Other Services and Amenities
- Community Centers
- Rimba Jaya community hub
- Gaming Lounges
- Cyber Cafes in Bintan Center area
- Parcel Delivery Service
- JNE, J&T Express, and Pos Indonesia
- Tech Repair Services
- Bintan Center (Tanjung Pinang) for mobile and laptop repairs
- Table Tennis Spots
- PTM (Persatuan Tenis Meja) local community halls in Tanjung Pinang
- Language Classes
- Lembaga Bahasa (Language Centers) in Tanjung Pinang
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Perpustakaan Umum Daerah (Regional Public Library)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- None (Gambling is illegal in Indonesia)
Business
- Property Transaction Tax
- 5% (BPHTB) paid by buyer; 2.5% (Income Tax) paid by seller
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Indonesia Remote Worker Visa (E33G) allows for tax-free foreign income for up to 1 year
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 12,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 360,000,000 IDR)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 8,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 240,000,000 IDR)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 11,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 550,000,000 IDR)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 7,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 350,000,000 IDR)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 10,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 800,000,000 IDR)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 6,500,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 520,000,000 IDR)
- Corporate Tax
- 22% standard rate
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 20% for non-residents, 10% for residents
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents (>183 days), territorial for others
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% (for income above 5 billion IDR)
- VAT
- 11%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to Indonesian residents holding foreign shares
- Property Tax
- PBB (Land and Building Tax) approx. 0.1% to 0.2% annually
Essentials
- City
- Bintan Island, Riau Islands Province, Indonesia
- Population
- Approx. 400,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 25-50 Mbps; Fiber available in Lagoi and Tanjung Pinang
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 15,700 IDR, 1 EUR ≈ 17,000 IDR (Indonesian Rupiah)
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled water like Aqua (approx. 6,000 IDR/liter)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F sockets (standard European)
- SIM Card
- Telkomsel (best coverage) or XL Axiata; approx. 150,000 IDR for 25GB
- Banking for Expats
- Bank Mandiri, BCA, and BNI; Wise and Revolut work at ATMs
- Accommodation
- Resorts in Lagoi, Guesthouses in Tanjung Pinang, and villas in Trikora
- Cashless Friendly
- Mostly in resorts; cash (IDR) or QRIS required for local markets and small shops
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (limited), Booking.com, and Mamikos for local room rentals
- Budget Accommodation
- Bintan Service Apartment (approx. 450,000 IDR/night) or local 'Wisama' in Tanjung Pinang
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Lagoi (Bintan Resorts) for luxury/beaches; Trikora Coast for rustic vibes
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Tanjung Pinang (City Center) for amenities or Tirkora for a 'work-from-beach' retreat
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- None dedicated; The Manulife Hub or resort business centers in Lagoi
- Best Cafe for Work
- 走走 (Zou Zou) Cafe in Tanjung Pinang; high speed WiFi and good coffee
- Networking Events
- Informal meetups at Tanjung Pinang business hotels like CK Hotel
- Social Events for Expats
- Expats in Bintan Facebook Group; weekend gatherings at Treasure Bay
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Grab and Gojek (mostly active in Tanjung Pinang and Uban)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Local rentals in Trikora; approx. 100,000-150,000 IDR per day
- Best Beach Nearby
- Trikora Beach (East Coast) or Lagoi Bay
- Top Regional Airline
- Wings Air, Lion Air (via Raja Haji Fisabilillah Airport)
- Top International Airline
- Bintan Resort Ferries from Singapore (primary international gateway)
- Highway Access
- Jalan Lintas Barat connects Tanjung Pinang to Tanjung Uban
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Sri Bintan Pura Ferry Terminal (Tanjung Pinang)
- Public Transport Passes
- No formal pass; local 'Angkot' (minivans) cost 5,000-10,000 IDR per trip
- Regional Travel
- Ferry to Batam (60,000 IDR) or Singapore (approx. 900,000 IDR round trip)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- RSUD Provinsi Kepri Raja Ahmad Tabib (Tanjung Pinang)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Spa at Club Med Bintan or Anmon Resort wellness programs
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- CK Hotel Gym (Tanjung Pinang); daily passes approx. 75,000 IDR
- Laundry Services
- Local 'Laundry Kiloan' (approx. 8,000 IDR per kg) found in residential areas
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- GrabFood and GoFood (very reliable in Tanjung Pinang)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Gonggong (sea snails) and Otak-Otak (grilled fish cake)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Loving Hut (Tanjung Pinang) for 100% plant-based Indonesian food
- Best Dessert Spots
- Warung Kopi Akau Potong Lembu for traditional snacks
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Pasar Baru (Tanjung Pinang) for fresh produce and local prices
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Tokopedia and Shopee Indonesia
- Grocery Delivery
- GrabMart or Astro (limited locations)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Pujasera Rimba Jaya in Tanjung Pinang; lively night market and beer gardens
- Local Brewery
- No local brewery; Bintang and Heineken are the standard
- Wine Bars
- The Terrace Sports Bar (Lagoi) for imported selections
- Street Food Stalls
- Akau Potong Lembu Night Market (Best for evening dining)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Casa Italia (Trikora) for authentic wood-fired pizza
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Gurun Pasir Busung (The Sand Dunes) and Blue Lake
- Museums & Art Venues
- Museum Sultan Sulaiman Badrul Alamsyah
- Historical Sites
- Penyengat Island (Old Malay capital and Royal Mosque)
- Religious Sites
- Vihara Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva (500 Lohan Temple)
- Annual Events
- Bintan Triathlon and Ironman 70.3 Bintan
- Cultural Districts
- Penyengat Island (accessible by 15-min boat from Tanjung Pinang)
- Theater Venues
- Gedung Daerah (Government Cultural Hall)
- Local Markets
- Pasar Tani for morning agricultural goods
- Music Scene
- Live acoustic bands at Fabrica Cafe (Tanjung Pinang)
- Street Art
- Mural art along the alleys of Tanjung Pinang waterfront
- Cooking Classes
- Traditional Malay cooking workshops at Loutus Desaru or local homestays
- Art Galleries
- Local artisan workshops in the 'Kampung' (villages)
- Historic Buildings
- The Yellow Mosque (Masjid Raya Sultan Riau) on Penyengat
- Local Heritage
- Pantun (Malay oral poetry) culture, indigenous to the region
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Sebung River Mangrove Forest tours
- National Parks Nearby
- Mount Bintan (Gunung Bintan) for rainforest trekking
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Well-paved roads in Lagoi; Lagoi Bay walking path
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Summit of Mount Bintan (340m elevation)
- Birdwatching Locations
- The wetlands surrounding Busung
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Private beaches at Trikora (with permission from guesthouse)