Ubud is Bali’s cultural and spiritual heart: rice terraces, temples, jungle valleys and a large international community built around yoga, wellness and creative work. It is calmer, greener and cheaper than Canggu, with a comfortable life for about $1,700 a month, and it was one of the first places in Asia to attract digital nomads.
The trade-offs are traffic in the centre, slower internet in some villas, and no beach. This guide covers what you need to set up for a month or more. For sights as a visitor, see the Ubud travel guide.
Ubud for Digital Nomads at a Glance#
Why Ubud Works for Remote Workers#
- Calm and nature. Rice fields, rivers and jungle a few minutes from your desk.
- Wellness. Yoga studios, healthy cafes, spas, ecstatic dance and retreats.
- Value. Villa rooms, warung food and scooters are cheap.
- Culture. Temple ceremonies, dance performances and crafts are part of daily life.
- Community. A long-established international crowd of writers, creatives and long-stayers.
Who It Suits (and Who It Doesn't)#
Ubud suits writers, creatives, yoga and wellness lovers, and anyone who wants a calm, green base with a friendly community. It suits you less if you want surf, nightlife or the busy social scene of Canggu, an hour away by road. For US-based teams, Ubud is 12 to 13 hours ahead of New York.
Visas#
Most visitors get a 30-day visa on arrival (or e-VoA bought online), which can be extended once for another 30 days. For longer stays, the E33G remote worker visa lasts a year and needs $60,000 a year in income from abroad. Many long-stayers use a 60-day single-entry visit visa (formerly B211A), extendable in Bali, arranged through a visa agent. Bali charges a tourist levy of IDR 150,000 per visit, paid online or on arrival.
Indonesia: E33G Remote Worker Visa
- Stay
- 1 year
- Valid for
- 1 year
- Renewal
- No; reapply when it ends
- Money required
- $60,000 a year, plus $2,000 in the bank
- Fee
- Several hundred dollars for the visa and KITAS; agents charge on top
- Who qualifies
- Remote employees of a company registered outside Indonesia.
- Family
- Separate dependant visas
- Tax
- Foreign income is not taxed if you work only for a company outside Indonesia, but holding a KITAS can make you tax resident: get advice
- How to apply
- Online through Indonesia's e-Visa site, usually with an agent. Official site
The replacement for the old B211A. Many Bali nomads still use the 60-day C1 visit visa instead.
Indonesia for digital nomads · Rules checked October 2026. Confirm with the official source before applying.
What It Costs#
These are monthly costs for one person renting a private villa room or guesthouse in or near Ubud, in US dollars at about IDR 16,000 to the dollar.
| Monthly cost | Typical range (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Private villa room or 1-bed guesthouse, monthly | $400 - $900 | About IDR 6.5-15 million; villas with pools from about IDR 15 million |
| Electricity and water | $20 - $70 | Usually included in monthly guesthouse rates |
| Home internet | Fibre in most villas; ask for a speed test | |
| Coworking | $100 - $200 | Outpost about IDR 3.1 million a month across Bali; cafe-coworking spaces cheaper |
| Food (eating out most meals) | $250 - $500 | Warung meals from IDR 20,000-40,000; cafes and healthy restaurants more |
| Scooter rental and fuel | $45 - $80 | About IDR 700,000-1.2 million a month; Gojek and Grab otherwise |
| Phone plan with data | $8 - $20 | Telkomsel has the best coverage |
| Yoga, gym and wellness | $60 - $200 | Yoga Barn and other studios sell class packs |
| Social life and extras | $120 - $300 | Ecstatic dance, sound healing, waterfalls and day trips |
These are ballpark estimates, not quotes. Real costs vary hugely with your lifestyle, which neighbourhood you live in, how often you eat out or take taxis, the season and the exchange rate. Use them to compare places, then check current prices before you commit.
Ways to save: rent monthly directly from a guesthouse or villa owner rather than through booking sites, eat at warungs, and rent a scooter for the month. Western cafes and wellness classes add up quickly.
