Living in Bali (Canggu/Ubud)

Real cost-of-living, visa, tax, and lifestyle numbers for Bali (Canggu/Ubud), Indonesia — measured, not guessed. Baseline budget for one adult: $1,690/mo. Updated 2026-05-25.

Monthly budget bands

Three honest budget tiers for Bali (Canggu/Ubud). Lean assumes suburb rent, home-cooked most meals, no coworking. Comfortable = center 1br + coworking + gym + healthy dining. Rich-feeling = center 3br + frequent restaurants + premium gym + taxis.

Lean (1 adult, suburb 1br)$1,172/mo
Comfortable (center 1br + coworking)$1,930/mo
Rich-feeling (center 3br + extras)$3,547/mo

Will my budget work in Bali (Canggu/Ubud)?

All figures USD/month · 2026 data

In Bali (Canggu/Ubud), your budget of $2,000/mo vs cost of $1,690/mo:

Surplus of $310/mo

That's 118% of cost covered. You could save $3,720/year here, or upgrade a tier.

Green = budget covers tier cost with surplus to save/invest. Red = you'd need to drop a tier or cut rent. Couple multiplier ≈ 1.55× (shared rent), family ≈ 2.05×. Estimates only — not financial advice.

Cost breakdown

Center 1br rent$720/mo
Suburb 1br rent$480/mo
Center 3br rent$1,480/mo
Groceries (1 adult)$240/mo
Restaurants (mid-tier)$280/mo
Transit / monthly pass$90/mo
Utilities (elec/water/gas)$75/mo
Internet (fiber)$30/mo (88 Mbps median)
Coworking (hot desk)$175/mo
Gym$65/mo
Health insurance (expat)$75/mo
Meal — local cheap$4
Meal — mid restaurant$12
Beer / coffee$3 / $3

Visa + residency

Tourist: up to 60 days on entry.

Long-stay route: Indonesia E33G Remote Worker / B1 KITAS. Income requirement: $5,000/mo. Difficulty 6/10 on our scale.

Tax residency: triggered at 183+ days/yr. E33G remote-worker visa = 1 yr, ~$60k/yr USD income req, foreign-source income explicitly tax-exempt while on this visa. Standard residency (183+ days under another visa) → worldwide income.

See the full Indonesia visa + tax page for every program with income thresholds.

Lifestyle scores

Safety (10 = best)8/10
Healthcare6.5/10
Walkability4/10
Weather comfort8/10 — Hot humid, 24–32°C. Wet Nov–Mar, dry Apr–Oct.
Social / nomad density10/10
Bureaucracy ease4/10
English-spoken population38%
Time-zone offset (UTC)+8
Coworking spaces mapped35

Neighborhoods worth knowing

  • Canggu (Berawa)Surf, beach clubs, nomad central. 1br ~$880/mo.
  • UbudJungle, yoga, slower, vegan-friendly. 1br ~$620/mo.
  • UluwatuCliffs, world-class surf, upscale. 1br ~$1,080/mo.

Best for / avoid if

Best for:

  • Surf + yoga + nomad lifestyle
  • Lowest tax on the list for remote workers
  • Massive expat scene
  • Affordable luxury (villas with pools)

Avoid if:

  • You need a real city
  • Reliable healthcare for chronic conditions matters
  • Bike-only transport scares you
  • You want low tourist density

Compare with another city

Compare Bali (Canggu/Ubud) to anywhere else

4 selected · click column to sort · winners highlighted

Pick cities to compare (4/15)

Argentina

Colombia

Georgia

Indonesia

Mexico

Panama

Portugal

Spain

Thailand

City
GuadalajaraMexico$720$1,544$1,747$240786/107/106/107/106/109%
Bali (Canggu/Ubud)Indonesia$720$1,690$1,930$240888/106.5/104/106/107/1038%
Mexico CityMexico$1,080$2,088$2,333$280865.5/107.5/107/107/106/1012%
Playa del CarmenMexico$980$2,137$2,412$320626/106.5/108/107/106/1035%

Green cell = best in the currently selected set for that metric. Cost columns: lower wins. Score columns: higher wins. Data reviewed 2026-05-25 (Numbeo, Nomad List, Speedtest, government portals).

FAQ

What does it cost to live in Bali (Canggu/Ubud)?

A single adult in Bali (Canggu/Ubud) runs $1,172/mo lean, $1,930/mo comfortable, $3,547/mo rich-feeling. Center 1br rent is $720, suburb $480.

What visa do I need for Bali (Canggu/Ubud)?

Indonesia E33G Remote Worker / B1 KITAS. Tourist entry is 60 days. The long-stay route typically requires proof of ~$5,000/mo income. Difficulty score: 6/10.

How does Indonesia tax remote workers in Bali (Canggu/Ubud)?

E33G remote-worker visa = 1 yr, ~$60k/yr USD income req, foreign-source income explicitly tax-exempt while on this visa. Standard residency (183+ days under another visa) → worldwide income.

Is Bali (Canggu/Ubud) safe?

Safety score 8/10 on our scale. Healthcare 6.5/10. English-spoken population ~38%. Walkability 4/10. Internet median 88 Mbps.

Who is Bali (Canggu/Ubud) best for?

Best for: Surf + yoga + nomad lifestyle; Lowest tax on the list for remote workers; Massive expat scene; Affordable luxury (villas with pools). Avoid if: You need a real city; Reliable healthcare for chronic conditions matters; Bike-only transport scares you; You want low tourist density.

Sources + methodology

  • Numbeo Bali 2026
  • Imigrasi Indonesia E33G
  • DJP (tax authority) Indonesia

Data reviewed 2026-05-25. Numbers are USD-equivalent at recent FX. This page is a decision aid, not financial, tax, or immigration advice — consult a qualified professional for your specific situation.