Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Leasehold ONLY (25-30 years). Approx. $60,000 - $100,000 for a small bungalow
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Inland plots: Leasehold approx. $40,000 for 1 are (100m²) with structure
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Beachfront leasehold: $150,000+ for 30 years
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Inland leasehold: $80,000 - $120,000
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- $250,000+ for high-end boutique villas
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- $140,000 - $180,000 (Leasehold)
- Corporate Tax
- 22% (Standard Indonesian rate for PT PMA companies)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents, 20% for non-residents (subject to treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents (>183 days in Indonesia)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% for income over 5 billion IDR
- VAT
- 11% (plus 10% PB1 tax at restaurants)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to Indonesian tax residents
- Property Tax
- PBB (Land and Building Tax) - typically low, paid annually by owner
- Property Transaction Tax
- BPHTB (5% for buyer) and PPh (2.5% for seller)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- De-facto zero tax if using the Kite/Remote Worker Visa (E33G) for offshore income
Other Services and Amenities
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Illegal in Indonesia
- Parcel Delivery Service
- JNE or J&T (delivery to specific island agents near harbors)
- Tech Repair Services
- Limited; usually requires a trip to Mataram, Lombok
- Table Tennis Spots
- Cheeky Monkey (Gili Trawangan)
- Language Classes
- Private Indonesian tutors available via community boards (approx. 100k IDR/hour)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Slow Gili Air (reading lounge)
- Community Centers
- Gili Eco Trust HQ (Gili Trawangan) - focus on sustainability
- Gaming Lounges
- None; limited to private villas with consoles
Essentials
- City
- Gili Islands (Trawangan, Meno, Air), West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
- Population
- Approximately 5,000 permanent residents across all three islands
- Internet Speed
- Average 20-50 Mbps; Fiber optic is available at major hubs like Mama Pizza or Gili Teak
- Currency & Banking
- Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). 1 USD ≈ 15,700 IDR. ATMs available on all islands (BNI, CIMB Niaga), but often run out of cash
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; Briny (salty) in many showers. Use gallon refills (Aqua) for 20,000 IDR
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F (European). Frequent power outages; high-end resorts have backup generators
- SIM Card
- Telkomsel has the best coverage. 15GB data costs approx. 100,000 IDR at local kiosks
- Banking for Expats
- Wise and Revolut are widely used; local bank accounts usually require a KITAS residence permit
- Accommodation
- Homestays (200k-500k IDR/night), Luxury Villas (2M+ IDR/night), Long-term bungalows
- Cashless Friendly
- Partial; Major hotels/dive shops accept cards (3% surcharge common), local warungs are cash only
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb is dominant; Gili Loft (Trawangan) or Captain Coconuts (Air)
- Budget Accommodation
- My Mate's Place (Gili Trawangan) - approx. 150,000 IDR per night for a dorm
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- East side of Gili Trawangan for nightlife; Gili Air for a balanced social/chill vibe
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- South-west Gili Air; quieter with reliable Wi-Fi and proximity to sunset cafes
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Bambu Coworking (Gili Air) - Daily pass approx. 150,000 IDR; features AC and reliable generator
- Best Cafe for Work
- Coffee & Thyme (Gili Air) or Kayu Cafe (Gili Trawangan) - good power outlet access
- Networking Events
- Gili Shark Conservation meetups; Sunday Sunset sessions at PinkCoco
- Social Events for Expats
- Friday Night Pub Crawl (Gili Trawangan); Gili Air Community Facebook Group gatherings
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- None (No motorized vehicles allowed). Use Cidomo (horse carriage) - 100,000 to 150,000 IDR per trip