Where to Live#
Most nomads live in Penestanan, central Ubud or the quiet villages just south.
| Neighbourhood | Vibe | 1-bed / month | Best for | Getting around |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penestanan | A green village across the river from central Ubud, with rice fields, villas, cafes and Outpost | $450-900 | The nomad community | Walk or scooter; 5 minutes to the centre |
| Central Ubud | The busy heart around the market, palace and Monkey Forest Road | $450-900 | Walkability and short stays | Walk; scooter or Gojek |
| Nyuh Kuning and Pengosekan | Quiet villages south of the Monkey Forest, with yoga studios and cafes | $400-800 | Calm and wellness | Scooter; 5-10 minutes to the centre |
| Sayan | Clifftop villas above the Ayung River valley, with views and luxury resorts | $500-1,200 | Views and peace | Scooter essential |
| Peliatan | A local village east of the centre, cheaper and more traditional | $350-700 | Value and local life | Scooter |
Monthly villas and guesthouse rooms are listed in Ubud housing Facebook groups, on Airbnb and through local agents; many places only advertise with a sign by the road. Ask for a speed test, check for mould in the rainy season, and look for a place close to a road if you don’t ride a scooter.
Coworking and Cafes#
Prices below are as published or recently reported. Hubud, Ubud’s original coworking space, has closed.
Outpost Ubud
Ubud’s main dedicated coworking space, with rice-field views, 24/7 access and weekly member events. One pass covers the Canggu and Berawa locations too.
Best for: A serious desk and community
Mudra Ubud
One of Ubud’s more established dedicated coworking spaces, with a cafe and a calm working area.
Best for: A quieter alternative to Outpost
Ubud’s cafes double as offices, and many have fast Wi-Fi and big tables.
Zest Ubud
A big, airy plant-based restaurant on the hill in Penestanan that sits between a cafe and a coworking space, with valley views and good Wi-Fi.
Best for: Working with a view
Coliving#
Outpost Ubud Coliving
Outpost’s coliving villas in Penestanan, with private rooms, a pool and coworking access included.
Best for: Arriving alone
Internet and SIM Cards#
Many villas and cafes have fibre of 50 to 100 Mbps or more, but connections vary by building and power cuts happen in storms. Telkomsel has the best mobile coverage; keep a data plan as a backup for calls.
Getting Around#
Ubud’s centre is walkable but the pavements are narrow and the traffic heavy. Most people rent a scooter (you need a licence valid in Indonesia for your insurance to cover you) or use Gojek and Grab. Ngurah Rai airport is 60 to 90 minutes away by car, depending on traffic.
Weather and When to Go#
April to October is the dry season and the best time. November to March is the rainy season, with heavy afternoon downpours, high humidity and more mosquitoes. Ubud is a little cooler than the coast.
Community and Meeting People#
Coworking events, yoga classes, ecstatic dance, cacao ceremonies, sound healing, hiking groups and Ubud community Facebook and WhatsApp groups make it easy to meet people.
Health and Safety#
Ubud is safe. The main risks are scooter accidents, dengue, stomach bugs (“Bali belly”) and the Monkey Forest macaques, which grab bags and bite. Clinics in Ubud handle minor problems; major hospitals are in Denpasar. Carry health insurance that covers medical evacuation.
Ubud Digital Nomad FAQs#
Is Ubud good for digital nomads?
Yes, for people who want a calm, green, creative base with a wellness community. It is cheaper and quieter than Canggu, with good coworking and cafes. It has no beach and less nightlife.
How much does it cost to live in Ubud as a nomad?
About $1,700 a month for a comfortable life with a private villa room, from about $1,100 on a budget. These are ballpark figures.
Ubud or Canggu for digital nomads?
Ubud is calmer, greener and focused on wellness and culture. Canggu has surf, beaches, nightlife and a bigger, busier nomad scene. Many people split their time between the two.
Is Hubud still open?
No. Hubud has closed. Outpost Ubud in Penestanan is now the main dedicated coworking space, and many cafes double as workspaces.
Last reviewed October 2026. Prices and venues change: check before you commit to a month.