Health and Wellness
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Iron Man Gym, Kandirpar (Monthly approx. 1,500 BDT)
- Laundry Services
- Bandbox (professional dry cleaning) or local 'Dhobi' services in Badurtala
- Best Hospital
- Mainamati Medical College & Hospital or Moon Hospital, Shashonagacha
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Limited; Quantum Foundation Comilla Center (Kandirpar)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Foodpanda (widely used in central areas)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Comilla Rasmalai from Matri Bhandar, Manoharpur (approx. 600 BDT/kg)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Sultania Hotel (Vegetable curries/Bhorta); Govinda's (vegetarian options)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Original Matri Bhandar (Manoharpur) for genuine Rasmalai
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Rajganj Bazar for groceries and fresh produce
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Daraz.com.bd (national leader)
- Grocery Delivery
- Chaldal (delivers to major parts of Comilla)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Strictly dry city; no public bars. Alcohol only available in private clubs or high-end hotels with licenses
- Local Brewery
- None (Alcohol production is regulated/illegal without permit)
- Wine Bars
- None
- Street Food Stalls
- Kandirpar circle for Fuchka and Chotpoti (approx. 60-100 BDT/plate)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Red Roof Inn (Chinese/Thai/Continental), Kandirpar
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Shalban Vihara, Mainamati War Cemetery
- Museums & Art Venues
- Mainamati Site Museum, Kotbari (Entry approx. 100 BDT for foreigners)
- Historical Sites
- Itakhola Mura, Roopban Mura (Buddhist archaeological sites)
- Religious Sites
- Jagannath Temple, Dharmasagar; Shah Suja Mosque
- Annual Events
- Pahela Baishakh (Bengali New Year) at Town Hall Grounds
- Cultural Districts
- Town Hall area (Kandirpar) for arts and literature
- Theater Venues
- Comilla Town Hall Auditorium
- Local Markets
- Khadi Market (Kandirpar) for traditional hand-woven fabrics
- Music Scene
- Local folk music events at Shilpakala Academy
- Street Art
- Murals on the walls of Comilla Victoria College
- Cooking Classes
- Informal; best found via Facebook culinary groups like 'Cumilla Foodies'
- Art Galleries
- Shilpakala Academy Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Bir Chandra Public Library (established 1885)
- Local Heritage
- The 'Khadi' cloth industry and 'Rasmalai' sweets
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Dharmasagar Lake for walking and boating; Mainamati Hills
- National Parks Nearby
- Rajeshpur Eco-Park (approx. 15km from city)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Walking track around Dharmasagar Lake; cycling in Kotbari hills
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Top of the hills near Comilla University during sunset
- Birdwatching Locations
- Dharmasagar Lake during winter months (migratory birds)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Private picnic spots in Kotbari (permission required)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Sundarban Courier Service, Pathao Courier
- Tech Repair Services
- Sattar Khan Complex (Electronic hub for repairs/parts)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Comilla District Stadium
- Language Classes
- Local tutors for Bengali; English learning centers like British Council branches (limited)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Bir Chandra Public Library (Kandirpar)
- Community Centers
- Comilla Club, Town Hall Community Center
- Gaming Lounges
- Small local 'PlayStation' cafes in Kandirpar and Badurtala
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Illegal in Bangladesh)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 45,000 BDT per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 1,800,000 BDT)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 35,000 BDT per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 1,400,000 BDT)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 42,000 BDT per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 2,520,000 BDT)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 32,000 BDT per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 1,920,000 BDT)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 40,000 BDT per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 3,200,000 BDT)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 30,000 BDT per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 2,400,000 BDT)
- Corporate Tax
- 20.0% to 27.5% depending on listing status
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 20% for non-residents
- Tax System
- Universal income basis for residents (staying >182 days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 25% (on annual income over 1.6M BDT)
- VAT
- 15% (Standard rate), reduced rates for some services
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Limited enforcement; primarily anti-tax avoidance measures
- Property Tax
- Annual Holding Tax (determined by City Corporation)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Approx. 10-12% (Stamp duty, registration fees, capital gains tax)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; income from abroad may be tax-exempt under specific tech/IT remissions
Essentials
- City
- Comilla (Cumilla), Chittagong Division, Bangladesh
- Population
- Approx. 500,000 (City Corporation area)
- Internet Speed
- Broadband: 20-50 Mbps (AmberIT, Link3); 4G: 10-15 Mbps (Grameenphone)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 110 BDT, 1 EUR ≈ 120 BDT (Official rates March 2026)
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled water like Mum or Fresh (30 BDT/1.5L)
- Power
- 220V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C, D, and G sockets; frequent load-shedding (power cuts) likely
- SIM Card
- Grameenphone or Robi; available at Kandirpar shops (approx. 500 BDT for 20GB)
- Banking for Expats
- Dutch-Bangla Bank (DBBL), SCB, or BRAC Bank; bKash/Nagad for mobile payments
- Accommodation
- Hotels and guesthouses around Kandirpar and Kotbari
- Cashless Friendly
- Partial; QR payments (bKash) common, cards in hotels/upscale restaurants, cash elsewhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Very limited Airbnb; better to negotiate long-stays at Hotel City (approx. 3,500 BDT/night)
- Budget Accommodation
- Hotel Amrania, Kandirpar (approx. 1,200 - 1,800 BDT/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Kandirpar (City Center) for convenience; Kotbari for archaeological sites
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Jhontu Tower area or Badurtala for better fiber optic nodes and food options
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- No dedicated coworking; 'The Hub' (local startup space) or major hotel lobbies
- Best Cafe for Work
- Cafe 9, Kandirpar; offers decent Wi-Fi and power outlets (Coffee approx. 200 BDT)
- Networking Events
- Cumilla IT Park meetups; events at Comilla University (Kotbari)
- Social Events for Expats
- Very few; mostly informal gatherings at the Comilla Club or YMCA
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (mostly cars) and Pathao (motorbikes/cars)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Not commercially available; local 'Tom-Toms' (Electric Rickshaws) are the primary mode
- Best Beach Nearby
- No beach in Comilla; Cox's Bazar is approx. 6 hours by bus
- Top Regional Airline
- No active airport in Comilla; use Biman Bangladesh or US-Bangla via Dhaka
- Top International Airline
- Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines (via Dhaka Hazrat Shahjalal International)
- Highway Access
- N1 (Dhaka-Chittagong Highway) crosses Comilla city
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Comilla Railway Station (Station Road)
- Public Transport Passes
- No digital pass; cash/mobile pay for local buses and CNGs
- Regional Travel
- Tisha Group or Asia Line buses to Dhaka (300-450 BDT, 2.5 - 3.5 hours)