Essentials
- City
- Banda Aceh, Aceh Special Region, Indonesia
- Population
- 252,893
- Internet Speed
- 20-40 Mbps (IndiHome fiber), 50 Mbps (Telkomsel 4G/5G)
- Currency & Banking
- Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). 1 USD ≈ 15,700 IDR, 1 EUR ≈ 17,000 IDR
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use gallon bottled water (Aqua or Vit)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F Europlugs
- SIM Card
- Telkomsel (best coverage) approx. 150,000 IDR ($10) for 25GB
- Banking for Expats
- Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) is dominant; Wise and Revolut work at ATMs
- Accommodation
- Guesthouses (Kost), boutique hotels, and beachfront bungalows
- Cashless Friendly
- Moderate; QRIS (digital payment) used in cafes, but cash is king for local markets
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb and Traveloka (local hotel/apartment app)
- Budget Accommodation
- Pondok Wisata Adilla (approx. 250,000 IDR/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Ulee Lheue (Coastal/Ferry Access) or Baiturrahman (City Center)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Lampineung or Batoh (Modern residential areas with cafes)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Gedung IT Banda Aceh (Limited traditional spaces; mostly cafe-based work culture)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Taufik Kopi (Batoh) or Harvies Cafe (Jl. Dr. Mansyur) - reliable Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Internal events at Syiah Kuala University (USK) or creative meetups at Rumoh Aceh
- Social Events for Expats
- Occasional meetups at luxury hotels like Kyriad Muraya; NGO social circles
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Grab and Gojek (Motorbike 'Ojek' and Cars)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Local rentals near Ulee Lheue, approx. 75,000 IDR/day ($5)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Lampuuk Beach (15 mins from center) or Lhoknga Beach (surfing hub)
- Top Regional Airline
- Wings Air (connecting to Medan)
- Top International Airline
- AirAsia (Direct flights to Kuala Lumpur)
- Highway Access
- Banda Aceh-Sigli Toll Road (part of Trans-Sumatra Route)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Terminal Batoh (Main bus terminal for Sumatra travel)
- Public Transport Passes
- Trans Koetaradja (Blue buses) - Free or very low cost (approx 2,000 IDR)
- Regional Travel
- Ferry from Ulee Lheue to Pulau Weh (Sabang) for diving/nature
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- RSUD Dr. Zainoel Abidin (Regional referral hospital)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Hotel Hermes Palace Fitness Club offers premium wellness facilities
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- O2 Fitness (Jl. T. Umar) - approx. 300,000 IDR/month
- Laundry Services
- Laundry Kiloan spots on Jl. Teuku Umar (approx. 8,000 IDR/kg)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Gofood (Gojek) and GrabFood
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Mie Aceh (Spicy noodles with seafood or beef)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Sawasdee Thai Cuisine (offers veggie modifications)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Rujak Aceh (Specialty fruit salad with palm sugar sauce)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Pasar Aceh (Large traditional market near the mosque)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Shopee Indonesia and Tokopedia
- Grocery Delivery
- GrabMart or localized courier services
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- None (Sharia law applies; social life revolves around coffee shops/Warkop)
- Local Brewery
- None (Alcohol is prohibited); try 'Air Nira' (palm juice)
- Wine Bars
- Not available; socializing occurs in high-end Upscale Coffee Shops
- Street Food Stalls
- Rex Peunayong (Food court area active at night)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Bitata Food (Turkish/Middle Eastern) on Jl. AMD
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Baiturrahman Grand Mosque (iconic architecture)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Tsunami Museum (Architectural masterpiece by Ridwan Kamil)
- Historical Sites
- PLTD Apung 1 (A 2,600-ton generator ship washed inland by tsunami)
- Religious Sites
- Baiturrahman Grand Mosque and Gunongan
- Annual Events
- Aceh Culinary Festival (Cultural food showcase usually in August)
- Cultural Districts
- Peunayong (Old Chinatown/Trading district)
- Theater Venues
- Taman Budaya Banda Aceh
- Local Markets
- Pasar Peunayong (Morning wet market)
- Music Scene
- Traditional Seudati and Saman dance performances at cultural events
- Street Art
- Tsunami murals near the coastline and Ulee Lheue
- Cooking Classes
- Inquire at local 'Rumoh Aceh' cultural heritage centers
- Art Galleries
- Galeri Meuligoe Aceh
- Historic Buildings
- Museum Negeri Aceh (Traditional house structure)
- Local Heritage
- Rencong (The traditional Acehnese dagger)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Puncak Geurutee (1-hour drive for ocean views and monkeys)
- National Parks Nearby
- Mount Leuser National Park (Several hours south for orangutans)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Blang Padang Field (Large green square popular for morning jogs)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Lhok Nga Cliffs for sunsets
- Birdwatching Locations
- Ulee Lheue Mangrove Forest
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Lhoknga Beach (usually organized by surf camps)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- J&T Express, JNE, and POS Indonesia
- Tech Repair Services
- Sudirman Computer (Jl. Ahmad Yani)
- Table Tennis Spots
- GOR KONI Aceh (Sports hall)
- Language Classes
- Language Center at Syiah Kuala University
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Aceh Community Library (Perpustakaan Wilayah Aceh)
- Community Centers
- Balai Meuseuraya Aceh
- Gaming Lounges
- Limited PC Bangs available, mostly mobile gaming culture
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Strictly prohibited
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 12,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 480,000,000 IDR / $30,500)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 8,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 40 m² = 320,000,000 IDR / $20,300)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 11,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 660,000,000 IDR / $42,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 7,500,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 450,000,000 IDR / $28,600)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 10,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 800,000,000 IDR / $51,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 7,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 560,000,000 IDR / $35,600)
- Corporate Tax
- 22% (Indonesia Standard)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents, 20% for non-residents (subject to DTA)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for tax residents (over 183 days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% (over 5 billion IDR)
- VAT
- 11%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to 50%+ shareholdings
- Property Tax
- PBB (Land and Building Tax) approx. 0.1% to 0.2% annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- 5% BPHTB (Buyer's Tax)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Remote Worker Visa (E33G) allows for tax-free income earned outside Indonesia