Moving to Bali: Visas, Costs and the Honest Truth for Digital Nomads

The short answer

You can live in Bali legally as a remote worker, but not on a tourist visa forever, and it is no longer the bargain it was a decade ago. In 2026 the main long-stay routes for digital nomads are the E33G remote worker visa (for people whose income comes from outside Indonesia) and, for those with serious savings, the Second Home Visa. A comfortable solo life in the popular areas typically costs somewhere around USD 1,500 to 3,000 a month, less if you live simply, far more if you want a pool villa in Pererenan.

The honest truth is that Bali is wonderful to live in and harder than Instagram makes it look. Here is what you need to know before you book a one-way ticket.

Visa options in 2026

Visa rules in Indonesia change often, sometimes with little notice, so treat the following as a starting point and confirm every detail on the official e-visa site (evisa.imigrasi.go.id) or with the Directorate General of Immigration before applying.

• Visa on Arrival (e-VOA): current fee IDR 500,000, valid 30 days and extendable once for another 30, after which you must leave. Extensions are applied for online and followed by a photo appointment at an immigration office. Fine for scouting, not for living. A higher two-tier fee was announced as a plan in August 2026 but had not been confirmed on official channels as of October.
• C1 tourist visa: around IDR 1 million for 60 days, extendable up to 180 days in total, applied for online before arrival with a bank statement showing at least USD 2,000. Popular for a first long stay, but it is a visit visa and does not allow work.
• D1 multiple-entry tourist visa: for people who come and go often. Check validity, stay per entry and fee on the e-visa portal.
• E33G remote worker visa: the real digital nomad option. Immigration lists it as a limited stay visa for remote workers, which leads to a KITAS, the limited stay permit, rather than a visit stamp. The core requirement is income earned from an employer or clients outside Indonesia, backed by a minimum annual income threshold and recent bank statements; check the current threshold, fee and processing time on the official immigration listing before you apply. The crucial rule: you cannot take Indonesian clients or sell to the local market.
• Second Home Visa: a five- or ten-year visa for foreigners who can show proof of funds of at least IDR 2 billion (roughly USD 120,000) in an account in their own name or a sponsor's, with a passport valid for at least 36 months. Check current fees and conditions on the official portal.
• Other KITAS types: working KITAS (sponsored by an Indonesian employer, mostly for specialist roles), investor visas (tied to shareholdings in an Indonesian company), spouse KITAS for those married to Indonesians, and a visa for older applicants. Thresholds and fees have shifted in recent years, so get current advice.

Every foreign tourist also pays Bali's tourist levy of IDR 150,000 per trip, best paid through the official Love Bali portal, lovebali.baliprov.go.id. KITAS holders are exempt.

Where to live, and what rent costs

Rent is the biggest variable, and prices have climbed sharply since 2022. Monthly rentals are cheaper than nightly rates, and yearly leases, often paid upfront, are cheaper still. Rough monthly ranges in 2026:

• Canggu and Berawa: The nomad capital: cafes, coworking, surf, nightlife and heavy traffic. A simple room or guesthouse from around IDR 6 to 10 million, a one-bedroom pool villa around IDR 15 to 35 million or more.
• Pererenan: Canggu's calmer, pricier neighbor, popular with longer-term residents. One-bedroom villas often start around IDR 20 million and climb steeply.
• Ubud: Green, creative and quieter at night, with good value outside the center. Villas from around IDR 10 to 30 million.
• Uluwatu and Bukit: Cliffs, world-class surf and long distances between everything. Budget rooms exist, but villas with views go well beyond IDR 25 million.
• Sanur: Calm, flat, walkable and family-friendly, with a growing community of remote workers. Often better value than Canggu.

At current exchange rates, IDR 10 million is roughly USD 550 to 600. Always see a place before paying a long lease, ask what is included (cleaning, pool, Wi-Fi, electricity, banjar fees) and get a written contract.

Coworking and internet

Coworking is one of Bali's real strengths. Expect around IDR 200,000 to 300,000 for a day pass and IDR 2 to 3.2 million (about USD 110 to 180) for a monthly membership in Canggu, Ubud and Uluwatu, usually with backup power and fast fiber. Home fiber has improved enormously, but power cuts happen, so a local SIM with a generous data plan is your backup.

Healthcare and insurance

For anything serious, expats use private hospitals around Denpasar, Kuta and Nusa Dua, such as BIMC Hospital, Siloam Hospitals and Bali Royal Hospital. Everyday care, like minor injuries, stomach bugs and ear infections from surfing, is handled well by private clinics across the tourist areas. Complex cases are often evacuated to Jakarta, Singapore or Australia.

Do not live here uninsured. International health insurance covering medical evacuation commonly costs around USD 50 to 200 a month depending on age and cover. Scooter accidents are the single most common reason foreigners end up in hospital, and many policies refuse claims if you rode without a valid license that covers motorcycles.

Taxes: get proper advice

This is where many nomads get careless. Indonesia generally treats people who spend more than 183 days in any 12-month period as tax residents. The E33G is built around income earned outside Indonesia, and the rule that income must come from abroad is strict. But your tax position also depends on your home country, any tax treaty and how long you stay. Speak to a qualified tax advisor, in Indonesia and at home, before you assume you owe nothing anywhere.

The honest truth

• Traffic is real. A 10 km trip across Canggu can take 45 minutes at rush hour. Choose your base by where you will spend your days.
• The wet season tests you. From roughly November to March, some streets flood, mold finds your shoes and laundry never quite dries.
• Bureaucracy takes patience. Visa renewals, banking and lease disputes rarely go smoothly. A good agent is worth the fee.
• It is someone else's home. Bali has strict rules on behavior at temples, and authorities have deported foreigners for disrespect, overstaying and working illegally. Overstaying alone costs IDR 1,000,000 a day. Learn the customs, put on a sarong and expect ceremonies to close your road a few times a month.
• The good is very good. Sunrise surfs before work, a warung lunch for IDR 30,000, neighbors who invite you to their temple festival and a community of people building interesting lives. That is why so many people who come for three months are still here three years later.