Nomad Hive : Working Across Java and Smaller Indonesian Cities My Thoughts

Digital nomad in Indonesia is often associated with foreigners living in Bali working from their laptop. Basically, if you work online, use digital tools without being tied to a permanent location, then you're qualified of earning the badge " Digital Nomad". In the past, many digital nomads work within the Tech sector yet, as I dived into that world, I find many people actually doing it but in different industries such as being consultants. In the past, it was one of my dream to work remotely from anywhere especially in Bali and at some point, I made it happen but since I am exploring different industries,

Yet recently, in this industry, I get the chance to work remotely from many smaller cities in Indonesia and my transportation & accommodation are getting covered by the company. So, technically I am also still a nomad.

But having to visit different smaller cities in Indonesia, I understand what's missing from these cities despite having the same, if not better landscape than Bali. Recently, I traveled around Magelang and it has UBUD-like picturesque rice paddy and fields. The only thing missing was a strong community and international advertisement. I would say that if Magelang received the same hype, it certainly would be the next Ubud. But again, sometimes being viral doesn't always mean a good thing. Recently, Bali also struggled with mass tourism that the island and its government tried to restore the area to how once it was.

These days, the government is also cracking on digital nomad in Bali who uses the wrong visa to work from the island. Many influencers are recently caught and deported from the country. The country is tightening its regulation and that could be a good sign. Although, it would be better if they could also offer similar visa style like Thailand or Portugal which is long term stay through investment.

I also think that foreigners need to know there are better alternatives to work from other than Bali. As in Thailand, it's also best if you can work from places like Magelang which offers similar vibe as in tropical jungle/rice fields at the same/similar costs. This is the data from numbeo, not necessarily accurate but gives you the rough picture on how things cost around there.

When I work from Magelang, the only downside is that you must go to Yogyakarta/Semarang to access the Airport and Train which will connect you internationally or within Indonesia. I must say that it isn't too long, the journey from Magelang to Yogyakarta takes about 30 minutes and many reputable travel agents are all around the city. If you are looking for a weekend diving or snorkeling trip, you can check out Karimun Jawa which is about 5 hours from Magelang.

It is also still a lot less crowded than Bali and if you someone who enjoys tranquility, I'd suggest checking out Magelang to try another vibe than constantly going around Bali. It's not too westernized yet and it doesn't have to be. This is why, I enjoy the place even more than Yogyakarta nowadays.

I still have so much to talk about but among many smaller cities around Indonesia, Magelang is my #1 to work from with its unique and charming cafes. If you love off-beaten path for your nomading journey.

Sources / References

1. Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Magelang

𝘊𝘦𝘮𝘺 (𝘰𝘳 𝘔𝘢𝘤) 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵, 𝘤𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘯𝘰𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘳, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘣𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘬. 𝘏𝘦𝘳 𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯: 𝘸𝘩𝘺 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘵 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴? 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘭, 𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘺, 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘦, 𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘰𝘣𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘭𝘬 𝘱𝘢𝘴𝘵. 𝘚𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴. 𝘍𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘯 𝘏𝘪𝘷𝘦, 𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘣 𝘢 𝘤𝘶𝘱 𝘰𝘧 𝘤𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘦, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘭𝘦 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺.