and take advantage of clueless tourists, but keep this guide in mind when negotiating the price!
Car/Taxi
I’m including cars in this guide because they are a legitimate option, but it just seems extremely overwhelming to drive with one of these considering how hectic the roads are.
If you shop around you should be able to find a car to rent for a decent price. These are a good option if you're with a bunch of people and want to travel together and explore beyond Canggu.
Uber/GoJek
The last option (besides walking) is to use rideshare apps like GoJek (very popular in Indonesia!). At the time of this writing, Uber is not available here, but there are a few rideshare apps out there that are extremely cheap.
The locals don’t like these apps as it makes it more difficult to make money off tourists, but they are a legitimate option if you don't plan to walk most places.
Ok, I’m Sold. What Are My Next Steps?
Get yourself a plane ticket to Denpasar Airport and have the time of your life in Canggu! Make sure to look at your visa options to get the maximum amount of time possible.
We hope this guide is helpful to any future Canggu digital nomads. Have a question after reading this guide?
Leave a comment below and we’ll get to it as soon as we can! Thanks for reading!
This article is written by Austin Tuwiner, a college dropout turned entrepreneur traveling the world.
In his free time, you'll find him scuba diving, educating people about Bitcoin, or rock climbing.
Don’t Go Without Travel Insurance
Why buy travel medical insurance from SafetyWing?
- Get insured, even if you already left your home country
- Covers visits to your home country if you’re travelling long-term
- Buy one-off or choose a start date and let your insurance extend every 28 days like a subscription until you cancel (no more paying upfront for long trips or open-ended adventures)
- COVID-19 cover is included
Please note, this post may contain affiliate links, which means that – at absolutely no cost to you – we earn a small commission on sales generated through this website. We only recommend sites we actually use and thank you for your support!
