Gili Islands Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎰 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 |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| ✈️ 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 |
| 🚕 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 |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 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) |
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ 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
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 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 |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING GILI ISLANDS