Southeast Asia →Stable

Ubud for Digital Nomads

Spiritual heart of Bali where wellness meets creativity

Indonesia • Asia/Makassar (+8)

TL;DR

Ubud scores 8.4/10 on our Hustle-Free Index. You'll spend around $1,440/month for a comfortable setup. Ubud is Bali's spiritual and cultural center—rice terraces, yoga studios, and a thriving wellness scene replace Canggu's beach clubs. It's quieter, more spiritual, and deeply creative. Perfect for burned-out creatives and corporate escapees. It's okay to want both adventure and stability. Here's everything you need to know.

Hustle-Free Index Score

8.4 /10

Based on safety, happiness, and cost of living data

Quick Facts

Monthly Budget	$1,440 (comfortable)
Visa Situation	60 days visa-free DN Visa Available
Internet Speed	60 Mbps avg (Good)
Best For	Creatives, Corporate escapees
Skip If	Need beach access, Prefer nightlife scene
English Level	Good
Safety	Safe (Score: 75/100)

Why Ubud Works for Freelancers Like You

Ubud is Bali's spiritual and cultural center—rice terraces, yoga studios, and a thriving wellness scene replace Canggu's beach clubs. It's quieter, more spiritual, and deeply creative. Perfect for those seeking mindful productivity over party vibes.

"Morning yoga overlooking rice terraces with temple bells in distance"

What Makes It Special

✓ Spiritual and wellness capital
✓ Stunning rice terrace views
✓ World-class healthy food scene
✓ Thriving yoga community
✓ Quieter than Canggu

What It Actually Costs

Comfortable Budget: $1,440/month

Housing

$600

Coworking

$180

Food

$280

Transport

$60

Fun & Social

$180

Health

$50

Misc

$90

Total

$1,440

Lean Budget: $880/month ▼

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

Housing: $350 • Food: $180 • Total: $880

Treat Yourself: $2,450/month ▼

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

Housing: $1,100 • Food: $450 • Total: $2,450

Getting Work Done

WiFi Reality

60 Mbps average • Good reliability • Power: Occasional Outages

Café Culture

World Class café scene for working

Recommended Coworking Spaces

Outpost Ubud

Wellness-focused • High-end coliving • Ubud

$180-220/month

Mudra

Café-style • Dependable internet • Ubud

Contact

Onion Collective

Organic farming • Sustainable workshops • Near Ubud

$160-200/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

Very Welcoming

🍽️

Food Scene

World Class

Nightlife: Moderate

The Honest Truth

✓ What's Amazing

• Spiritual and wellness capital
• Stunning rice terrace views
• World-class healthy food scene
• Thriving yoga community

⚠ What's Challenging

• No beach (40 min drive)
• Limited nightlife
• Traffic in center
• Power outages during storms
• Visa runs every 60 days

Skip Ubud If...

• Need beach access
• Prefer nightlife scene
• Don't enjoy wellness culture

Frequently Asked Questions

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

A comfortable lifestyle in Ubud costs approximately $1440/month. This breaks down to: housing $600, food $280, coworking $180, transport $60, entertainment $180, health $50, and miscellaneous $90.

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 Ubud? ▼

Ubud has good internet reliability with average speeds of 60 Mbps. The café culture is world class with many work-friendly cafés. Occasional power outages may occur during storms.

Is Ubud safe for digital nomads? ▼

Ubud is rated as safe with a safety score of 75/100. It's a peaceful spiritual community. Standard precautions apply.

What is the digital nomad community like in Ubud? ▼

The nomad community in Ubud is thriving with a large expat community focused on wellness and creativity. English proficiency is good. Nightlife is moderate. The food scene is world class with amazing healthy options.

Your Next Step

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

There's no rush to decide. Ubud 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 (75/100): From Numbeo Safety Index
Happiness Score (85/100): World Happiness Report + freelancer surveys
Cost of Living Index (38): Numbeo Cost of Living Index

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