Is Bali still worth it for digital nomads given how crowded it has become?

Yes, with nuance. Canggu's main strip (Batu Bolong road) is genuinely overcrowded and the character has changed significantly since 2019. But Bali is large — areas like Berawa, Pererenan, Cemagi, and Amed retain a far more relaxed feel. Ubud remains magical. The core proposition — warm weather, cheap villas, abundant coworking, extraordinary food, world-class wellness, and a huge international community — remains intact. The key is knowing which areas to choose and which to avoid.

What is the best time of year to visit or move to Bali?

Bali has two seasons: dry (May–October) and wet (November–April). The dry season, particularly July–September, offers the clearest skies, best surf conditions on the west coast, and the most pleasant weather for outdoor activities. April–June and September–October are the sweet spots — good weather with fewer tourists than July–August peak. The wet season brings daily downpours but shorter durations — mornings are often beautiful and the island turns gloriously lush and green. Prices and villa availability are also much better during wet season.

What are the best day trips from Ubud, Bali?

Ubud's central location makes it the best base for exploring Bali's interior. Top day trips: Sekumpul Waterfall (north Bali, 1.5 hrs — most spectacular waterfall in Bali); Tirta Gangga (east Bali, 1.5 hrs — royal water garden and rice terrace walks); Mount Batur sunrise trek (1 hr drive; 4 hr hike; extraordinary caldera views); Jatiluwih UNESCO rice terraces (1.5 hrs west); Besakih Mother Temple (1.5 hrs; Bali's holiest site on Agung's slopes). All are manageable as scooter day trips from Ubud.

Is Yogyakarta worth living in as an expat base?

For the right person, absolutely — and it is seriously underrated. The extraordinary affordability ($400–$700/month comfortably), cultural depth (Borobudur, Prambanan, batik, gamelan, wayang), warm local community, and proximity to Mount Merapi and the south Java coast make Jogja a wonderful long-term base. The tradeoffs are real: very small expat community, limited English outside universities and tourism, fewer international amenities, and a smaller coworking scene. If you want genuine Indonesian immersion, cultural richness, and a truly affordable life — Yogyakarta rewards those who choose it.

What should I not miss during my first year in Indonesia?

A curated first-year list: Nyepi (Bali's Day of Silence — typically March/April); Borobudur at sunrise before the crowds; Komodo Island and Komodo dragons (fly Bali-Labuan Bajo); Nusa Penida's Kelingking Beach cliff view; snorkelling with manta rays at Manta Point; Mount Batur sunrise trek; Ubud's Kecak fire dance at Uluwatu; a traditional batik workshop in Yogyakarta; a Vipassana retreat at Dhamma Java; and your first bowl of proper babi guling (Balinese suckling pig) at Ibu Oka in Ubud.

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🇮🇩 Indonesia

Lifestyle

Indonesia offers one of the world's most diverse lifestyle portfolios. Bali delivers surf, yoga, beach clubs, volcanic hiking, and creative community in a compact tropical island.

Rp 200,000–400,000

Surf Lesson (Bali)

$13–$25 including board rental

Rp 100,000–200,000

Yoga Class (Ubud)

$6–$13 at local studios

Rp 300,000–800,000

Bali Beach Club Entry

$19–$50 with F&B credit

Rp 450,000 ($29)

Borobudur Sunrise Entry

Foreign visitor price; magnificent experience

Rp 700,000–1,500,000

Scuba Dive (Komodo)

$45–$95 per dive at world-class sites

Last updated: March 2026

Overview🌴Bali 🏙️Jakarta 🛕Yogyakarta

🛂Visa 🏥Healthcare 💰Finance 🏠Housing 💼Working 🌆Daily Life ✈️Moving 📚Education 🌅Lifestyle 📈Investing

Overview

Indonesia offers one of the world's most diverse lifestyle portfolios. Bali delivers surf, yoga, beach clubs, volcanic hiking, and creative community in a compact tropical island. Jakarta offers the full megacity experience — fine dining, live music, art galleries, rooftop bars, and a buzzing underground scene. Yogyakarta provides deep cultural immersion — ancient temples, traditional arts, volcano treks, and batik workshops at extraordinary affordability. The natural world is ever-present: Indonesia sits within the Coral Triangle (world's richest marine biodiversity) and hosts dozens of active volcanoes, UNESCO rainforests, and some of the planet's last truly wild frontiers.

