Living as A Digital Nomad in Jayapura

Typically, people choose Bali or Thailand for their digital nomad adventure but this time, I’d love to talk about the experience living in Papua, especially Jayapura as a hybrid remote worker and digital nomad. It is a unique place to feel the mixture of exoticism as well as tropical living with more relaxed neighborhood and atmosphere. I know that Papua won’t be the hottest spot or even a famous spot to live a digital nomad lifestyle but hey, it ticked every box and simple requirements for a digital nomad lifestyle. I must put an emphasize that this is the out-of-the-box option for adventurous nomads.

The internet in Papua is quite reliable. If you use local provider, especially Telkomsel or these days Starlink nomad, your need of internet is easily sorted. It is stable to host zoom or conference calls without any interruption. So, you can easily work from the area without worrying about the needs of Internet and connectivity.

If you are into sport and nature, Papua (especially Jayapura) is home to it. You can simply drive 5 minutes to the nearest beach where you can do a little snorkel and diving practice. If you have a whole day, there are numerous places where you can swim, dive, even hike.

And if safety is one of your concerns, Jayapura is relatively safe. The are diverse and is okay with foreigners. In fact, their grocery stores also accommodate needs of expats as there are many foreigners and mainly pilots living in the area.

The cost of living in Papua is relatively higher than many other places due to the logistics for many things to reach this part of the world. However, in Jayapura especially, you can easily feel the same western living standards.

The type of accommodation in the place is rarely apartment or condos. You typically will live in local houses that are for rent. They are priced around $60 to $150 depending on your needs. In some places, you can even bring your own AC and create a little cozy room for your needs.

During my time in Jayapura, every day I woke up to the view of the mountain range of cyclops, and the air was so fresh. Convenience was also within walking distance whether I want to visit Starbucks or mini markets. To do my weekly grocery, I could simply hop into Grab that takes me to a nearby shopping mall.

In fact, when I lived there, I felt like my productivity was boosted. It’s such an ideal place to build business from and going into zen mode. You can grind there everyday without feeling like you’re griding.

Whenever I get the chance to explore, I typically go to seaside café, the lake or the hills around the area. If you feel a bit more adventurous, Papua New Guinea is just next door.

It’s such an underrated place to experience and live. It has all the same combination of Bali but without the extreme noises and it is perfect if you enjoy tranquility, being introvert and love the idea of going to church every Sunday and connect with local church members.

Can you live for $1000 in Jayapura? For a single person, comfortably, yes. The typical living cost in Jayapura is a lot higher compared to Java and Bali. There are places when the living cost and standard is up to par to Australia. So you can imagine how costly can things be when compared to Java.

So, skip all the overrated places especially if you are not newbie. Try to go this part of the world to experience different vibe and environment Indonesia has to offer.