Bali SIM Card and Internet Guide

eSIM technology has transformed how travelers get connected abroad. If your phone supports eSIM (most iPhones from the XS onward and many recent Android flagships), you can purchase and activate a data plan before you even board your flight to Bali, ensuring you have connectivity the moment you land and turn off airplane mode. The two most popular eSIM providers for Bali travelers are Airalo and Saily. Airalo offers Indonesia-specific plans starting at around USD 5 for 1 GB over 7 days, with larger plans available such as 3 GB for 30 days at approximately USD 11 and 5 GB for 30 days at USD 16. Saily, developed by NordVPN's parent company, offers competitive pricing with plans starting at roughly USD 4 for 1 GB over 7 days and 5 GB for 30 days at around USD 11. Both providers use Telkomsel or Indosat networks in Indonesia, which offer the broadest coverage. The primary advantage of eSIM is convenience: no physical card to purchase, no registration paperwork, no need to find a shop, and you keep your home SIM card active in the same phone for receiving verification texts and calls. The main downside is that eSIM plans are data-only. You cannot make or receive traditional phone calls or SMS messages on the Indonesian number. For most travelers this is not an issue since WhatsApp, messaging apps, and internet calling handle all communication needs. However, if you need a local Indonesian phone number for booking confirmations or contacting local businesses, a physical SIM is the better choice. Setup is straightforward: download the Airalo or Saily app, select an Indonesia plan, complete the purchase, and scan the QR code to install the eSIM profile on your phone. Activate the eSIM data plan as your primary mobile data source when you arrive in Indonesia, and keep your home SIM as the primary line for calls and texts.

For travelers who prefer a local Indonesian phone number or whose phone does not support eSIM, purchasing a physical SIM card at the airport or in town is the way to go. The process is simple and costs between IDR 50,000 and IDR 100,000 (USD 3.25 to 6.50) for a SIM card with an initial data package included. Telkomsel is Indonesia's largest carrier and offers the best overall coverage in Bali, including in more remote areas like the northeast coast, mountain villages, and the Nusa islands. Their tourist SIM packages typically include 15 to 25 GB of data valid for 30 days, which is more than sufficient for most visitors. XL Axiata is the second-best option, offering competitive data plans at slightly lower prices but with somewhat weaker coverage in rural Bali. Indosat Ooredoo is a third option that has improved its Bali coverage significantly but still falls behind Telkomsel in remote areas. The most convenient place to buy a SIM card is at the official carrier kiosks inside the arrivals hall at Ngurah Rai Airport. Telkomsel and XL both have counters there, and the staff will install the SIM, register it with your passport, activate the data plan, and confirm it is working before you leave. Registration with a valid passport is mandatory under Indonesian telecommunications law, and unregistered SIMs will be deactivated within a few days. If you miss the airport counters, SIM cards are widely available at minimarkets (Indomaret, Alfamart), phone shops, and dedicated carrier outlets throughout tourist areas. Prices in town are similar to the airport, though some small shops may charge a slight markup for the installation and activation service. Topping up data is easy through the carrier's app, at minimarkets, or through the MyTelkomsel or MyXL apps which accept credit card and bank transfer payments.

Bali's hospitality industry has invested heavily in WiFi infrastructure, and you can expect reliable wireless internet at the vast majority of hotels, villas, guesthouses, cafes, and restaurants across the island's tourist areas. The quality ranges from basic browsing-speed connections at budget guesthouses to fiber-optic speeds at upscale hotels and modern coworking cafes. In south Bali and Ubud, WiFi in cafes and restaurants is nearly universal. Most establishments display their WiFi password on the menu, on a card at the table, or on a sign near the counter. Connection speeds typically range from 10 to 50 Mbps for downloads, which is adequate for video calls, streaming, and general browsing. Some of the most popular digital nomad cafes in Canggu and Ubud offer speeds exceeding 100 Mbps, specifically to attract the remote work crowd. Hotel and villa WiFi quality correlates loosely with price bracket. Budget accommodations (under IDR 300,000 per night) often have shared routers that slow down when multiple guests stream video simultaneously. Mid-range hotels generally provide consistent speeds of 20 to 50 Mbps. Luxury resorts and private villas frequently offer dedicated connections with speeds of 50 to 200 Mbps. If fast, reliable internet is essential for your trip, particularly for video-heavy remote work, confirm the WiFi speed with your accommodation before booking. One important caveat: power outages, while not daily occurrences, do happen in Bali, and they take down WiFi routers along with everything else. Larger hotels and villas have backup generators that restore power within minutes, but smaller guesthouses may not. Having mobile data as a backup ensures you are never completely disconnected during an outage.

