Before moving places, Digital Nomad Families need to know the cost of living at the new location. How high are the expenses for childcare, housing, and working? With our breakdown, I would like to show you what we spent monthly in Canggu, Bali. This breakdown is from February 2023, which is in the middle of the low season.
Monthly Costs in Canggu
🏠 Housing: 50.000.000 IDR (3.100 EUR/3.410 USD) – 4bdr Villa with Pool in Umalas
🛒 Groceries: 3.305.000 IDR (204 EUR/225 USD) – Pepito and local markets
🥗 Restaurants: 26.082.000 IDR (1.616 EUR/1.779 USD) – mostly western food
🛵 Transportation: 5.105.000 IDR (316 EUR/348 USD) – we rented 1 Scoopy and 1 PCX from Bikago
👶 Childcare: 19.040.000 IDR (1.179 EUR/1.298 USD) – every day at international schools + nannies
🏋️ Sport: 3.219.000 IDR (199 EUR/219 USD) – day passes at multiple gyms
💻 Co-Working: 1.935.000 IDR (120 EUR/131 USD) – memberships at Tropical Nomad and other Co-Working spaces
💆♀️ Personal Care: 2.450.000 IDR (151 EUR/167 USD) – massages, nails, hairdresser/barber
🥳 Fun & Activities: 3.365.000 IDR (208 EUR/229 USD) – e.g. parties, watersports
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💸 Total: 114.501.000 IDR = 7.100 EUR = 7.809 USD
Bali was by far the most expensive place for us in Southeast Asia. We must add that we also lived a very luxurious life. But we felt so trapped in the middle of the traffic that we (thought we) needed the luxury of nice restaurants and a big house. I had the feeling that it was easier to choose local restaurants and childcare in Ubud as Canggu mostly feels like a Western colony.
Feeling trapped during traffic, we found solace in the comfort of nice restaurants and a spacious house. However, it became evident that this lifestyle was not sustainable in the long run. Choosing local restaurants and childcare services in Ubud, in contrast to Canggu’s more Westernized atmosphere, seemed like a practical solution. Ubud offered a more authentic experience, and we found it easier to integrate into the local culture.
The shift from a luxurious lifestyle to a more grounded and community-oriented one proved to be not only a financial decision but also a choice for a richer cultural experience. While Bali is often seen as a paradise for expatriates and digital nomads, our journey highlighted the importance of aligning our lifestyle choices with the local environment to truly embrace the essence of the destination.
Please note: You won’t find our costs for health insurance, software subscriptions, retirement plans, etc. here, as I want to show you the cost of living at a specific location.
Are these cost breakdowns helpful for you? Let me know in the comments! Thank you for reading!