The complete cost, preparation & lifestyle guide.
If you’re in need of breathing space, an extended break in Canggu could be just what you need.
Is the expat life realistic? Or is it simply a pipe dream. It can be done, and it’s a popular choice but you will need good planning.
With pre-arrival knowledge and a realistic view on cost, Canggu could be your home away from home. Get the space you need to slow down for a while.
Before you buy your ticket, here are some steps to prepare you for your extended stay in Canggu.
Monthly Accommodation in Canggu
Monthly Villa Rental in Canggu
Staying in Canggu for a month? First stop, find somewhere to live. Monthly villa rentals in Canggu come fully furnished, usually down to the towels & linen.
There are Facebook pages dedicated to monthly villa rentals such as ‘Bali Canggu housing & accommodation’ & ‘Bali MONTHLY Rental Villas’. Villa owners will advertise on here, and you can also advertise yourself as someone looking to rent.
Villa prices range depending on location & quality. Cost is 20 mil idr – 60 mil idr / $2000 – $6000 nzd per month for a one to three bedroom villa.
Always verify the validity of anything advertised before you hand over money. You can do this by one or several of the following :
- Check to see if the villa is on established platforms like AirBnb or booking.com;
- Do a google maps search to check that the address is legit;
- Ask for a video call walk through;
- Ask a friend to check the villa out on your behalf.
Monthly Home Stays in Canggu
A home stay or guest house is a cheaper option than a monthly villa rental in Canggu. In a home stay you will get the benefits of an entire villa, but only your bedroom is private. You rent a room with ensuite by the month and enjoy shared living space including pool & kitchen.
This is not only a cheaper option, but a great way to meet people if you are travelling solo. Some examples are :
- Lavenya Guesthouse – 19 mil idr / $1900 nzd per month;
- Krisna Homestay – 13 mil idr / $1300 nzd per month.
Guest houses & home stays are often advertised on AirBnb so start there for your Canggu home search. They may be negotiable as well.
Things to consider when looking for accommodation
Construction Noise in Canggu
Always ask if there is nearby construction noise because Canggu is going through a massive construction boom. If you’re okay with construction noise, you could get a villa at discounted rates. If you want to luxuriate in your villa however, unwanted construction noise can totally kill the vibe.
Open Air or Closed Living Spaces in Bali Villas
Many Bali villas have open air living spaces which offer a certain charm when on holiday. If staying in Canggu for a month or more, consider opting for a closed kitchen & living space. Having a barrier to mosquitos, critters and monsoons as well as higher heat & humidity can be a game changer.
Best Areas to Stay in Canggu
Canggu loosely refers to the stretch of land sandwiched between the famous ‘Canggu Shortcut’ & Echo Beach. It spans from the coast moving inland until you reach a busy main road called Raya Canggu & just beyond. Canggu is a mecca for restaurants, shopping, lounging, eating & drinking on the beach. It is also known for great surf spots and world class spas.
Canggu also loosely covers the many fringe areas that have rapidly developed in the past five plus years.
Berawa
Berawa refers to the coastal suburb on the south eastern side of the shortcut. A built up area similar to Canggu, Berawa is home to two large beach clubs namely Finns & Atlas. Berawa is on the side of the shortcut which makes travel to and from the airport easier. Having said that, ‘crossing the shortcut’ is an iconic part of the vibrant Canggu lifestyle. Living in Berawa is synonymous with living in Canggu, but closer to Seminyak, a more established suburb down the coast.
Umalas
Umalas is a quaint neighourhood inland from Berawa and one of my favourite areas. The roads aren’t as busy, and there aren’t any beach clubs. There also aren’t any loud bars, so it’s a quiet neighourhood. Umalas is suited to families or those looking for a more laid back lifestyle. It is close to Kerobokan & Seminyak as well which makes it still very central.
Pererenan
Pronounced Pe-re-re-nan, I used to refer to this neighbouring area as ‘Old Canggu’ because it had the rural village feel of Canggu in the early 2010’s. In the past five years Pererenan has followed fast in Canggu’s footsteps with a huge development boom. In the eveings Pererenan transforms into a dimly lit wonderland with fairy lights & a quiet vibe. During the day it still has the exciting hustle & bustle of central Canggu.
Seseh
As we move further up the coastline & away from Canggu we reach the neighbourhood of Seseh (pronounced Seh-say). With a small centre, some cute cafes & concept stores, you’ll get cheaper accommodation & a more laid back lifestyle. It has a quiet black sand beach and is surrounded by rice paddies – just like Canggu once was.
