Siargao Digital Nomad Guide: Everything You Need to Know
Siargao is best known as a surfing hotspot, but in recent years, it has also become a great place for digital nomads. This small, remote island offers a much more laid-back experience compared to bigger nomad hubs like Bali or Chiang Mai. If you’re looking for the Siargao digital nomad guide, you’ve come to the right place. With its relaxed atmosphere, stunning beaches, and a growing remote work community, it’s easy to see why more and more people are choosing Siargao as their base.
It’s one of our favorite digital nomad destinations. It’s not just because of the scenery, but because it’s a place where you can actually slow down while staying productive. Whether you’re here for a few weeks or planning a longer stay, this guide covers everything you need to know about living and working in Siargao.
Best Time to Visit Siargao
Siargao has two main seasons: the dry season (March to October) and the wet season (November to February). If you’re here to work remotely, the dry months are the best time to visit. You’ll get plenty of sunshine, smooth roads for riding a scooter, and fewer power outages, which is important when you rely on a stable connection for work.
If you plan to surf, the peak season runs from August to November. This is when Siargao’s famous Cloud 9 wave is at its best, attracting surfers from around the world. Just keep in mind that this also overlaps with the rainy season, so expect occasional storms.
Internet & Connectivity
Siargao’s internet has improved over the years, but unfortunately it’s still not the most reliable. If you plan to work remotely here, you’ll need to find a place that offers Starlink or Fiber and is equipped with backup generator. In this Siargao digital nomad guide we will discuss best coworking spaces, but apart from that more and more cafes, hostels and guesthouses have access to fast speed internet as well.
For mobile data, Globe and Smart are the two main networks, with Smart generally offering better speeds. A local SIM card helps a lot and it’s really easy to get one for a cheap price at one of the local stores.
Best Coworking Spaces
Siargao doesn’t have a huge selection of coworking spaces, but the ones available are more than enough. Alter Space is the budget-friendly option at around €50 per month. It has a strong local feel and a reliable internet connection, making it a great spot to get work done. The only downside is the lack of private call spaces, so if you need quiet for meetings, it might not be the best fit.
Another option is COCO Coworking Space. It’s a more modern and high end choice costing around €120 per month. While it was still under construction during our time in Siargao, it looks impressive based on their website. Even before opening, it already had an active community. We found a very active WhatsApp group through their page, which kept us informed about the community and the social events.
Where to Stay as a Digital Nomad
This is an easy one. Whether you’re digital nomad, surfer or just came for vacation you will want to stay in General Luna. This is where most of the restaurants, cafes, coworking spots, and social events are. On top of that, there’s also Cloud 9, world famous surfing spot. As part of this Siargao digital nomad guide, we recommend staying near Tourism Road to stay close to everything.
For us the best way to find accommodations is to book first few nights at some hostel or guesthouse and when you’re there, ask around about best accommodations and visit them yourself. For that we would recommend Happiness Hostel. It’s in the middle of General Luna, it’s clean, stuff is very helpful and most of it’s residents are either remote workers or long term travellers.
Cost of Living in Siargao
Siargao is an affordable place to live, though it’s a bit pricier than some other Southeast Asian destinations. Rent for a long-term stay ranges from 500€ to $1000€ per month, depending on location and quality. Local eateries keep food costs low, with meals from 2€ to 5€, while more Western restaurants charge around 10€+. Coworking spaces cost between 60€ and 120€ per month. Scooter rentals cost around 150€ per month.
Most digital nomads spend between 1,200€ and 1,500€ per month for a comfortable lifestyle. Those opting for high-end stays, frequent dining out, and an active social life may spend closer to $2,000. While Siargao isn’t the cheapest destination in the region, it strikes a good balance between cost and quality of life.
Getting Around Siargao
The best way to get around the island is by scooter. As I mentioned we rented a bike for about 150€ for a month. Riding a scooter gives you the freedom to explore the island as you like whether it’s a quick trip to a café or an afternoon drive to one of the more remote beaches.
Unfortunately there is not much of an alternative. There are no ride sharing apps like Grab or Gojek, so to get a taxi you’ll need to ask around. There are tuk tuks waiting on the side of the road from time to time, but it’s not really a reliable, consistent mode of transport. It can allow you to move around General Luna, but longer trips are not really possible.
On the bright side, if you never rode a scooter before, Siargao might be a good place to try. Streets are relatively empty, especially outside of the main street and the roads are much safer than in other Asian destinations.
Community & Networking
Siargao’s digital nomad scene is still growing, but meeting like-minded people is surprisingly easy. The best way to connect is by joining a coworking space, as many have active communities communities and events. We found a WhatApp group through COCO Coworking Space, where you can find all the information about the community events etc.
Aside from coworking spots, Happiness Hostel is a great place to start if you’re looking to socialize. It’s a popular place for travelers and nomads, making it easy to find new friends. They also host events from time to time. Facebook groups like Siargao Digital Nomads are also useful for discovering meetups, housing options, and work-related tips. Beyond that, surf lessons, yoga classes, and casual café hangouts naturally bring people together. Siargao is quite a small island, so once you’ll get to know people you’ll see familiar faces everywhere.
Fun Things to Do in Siargao
Siargao offers the best of the island lifestyle. You’ll find surfing spots, yoga classes, beautiful beaches and much more here. Apart from that there’s plenty of social events and parties you can attend. We could list it all here, but it will be easiest to check out our article about best things to do in Siargao We hope you will enjoy the read.
Challenges of Being a Digital Nomad in Siargao
Siargao is a beautiful place to work remotely, but its remote location comes with challenges. Internet can be unreliable, with power outages and unstable speeds. Luckily, as we mentioned, coworking spaces and some cafes are equipped with Starlink or Fiber, which really helps mitigate that problem. Getting money is tricky since there are only a few ATMs, which sometimes run out of cash. You might end up tying multiple times before you’ll find working ATM. Being far from major cities also means limited access to certain goods, and ordering items online can be slow or impossible.
Despite those challenges, with a little bit of planning ahead you should be fine. There are always limitations you need to consider, but it does not change the fact that Siargao is very much worth a visit.
Siargao is one of our favorite places to live and work, and we highly recommend it. The beaches are beautiful, the people are friendly, and life moves at a slower, more enjoyable pace. It’s easy to stay productive while still making time for surfing, exploring, or just relaxing by the ocean. There are some challenges, but with a bit of planning, you can work around them.
We hope this Siargao digital nomad guide has given you all the information you need to plan your trip. If you’re looking for a place where work and life feel balanced, Siargao is definitely worth a visit. You might even end up staying longer than you planned!
Cheers,
Kuba
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