Essentials
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 400 AMD. Major banks: Ameriabank, ACBA. ATMs available on Baghramyan St.
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high-quality mountain spring water.
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets
- SIM Card
- Team Telecom, Viva-MTS, Ucom. 5GB data approx. 2,500 AMD ($6 USD)
- Banking for Expats
- Ameriabank (best app), Inecobank. Revolut works for withdrawals.
- Accommodation
- Guesthouses, small hotels like Carahunge, and private Airbnb listings.
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate; cards accepted in supermarkets, but cash needed for local markets and marshrutkas.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Booking.com (approx. $300-$500/month for a full apartment).
- Budget Accommodation
- Stepanavan Guesthouse (approx. 8,000 AMD/night for a bed).
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Near Stepanavan Dendropark or the town center (Baghramyan St).
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Town Center for proximity to shops and best fiber internet reliability.
- City
- Stepanavan, Lori Province, Armenia
- Population
- 12,500
- Internet Speed
- 30-50 Mbps (Fiber available via Team Telecom/Ucom in town center)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Lori Hub (approx. 45 mins away in Vanadzor); locally, most work from home or quiet guesthouses.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Carahunge Cafe & Garden (Quiet with decent Wi-Fi and power outlets).
- Networking Events
- Occasional startup events at the Stepanavan Youth Center.
- Social Events for Expats
- Armenian Repats & Expats Facebook group; local hiking meetups.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- GG Taxi or Yandex Go (Limited drivers, pre-booking local taxis via phone is common).
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- N/A; best to bring your own or ask at local guesthouses.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Lake Sevan (approx. 2.5 hours drive).
- Top Regional Airline
- FlyArna (operating from Yerevan Zvartnots).
- Top International Airline
- Air France, Austrian Airlines, Qatar Airways (via Yerevan).
- Highway Access
- M3 Highway connects Stepanavan to Yerevan (approx. 2.5 hours).
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Stepanavan Bus Station (Central Square) for Marshrutkas to Yerevan and Vanadzor.
- Public Transport Passes
- Single journey cash payments (approx. 100-200 AMD local, 1,500 AMD to Yerevan).
- Regional Travel
- Marshrutka (minibus) to Vanadzor (30 mins) or Yerevan (150 mins).
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Stepanavan Medical Center (Sourb Grigor Lusavorich St).
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Outdoor yoga at Dendropark; no dedicated commercial studios.
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Stepanavan Central Stadium gym facilities (Basic equipment).
- Laundry Services
- Available through guesthouses like 'Major's House'.
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Glovo (Limited availability); most restaurants offer direct phone delivery.
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Lori Cheese and Khorovats (Armenian BBQ).
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Lori Restaurant (Fresh salads, grilled vegetables, and local Ghapama).
- Best Dessert Spots
- Local bakeries on Millionshchikov St for fresh Gata.
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Stepanavan Central Market (Fresh produce and local honey).
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Wildberries.am (Pickup points available in town).
- Grocery Delivery
- SAS.am or Yerevan City (Delivery from Yerevan via courier services).
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Limited; social life revolves around guesthouse lounges and garden cafes.
- Local Brewery
- Kilikia or Kotayk beer available at all local shops.
- Wine Bars
- None; visit the 'Old Bridge' or 'Koor' bottle shops in supermarkets.
- Street Food Stalls
- Shawarma and Ponchik stalls near the bus station.
- Popular International Cuisine
- Pizza Di Roma (Standard Italian-style pizzas).
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Stepanavan Dendropark (Sochut) - first botanical garden in Armenia.
- Museums & Art Venues
- Stepan Shahumyan Museum (House-museum of the revolutionary).
- Historical Sites
- Lori Berd (Lori Fortress) - approx. 4km from town center.
- Religious Sites
- Surb Sarkis Church and the ruins of the 5th-century Tormak Church nearby.
- Annual Events
- Honey and Berry Festival (held in Lori region in late summer).
- Cultural Districts
- The 'Old Town' district with its unique mid-20th century architecture.
- Theater Venues
- Stepanavan Cultural House (occasional local performances).
- Local Markets
- The Open-air Saturday Market.
- Music Scene
- Folk music performances during local festivals.
- Street Art
- Soviet-era mosaics and bas-reliefs on public buildings.
- Cooking Classes
- Informal classes at 'Lori Berd Guesthouse'.
- Art Galleries
- Local Art School gallery on Desyatnikov St.
- Historic Buildings
- The stone bridge over the Dzoraget River.
- Local Heritage
- Armenian Duduk music and traditional lace-making.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Dzoraget River Canyon - excellent for hiking and photography.
- National Parks Nearby
- Dilijan National Park (approx. 1.5 hours away).
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The trail from Stepanavan to Lori Berd Fortress.
- Scenic Viewpoints
- The 'Seven Lakes' view over the Dzoraget Gorge.
- Birdwatching Locations
- Forests surrounding the Dendropark.
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Dedicated camping areas near the Dzoraget River.
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- HayPost (Armenian National Post) at the central square.
- Tech Repair Services
- Small repair shops on Baghramyan St (primarily mobile phones).
- Table Tennis Spots
- Youth center and local schools.
- Language Classes
- Stepanavan Youth Center (English/Armenian exchange).
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Stepanavan Public Library (Quiet, but limited Wi-Fi).
- Community Centers
- Stepanavan Youth Center.
- Gaming Lounges
- Small internet cafes/PS4 lounges near the school district.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Restricted to specific zones in Armenia like Tsaghkadzor).
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $450 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $18,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $350 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = $14,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $420 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $25,200)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $320 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = $19,200)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. $400 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $32,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. $300 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = $24,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 18%; however, micro-businesses (turnover < $60k) may pay 0%.
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 5%
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents (>183 days).
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 20% (Flat rate for payroll).
- VAT
- 20%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC rules currently in place.
- Property Tax
- Yes, progressive system based on cadastral value (reformed in 2021).
- Property Transaction Tax
- Registration fees apply, not a percentage-based transaction tax for individuals.
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Yes, IT Certification for startups allows for 0% corporate tax and 10% income tax.