Tumbuk Bayuh
Another popular ex pat area is Tumbak Bayuh. Although not in Canggu, many expats in the wider Canggu community live there. It’s about a twenty minute scooter ride, but it is quiet, relatively undeveloped and has a tranquil village feel. Here you will see more of the locals living their every day village life.
Cost of Living in Canggu
Accommodation Costs
As mentioned above, the cost of your accommodation varies depending on several factors. Stay in a guest house in somewhere quiet & rural like Seseh or Tumbak Bayuh and you save money. Choose a villa in Berawa, Pererenan or Canggu itself & you’ll be in the upper bracket of monthly costs.
Weighing up your requirements & preferences can help you to find the perfect place.
Food Costs
Many people eat out in Canggu. It can get expensive stocking a kitchen that you may be leaving after a month. Eating in restaurants is also relatively cheap, if you know where to go.
Cost of living is rising in Canggu and your weekly food costs maybe more than you expected. I get the basics from one of the local stores like Pepito or Frestive, a few organic & specialty items from Alive Wholefoods & freshly squeezed juice from Ubud Kitchen. All of this can be delivered to the door relatively cheaply. In the case of Alive Wholefoods, I only need to spend 350k idr / $35 nzd for free delivery.
The rest of the time, we eat out, or have meals delivered in. These days you can expect your weekly food costs to be relatively on par with your weekly shop back home. The only difference, is that here I have it cooked for me. At home I cook it myself.
Transport Costs
Canggu expats either ride scooters or catch Gojek & Grab scooters. Less people opt for cars these days due to the challenges it places with getting from A to B. The roads aren’t equipped for cars to pass though easily and many shortcuts and smaller roads only allow scooters.
I use Gojek & Grab which is Indonesia’s version of Uber. My transport costs are approx 1 to 1.5 mil idr / $100 – $150 nzd per month.
You could also hire a scooter. Depending on size & age, a scooter is between 850k / $85 nzd & 1.850k / $185 nzd per month. Bike rental companies will supply helmets but they will likely be ill-fitting (& gross). You can buy your own helmet for as little as 500k / $50 nzd. Comment below if you want the details for monthly bike rental in Canggu.
Practical Tips for One Month in Canggu
Visas
Visa on Arrival gives you sixty days entry into Bali. Despite the name, it is best to get this prior to arrival to save long lines at the airport. It’s relatively easy to apply for and costs approx 500k idr / $50 nzd. If you plan to work in Bali you will need to apply for a B211 or a KITAS visa. I have used My Visa in the past for longer term visa application and found them very good.
Learn Basic Bahasa
Canggu is very much an English speaking area, and most Indonesians you meet will speak fluent English. The locals will absolutely love you though, if you make an effort to speak the lingo. I started with Duolingo but discovered that even though I was learning it, I still couldn’t speak it. I then had lessons and practiced speaking bahasa with my drivers, as well as the staff in my villa.
You can learn the basics of bahasa with a cute ebook called Love in Translation (ad). It tells a tale of love and dating as it teaches you common phrases. It has made learning bahasa fun for me.
Get a Local Sim or E-sim
I use Happy Cell in Berawa. They are knowledgable and will set the phone up for you. Make sure you take your passport with you to buy the sim. Don’t get it at the airport because it will cost you about three times as much. I like the Telkomsel network because they have an app which means you can top up your prepay account online.
ESIMs have been a game changer for travelers. There is no need for a physical chip to change in and out of the phone. You simply switch to the local country network when you arrive. Getting an eSIM will depend on the age and model of your phone.
Using your phone in Bali
Almost all bookings, orders & inquiries are made via WhatsApp in Bali. Get yourself set up (if you aren’t already) before you leave home and things will run alot more smoothly. Even with a local SIM, you can keep your original number in WhatsApp to save confusion.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance really is a must. You don’t need it, until you do if you know what I mean. Travel insurance will cost around $250 nzd for one month’s cover and this just isn’t worth skipping. Southern Cross has competitive pricing and were great when we had a medical emergency here in 2021.
Life in Canggu
Canggu in a month will give you the space you need to see whether the expat life is for you. Canggu is wild, it can be noisy & it can be dirty. The colour, vibrancy and always changing outlook is just one of the reasons why we love living here.
I hope the tips above make your planning a little easier & alot more fun. See you in Canggu.
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