Compare
Two cities. One decision.
Line them up side by side. Cheaper, warmer, more alive - see it at a glance.
At a glance
Monthly cost breakdown
Short-let nomad pricing (1-3 months, furnished)
Who thrives here
Edinburgh
Ideal for
- Culture-first travelers who like living in a place with layers
- Outdoor-first nomads - hikers, cyclists, adventure people
Probably skip if
- Ocean-obsessed nomads
- Anyone who needs sun to function - winters here are real
Canggu
Ideal for
- Surfers who want to paddle out before work
- Extroverted nomads - the community is huge and constant
- Founders in a build-in-public phase who thrive on cafés + cowork
- Anyone who wants sun, gym, açaí and beach clubs all in walking scooter distance
Probably skip if
- Peace-seekers - traffic and construction are relentless
- Culture-first travelers - Canggu is a global nomad bubble
- People who dislike scooters - you basically need one
Weather
Edinburgh
Best months
Average around 9°C. Best months: May, Jun, Sep.
Canggu
Best months
Tropical. Dry season May-Sep is glorious. Wet season Nov-Mar.
Vibe
Edinburgh
A capital built on a volcano - castle, cliffs, festivals in August, the best walking city in the UK.
Canggu
Bali's nomad epicentre: coworkings between rice paddies, longboarders at every break and a warung on every corner.
Neighborhoods to live in
Edinburgh
Stockbridge
Village-in-the-city - river, weekend market, Georgian terraces.
Leith
Old port - food scene, cheaper rents, walk to the water.
Bruntsfield
Green, café-heavy, close to the Meadows.
Newington
Student life, independent restaurants and access to the Meadows give this southside district a lively, practical character.
Marchmont
Tenement-lined streets south of the Meadows create a leafy residential base with a strong neighborhood cafe culture.
Canggu
Berawa
Beach clubs, coworking (Dojo), the newest cafés. Center of the scene.
Pererenan
Quieter, rice-field vibe, faster-growing. Where people move when Berawa gets too much.
Batu Bolong
Original nomad Canggu - surf break, Old Man's bar, tighter but iconic.
Padang Linjong
An inland Canggu pocket with villas, cafés and access toward the Echo Beach area.
Babakan
A village area farther inland, where residential lanes and remaining rice fields feel removed from the beach traffic.
Pros & cons
Edinburgh
Pros
- Depth - you never run out of things to see
- Very safe day and night
- Direct flights to most global hubs
- English is fine in the main nomad neighborhoods
Cons
- Winters are real - grey, cold, sometimes long
- Bureaucracy for long stays can be slow
- Real estate turnover is quick - good apartments go in days
Canggu
Pros
- Ultra-cheap living
- Huge nomad scene
- World-class surf
- Year-round warmth
Cons
- Traffic chaos
- Rainy season floods
- Wi-Fi can wobble
Visa & residency
Edinburgh
UK citizens only for long stays. Most Western passports get 6 months visa-free as visitors.
Canggu
B211A visa or new E33G Remote Worker Visa (up to 1 year).
Want to go deeper? Read the full city guides for the full editorial breakdown.