Southeast Asia →Stable

Canggu for Digital Nomads

Where surf culture meets laptop life in tropical paradise

Indonesia • Asia/Makassar (+8)

TL;DR

Canggu scores 7.8/10 on our Hustle-Free Index. You'll spend around $1,610/month for a comfortable setup. Canggu is the island that proved you can have sunrise yoga, world-class coworking, and sunset beach clubs all in one day. It's digital nomad ground zero—sometimes too popular for its own good, but still magical if you know where to look. Perfect for burned-out creatives and payment-frustrated freelancers. It's okay to want both adventure and stability. Here's everything you need to know.

Hustle-Free Index Score

7.8 /10

Based on safety, happiness, and cost of living data

Quick Facts

Monthly Budget	$1,610 (comfortable)
Visa Situation	60 days visa-free DN Visa Available
Internet Speed	75 Mbps avg (Good)
Best For	Creatives, Freelancers
Skip If	Dislike crowds, Need fast-paced nightlife
English Level	Good
Safety	Safe (Score: 72/100)

Why Canggu Works for Freelancers Like You

Canggu is the island that proved you can have sunrise yoga, world-class coworking, and sunset beach clubs all in one day. It's digital nomad ground zero—sometimes too popular for its own good, but still magical if you know where to look.

"Rice terraces at golden hour with temple silhouette and surf break sound"

What Makes It Special

✓ World-renowned digital nomad community
✓ Incredible coworking spaces (Dojo, Outpost)
✓ Surf, yoga, and wellness lifestyle
✓ Year-round tropical weather
✓ Affordable luxury living

What It Actually Costs

Comfortable Budget: $1,610/month

Housing

$700

Coworking

$180

Food

$300

Transport

$80

Fun & Social

$200

Health

$50

Misc

$100

Total

$1,610

Lean Budget: $1,000/month ▼

For those who want to stretch their runway. Trade-offs include shared housing, café working instead of coworking, and cooking most meals.

Housing: $420 • Food: $210 • Total: $1,000

Treat Yourself: $2,650/month ▼

Nice apartment, premium coworking, eating out regularly, and enjoying the city's best experiences.

Housing: $1,250 • Food: $450 • Total: $2,650

Getting Work Done

WiFi Reality

75 Mbps average • Good reliability • Power: Occasional Outages

Café Culture

Excellent café scene for working

Recommended Coworking Spaces

Tropical Nomad

Rice field views • 24/7 access • Canggu

€100-212/month

Outpost Canggu

Community-first • Coliving • Canggu

$180-220/month

Karya Coworking

Rice field views • 24/7 access • Canggu

€200-532/month

Visa & Legal Stuff (Don't Panic)

The Quick Answer

You get 60 days visa-free entry , plus there's a dedicated Digital Nomad Visa available.

B211A / Second Home Visa

Duration

60 days extendable to 180 days

Income Required

$2,000/mo

Cost

$150

Renewability

renewable

Processing

3-5 business days

Tax Situation

No income tax on foreign-sourced income for tourists

Always consult a tax professional for your specific situation.

Living Your Best Sustainable Life

👥

Expat Community

Large

💻

Nomad Scene

Thriving

🤝

Local Friendliness

Welcoming

🍽️

Food Scene

World Class

Nightlife: Vibrant

The Honest Truth

✓ What's Amazing

• World-renowned digital nomad community
• Incredible coworking spaces (Dojo, Outpost)
• Surf, yoga, and wellness lifestyle
• Year-round tropical weather

⚠ What's Challenging

• Increasingly crowded and touristy
• Traffic can be chaotic
• Visa runs every 60 days
• Power outages during storms
• Some areas becoming overpriced

Skip Canggu If...

• Dislike crowds
• Need fast-paced nightlife
• Allergic to wellness culture

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cost of living for digital nomads in Canggu? ▼

A comfortable lifestyle in Canggu costs approximately $1610/month. This breaks down to: housing $700, food $300, coworking $180, transport $80, entertainment $200, health $50, and miscellaneous $100.

Does Indonesia have a digital nomad visa? ▼

Yes! Indonesia offers the B211A / Second Home Visa with a duration of 60 days extendable to 180 days. The income requirement is $2000/month, visa cost is $150, and processing takes 3-5 business days. Tax note: No income tax on foreign-sourced income for tourists

How is the internet for remote work in Canggu? ▼

Canggu has good internet reliability with average speeds of 75 Mbps. The café culture is excellent, making it easy to work from coffee shops. Occasional power outages may occur.

Is Canggu safe for digital nomads? ▼

Canggu is rated as safe with a safety score of 72/100. Standard urban precautions apply.

What is the digital nomad community like in Canggu? ▼

The nomad community in Canggu is thriving with a large expat community. English proficiency is good, and locals are welcoming. Nightlife is vibrant. The food scene is world class.

Your Next Step

You've done your research. That's already more than most people do.

There's no rush to decide. Canggu will still be here when you're ready.

Take the Freelance Life Quiz

How We Calculate the Hustle-Free Index

Our Hustle-Free Index balances three factors that matter most for sustainable freelance life:

Formula: HFI = (Safety Score × Happiness Score) / Cost of Living Index

Safety Score (72/100): From Numbeo Safety Index
Happiness Score (82/100): World Happiness Report + freelancer surveys
Cost of Living Index (42): Numbeo Cost of Living Index

Last updated: 2026-01-03 • Data sources: Numbeo, World Happiness Report, local research