Key Takeaways

Surf: Uluwatu, Padang Padang, and Canggu (Batu Bolong) in Bali; G-Land in East Java; Lombok and Sumbawa for remote breaks — Indonesia is a global surfing mecca
Yoga studios: Yoga Barn (Ubud) is one of Asia's most iconic; Radiantly Alive (Ubud); The Practice Bali (Canggu); The Shala (Seminyak) — all world-class
Kecak fire dance (Uluwatu temple, Bali): nightly performance at sunset against a cliffside ocean backdrop — Rp 100,000–150,000 ($6–$10); unmissable
Surfing: lesson Rp 200,000–400,000 ($13–$25) including board; board rental Rp 50,000–150,000/day ($3–$10); Bali has beginner waves (Kuta) through advanced barrels (Uluwatu)
From Bali: Nusa Penida (45 min fast boat; dramatic cliffs and manta snorkelling), Gili Islands (1.5 hr fast boat; no cars; divine beaches), Lombok (2.5 hr fast boat; quieter Bali alternative)

Outdoor Adventure & Nature

Indonesia's natural world is extraordinary in scale and diversity — from world-class surf to jungle treks, volcanic sunrise hikes, and the planet's richest coral reefs.

Surf: Uluwatu, Padang Padang, and Canggu (Batu Bolong) in Bali; G-Land in East Java; Lombok and Sumbawa for remote breaks — Indonesia is a global surfing mecca
Volcano hiking: Mount Batur (Bali sunrise trek, 4 hours, $30–$50 guided); Mount Bromo (East Java); Mount Rinjani (Lombok, 3-day trek); Mount Merapi (Yogyakarta)
Diving & snorkelling: Komodo National Park (manta rays, whale sharks); Tulamben (USAT Liberty wreck, Bali); Raja Ampat (world's highest coral diversity); Bunaken (Sulawesi)
Wildlife: Komodo dragons (Komodo Island); proboscis monkeys and orangutans (Borneo/Kalimantan); birds of paradise (Papua); pygmy seahorses (Lembeh Strait)
Waterfalls: Sekumpul (north Bali — arguably Indonesia's most beautiful); Tumpak Sewu (East Java); Madakaripura (East Java near Bromo)
Day trips from Bali: Gili Islands (fast boat, 1.5 hrs), Nusa Penida (cliff views, manta snorkelling, 45-min fast boat), Mount Agung (Bali's sacred volcano, 6-hour trek)

Wellness, Yoga & Spiritual Life

Bali — and particularly Ubud — has become the world's capital of wellness tourism and retreats, with an extraordinary density of yoga studios, healers, and holistic health practitioners.

Yoga studios: Yoga Barn (Ubud) is one of Asia's most iconic; Radiantly Alive (Ubud); The Practice Bali (Canggu); The Shala (Seminyak) — all world-class
Yoga class cost: Rp 100,000–200,000 ($6–$13) drop-in; monthly memberships Rp 800,000–2,000,000 ($50–$125)
Wellness retreats: COMO Shambhala Estate, Fivelements, and Oneworld Retreats in Ubud offer luxury multi-day programmes ($300–$800/night)
Traditional Balinese healing: Balian (traditional healers) practice throughout Bali; made famous by 'Eat Pray Love'; affordable and genuinely interesting cultural experience
Sound healing, breathwork, cacao ceremonies, and ecstatic dance: part of the regular Canggu and Ubud weekly events calendar — widely attended by the nomad community
Meditation centres: Dhamma Java (Magelang, near Yogyakarta) — free 10-day Vipassana meditation retreats in the Goenka tradition; outstanding reputation

Arts, Culture & Nightlife

Indonesia's arts scene ranges from Bali's living Hindu artistic tradition to Jakarta's contemporary gallery scene and Yogyakarta's world-class traditional arts.