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Bicycle rentals: 50,000 IDR per day. Electric scooters are becoming available for approx. 150,000 IDR
- Best Beach Nearby
- Meno Wall (Gili Meno) for world-class snorkeling right off the shore
- Top Regional Airline
- Wings Air or Citilink flying into Lombok International Airport (LOP)
- Top International Airline
- Singapore Airlines (via SG) or Garuda Indonesia (via Jakarta/Bali)
- Highway Access
- N/A; Islands are car-free. Access via speedboat from Bangsal (Lombok) or Padang Bai (Bali)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Bangsal Harbor (Lombok side) or Gili Trawangan Jetty
- Public Transport Passes
- Public Island Hopper Boat: 40,000 IDR per trip between islands
- Regional Travel
- Speedboat to Bali (Eka Jaya/BlueWater Express) - approx. 450,000-600,000 IDR
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Blue Island Medical Center (Gili Trawangan) for emergencies; Siloam Hospital in Mataram (Lombok) for serious issues
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- H2O Yoga and Meditation Center (Gili Air) - Classes from 120,000 IDR
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Gili Fit (Gili Trawangan) - well-equipped with daily/weekly passes (approx. 100,000 IDR/day)
- Laundry Services
- Local 'Laundry Kiloan' - typically 20,000 IDR per kg for wash/dry/fold
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- None. Most restaurants offer direct WhatsApp delivery or 'Gojek' equivalents from Lombok side (rare)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Ayam Taliwang (spicy Lombok grilled chicken) - try it at Warung Indonesia (Gili T)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Pituq Island BBQ (Gili Air) - exceptional vegan Indonesian fusion
- Best Dessert Spots
- Gili Gelato (Gili Trawangan/Air) - approx. 35,000 IDR per scoop
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Gili Trawangan Night Market - Fresh seafood and local nasi campur from 50,000 IDR
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Tokopedia or Shopee (deliveries arrive via boat to the harbor for pickup)
- Grocery Delivery
- N/A; shop at Siti Shop (Gili Air) or various 'Mart' convenience stores
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Main strip of Gili Trawangan (Sama Sama Reggae Bar, Jiggy Jig's)
- Local Brewery
- No local brewery; Bintang beer is ubiquitous (approx. 35,000-50,000 IDR)
- Wine Bars
- The Rose & Crown (Gili Air) or Pearl of Trawangan
- Street Food Stalls
- Gili T Night Market - skewers and martabak
- Popular International Cuisine
- Mama Pizza (Gili Air) for authentic Italian wood-fired pizza
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Nest Underwater Statues (Gili Meno) by Jason deCaires Taylor
- Museums & Art Venues
- Turtle Sanctuary (Gili Meno) - small conservation center on the beach
- Historical Sites
- Japanese Tunnel (WWII) on Gili Trawangan hill
- Religious Sites
- Masjid Agung Baiturrahman (Gili Trawangan) - central mosque
- Annual Events
- Gili Strong Triathlon; Eid al-Fitr celebrations (local festivities)
- Cultural Districts
- The 'Inland' village areas where locals reside, away from the beachfront
- Theater Venues
- Outdoor Cinema at Villa Ombak (Gili Trawangan) or Mowies (Gili Air)
- Local Markets
- Morning market near the harbor (Gili Air) for fresh fruit/produce at 6:00 AM
- Music Scene
- Live reggae at Sama Sama; Acoustic sets at Lucky's (Gili Air)
- Street Art
- Murals on the backstreets of Gili Air depicting marine life
- Cooking Classes
- Gili Cooking Classes (Gili Trawangan) - approx. 350,000 IDR per session
- Art Galleries
- Local woodcarving shops in the village centers
- Historic Buildings
- Traditional Sasak-style Lumbung huts (rice barns)
- Local Heritage
- Sasak culture of Lombok; traditional 'Presean' (stich fighting) demonstrations
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Mount Rinjani National Park (Lombok) - accessible via 2-hour boat/car transfer
- National Parks Nearby
- Mount Rinjani - 3,726m volcano trekking
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- The perimeter path of each island (approx. 5-7km around)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Gili Trawangan Hill - best for sunrise and sunset views of Bali and Lombok
- Birdwatching Locations
- Gili Meno Saltwater Lake
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- North beach of Gili Air (check local regulations/tides first)