Bali has become one of the world's premier digital nomad destinations, and the coworking space scene reflects this status. Dozens of purpose-built coworking facilities across the island offer reliable high-speed internet, comfortable workstations, air conditioning, meeting rooms, and community events. The two main hubs are Canggu and Ubud, though coworking options have expanded to Seminyak, Sanur, Uluwatu, and even Amed. Dojo Bali in Canggu is one of the island's most established coworking spaces, offering a tropical open-air design with fiber internet, standing desks, private offices, and a swimming pool. Day passes typically cost IDR 150,000 to 200,000 (USD 10 to 13), with monthly memberships around IDR 2,500,000 to 3,500,000 (USD 160 to 225). Outpost, with locations in both Canggu and Ubud, provides a similar offering with air-conditioned rooms and community programming. Hubud in Ubud is another long-running favorite, known for its bamboo architecture and close-knit community of remote workers. Beyond the established names, many newer coworking cafes operate on a buy-a-drink-and-work model without formal membership fees. These spaces typically offer WiFi speeds of 30 to 80 Mbps and a relaxed atmosphere, though they may lack dedicated desks, power outlets at every seat, or the reliable air conditioning that a proper coworking space provides. For video calls and sensitive work, coworking spaces with dedicated phone booths or private rooms are worth the premium. Background noise in open-plan spaces and cafes can be disruptive during client calls, and the ambient sounds of tropical birds and scooter traffic, while charming in person, do not always make the best impression in a professional meeting. Most major coworking spaces offer hourly or daily private room rentals specifically for this purpose.

Mobile network coverage in Bali is not uniform across the island. Understanding where you can expect strong signals and where connectivity drops off will help you plan accordingly, especially if you rely on GPS navigation or need to stay connected for work. South Bali, including Kuta, Seminyak, Canggu, Jimbaran, Nusa Dua, and Uluwatu, has the strongest and most consistent 4G coverage from all carriers. You can expect reliable data speeds of 10 to 50 Mbps throughout these areas, with occasional 5G availability from Telkomsel in Nusa Dua and parts of Seminyak. Ubud and the surrounding central Bali region also enjoy strong coverage, though speeds can dip in the deeper rice terrace areas and small villages north of town. East Bali, from Candidasa to Amed and Tulamben, has good Telkomsel coverage along the main coastal road but significantly weaker signals from XL and Indosat. Once you leave the main road and head into the hills toward Sidemen or the slopes of Mount Agung, expect intermittent connectivity from all carriers. The far northeast around Tejakula and the north coast from Lovina to Pemuteran has workable Telkomsel coverage in the towns but dead zones between them. The Nusa islands present a mixed picture. Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, and Nusa Ceningan have Telkomsel coverage in the main villages and popular tourist areas, but signal drops frequently when you travel to the more remote viewpoints on Nusa Penida's southern and western coasts. XL coverage on the Nusas is limited, making Telkomsel the clear choice for island-hopping. The mountain region around Bedugul, Munduk, and the twin lakes has adequate coverage in the towns but spotty signals on the winding roads between them. If you are driving to Kintamani or doing the Mount Batur sunrise trek, download offline maps in advance as data connectivity at higher elevations is unreliable, especially before dawn.