Kecak fire dance (Uluwatu temple, Bali): nightly performance at sunset against a cliffside ocean backdrop — Rp 100,000–150,000 ($6–$10); unmissable
Wayang kulit (shadow puppet theatre): traditional Javanese/Balinese art form; regular performances at Yogyakarta's Kraton palace and Sono-Budoyo museum
Batik workshops (Yogyakarta): learn traditional wax-resist dyeing at family workshops in the Kraton district; Rp 100,000–300,000 ($6–$19) for 2–3 hours
Jakarta nightlife: Blok M, Kemang, and the SCBD area have genuine club culture; rooftop bars (Skye Bar, Henshin) with city views; jazz and live music venues
Bali beach clubs: Potato Head (Seminyak), Finns (Canggu), Single Fin (Uluwatu) — sophisticated sunset venues with international DJs; entry Rp 300,000–800,000
Art galleries: Museum MACAN (Jakarta) — Indonesia's best contemporary art museum; Neka Art Museum and Agung Rai Museum (both Ubud) for Balinese painting tradition

Sports & Fitness

Bali's outdoor lifestyle and Jakarta's urban gym infrastructure make Indonesia a surprisingly good destination for fitness-oriented expats.

Surfing: lesson Rp 200,000–400,000 ($13–$25) including board; board rental Rp 50,000–150,000/day ($3–$10); Bali has beginner waves (Kuta) through advanced barrels (Uluwatu)
Gyms: Bali has CrossFit boxes, MMA gyms (Muay Thai and BJJ widely available), and boutique fitness studios; membership Rp 300,000–800,000/month ($19–$50)
Running: Sanur beachfront, Ubud rice terrace tracks, and Jakarta's Senayan sports complex are popular; Bali Marathon held annually in August
Cycling: Bali Cycling Tours through rice terraces; cycling culture growing in Jakarta (Car Free Day every Sunday on Sudirman); Yogyakarta is flat and very bikeable
Swimming: most Bali villas have private pools; beach swimming at Sanur (calm) and north Bali; Canggu beach has ocean pool at COMO Beach Club
Padel and tennis: growing rapidly in Jakarta and Bali; Padel clubs opening across Canggu and Seminyak (Rp 150,000–300,000/hour court hire)

Travel & Day Trips from Bali & Yogyakarta

One of the great privileges of basing yourself in Indonesia is the extraordinary travel accessible within a 1–4 hour radius of either Bali or Yogyakarta.

From Bali: Nusa Penida (45 min fast boat; dramatic cliffs and manta snorkelling), Gili Islands (1.5 hr fast boat; no cars; divine beaches), Lombok (2.5 hr fast boat; quieter Bali alternative)
From Bali: Mount Batur sunrise trek (2.5 hr drive + 4 hr hike; incredible caldera views); Amed (east Bali; snorkelling, diving, quieter village life)
From Yogyakarta: Borobudur (45 min; UNESCO Buddhist temple at sunrise — $29 entry); Prambanan (17 min; spectacular Hindu temple complex; $29 entry)
From Yogyakarta: Mount Bromo (East Java; overnight bus or rental car; extraordinary volcanic sunrise); Dieng Plateau (2.5 hrs; high altitude plateau with ancient Hindu temples and coloured lakes)
From Jakarta: Pulau Seribu (Thousand Islands; 2 hr ferry; snorkelling and weekend escape from city); Bandung (3 hr train; volcano tours, tea plantations, Dutch colonial architecture)
Interisland flights: Bali-Lombok Rp 200,000 ($13) on Wings Air; Bali-Labuan Bajo (Komodo) Rp 400,000–800,000 ($25–$50) — one of the world's great wildlife destinations just a short flight away

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