Essentials
- City
- Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
- Population
- Approximately 2,550,000 (Greater Bandung: 8.5 million)
- Internet Speed
- Average 35-60 Mbps; fiber optic common in coworking spaces (Biznet, Indihome)
- Currency & Banking
- Indonesian Rupiah (IDR); 1 USD ≈ 15,700 IDR, 1 EUR ≈ 17,000 IDR
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use gallon delivery services (Aqua) or filtered dispensers
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C / F (European standard)
- SIM Card
- Telkomsel (best coverage), XL Axiata; 25GB data approx. 100,000 IDR ($6.40)
- Banking for Expats
- BCA, Mandiri, BNI; Wise and Revolut work at most ATMs
- Accommodation
- Travelio for apartments, Rukita for co-living, Airbnb for shorter stays
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, via QRIS (Gopay/OVO) widely accepted; cards in malls/hotels
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Mamikos (local app for 'Kos'/studio rooms)
- Budget Accommodation
- Bobobox Pods Paskal (approx. 200,000 IDR/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Braga (Heritage district) or Jalan Riau (Shopping/Dining)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Dago or Ciumbuleuit (Cooler air, modern cafes, and greenery)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Ruangreka (Jl. Raden Patah No.28) - Daily pass approx. 75,000 IDR ($4.80)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Blue Doors (Jl. Alkateri No.2) or Mimiti Coffee & Space (Jl. Bukit Pakar Timur)
- Networking Events
- Startup Bandung Meetups and creative workshops at Bandung Creative Hub
- Social Events for Expats
- Bandung Expat Community (Facebook Group) and InterNations Bandung chapters
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Gojek and Grab (Bike and Car services)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Boseh (Bicycle sharing) or private local rentals via Facebook groups
- Best Beach Nearby
- Pangandaran Beach (approx. 5-6 hours drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- Wings Air and Citilink (operating from Husein Sastranegara BDO)
- Top International Airline
- Garuda Indonesia or AirAsia (via Jakarta KJT/CGK)
- Highway Access
- Cipularang Toll Road (connecting Bandung to Jakarta in 2.5-3 hours)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Stasiun Bandung (Hall) and Tegalluar (Whoosh High Speed Rail Hub)
- Public Transport Passes
- E-money/Flazz cards for Trans Metro Bandung (TMB) buses
- Regional Travel
- Whoosh High Speed Rail to Jakarta (30-45 mins, approx. 200,000-300,000 IDR)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Santosa Hospital Bandung Central (Jl. Kebon Jati No.38)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Leaf (Jl. Beas No.2) or Serenity Home Yoga
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Celebrity Fitness (Paris Van Java Mall) or Rai Fitness
- Laundry Services
- Laundrette or local 'Laundry Kiloan' (approx. 10,000 IDR/kg)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- GoFood (Gojek app) and GrabFood
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Mie Kocok (Beef tendon noodle soup) and Batagor (Fried fish dumplings)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Kehidupan Tidak Pernah Berakhir (Jl. Pajajaran No.63)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Prima Rasa or Kartika Sari for Pisang Bollen (Banana pastry)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Pasar Baru Trade Center or Baltos (Balubur Town Square)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Tokopedia and Shopee Indonesia
- Grocery Delivery
- Sayurbox or Astro (15-minute delivery)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Jl. Braga for pubs and South Bandung for speakeasies like Gloomy Sunday
- Local Brewery
- Island Brewing (Bali-based, found in bars like Saka Bistro)
- Wine Bars
- The Wine Cellar (Paris Van Java) or Peak Resort Dining
- Street Food Stalls
- Sudirman Street Day & Night Market (Non-halal options available)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Oopen Pasta & Grill (Jl. Cihampelas) or Katsunyaka (Japanese)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Gedung Sate (Provincial Governor’s Office) and Tangkuban Perahu Volcano
- Museums & Art Venues
- NuArt Sculpture Park (Nyoman Nuarta’s gallery) and Museum of the Asian-African Conference
- Historical Sites
- Villa Isola and Hotel Savoy Homann (Art Deco architecture)
- Religious Sites
- Masjid Raya Bandung (Great Mosque) and Gereja Katedral Bandung
- Annual Events
- Asia-Africa Festival (April) and Bandung West Java Marathon
- Cultural Districts
- Saung Angklung Udjo (Traditional Sundanese bamboo music)
- Theater Venues
- Teater Tertutup Taman Budaya West Java
- Local Markets
- Pasar Cihapit (Traditional market with trendy coffee stalls)
- Music Scene
- The House of Tiptree or live indie bands at Spasial
- Street Art
- Mural art found along Jalan Siliwangi
- Cooking Classes
- Bamboo Cooking Class (Sundanese traditional cuisine)
- Art Galleries
- Selasar Sunaryo Art Space (Jl. Bukit Pakar Timur No.100)
- Historic Buildings
- Bandung City Hall and De Majestic
- Local Heritage
- Sundanese 'Wayang Golek' (Wooden puppetry)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Kawah Putih (White Crater) in Ciwidey
- National Parks Nearby
- Gunung Gede Pangrango National Park (approx. 2.5 hours away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Taman Hutan Raya Ir. H. Djuanda (Tahura) forest trails
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Tebing Keraton (The Royal Cliff) overlooking the pine forest
- Birdwatching Locations
- Situ Patenggang lake area
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Ranca Upas Camping Ground (Ciwidey)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- JNE, J&T Express, and SiCepat
- Tech Repair Services
- Bandung Electronic Center (BEC) on Jl. Purnawarman
- Table Tennis Spots
- GOR Saparua table tennis courts
- Language Classes
- IALF (Indonesian for foreigners) or private tutors via Superprof
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Dispusipda West Java Library (Jl. Kawaluyaan)
- Community Centers
- Bandung Creative Hub (Jl. Laswi No.7)
- Gaming Lounges
- Hans Pro Gaming (Jl. Kebon Jati)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Not available (Gambling is illegal in Indonesia)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 25,000,000 IDR/m² (e.g., 25m² = 625 million IDR / $40,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 15,000,000 IDR/m² (e.g., 25m² = 375 million IDR / $24,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 22,000,000 IDR/m² (e.g., 40m² = 880 million IDR / $56,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 13,000,000 IDR/m² (e.g., 40m² = 520 million IDR / $33,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 20,000,000 IDR/m² (e.g., 60m² = 1.2 billion IDR / $76,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 11,000,000 IDR/m² (e.g., 60m² = 660 million IDR / $42,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 22% standard rate; lower for small-medium enterprises
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents, 20% for non-residents
- Tax System
- Self-assessment system; residents taxed on worldwide income
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% for income over 5 billion IDR
- VAT
- 11% (Standard PPN)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to Indonesian residents holding 50% or more in foreign entities
- Property Tax
- PBB (Land and Building Tax), approx. 0.1% to 0.2% of property value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- BPHTB (Buyer’s tax) at 5% of purchase price minus non-taxable amount
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- KITAS E33G (Remote Worker Visa) allows 10-year stay; potential tax exemptions on foreign income pending specific regulations