Lovina Digital Nomad Guide - Tips & Local Information
ESSENTIALS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏙️ City |
Lovina, Buleleng Regency, Bali, Indonesia |
| 👥 Population |
Approx. 15,000 across the coastal villages of Kalibukbuk and Anturan |
| 💻 Internet Speed |
25-50 Mbps; Fiber optic via IndiHome is common in villas, Biznet available in select spots |
| 💸 Currency & Banking |
Indonesian Rupiah (IDR); 1 USD ≈ 15,700 IDR, 1 EUR ≈ 16,900 IDR |
| 🚰 Tap Water |
Not drinkable; use 19L 'Gallon' water dispensers (approx. 20,000 IDR per refill) |
| 🔌 Power |
230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C & F (European standard) |
| 📶 SIM Card |
Telkomsel (best coverage) or XL Axiata; 25GB data approx. 100,000 IDR at local kiosks |
| 💳 Banking for Expats |
Bank Central Asia (BCA) and BNI have reliable ATMs; Wise and Revolut widely used for transfers |
| 🛌 Accommodation |
Villas via Airbnb or local Facebook groups like 'Lovina Community'; Monthly villa rentals $500 - $1,200 USD |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly |
Partial; major restaurants accept cards/QRIS, but local warungs and markets are cash-only |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals |
Airbnb, Booking.com, and numerous boutique guesthouses along Lovina Beach |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation |
Puri Bayu or Funky Place Lovina; dorms/basic rooms from 150,000 IDR ($10) per night |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists |
Kalibukbuk; the central hub with the highest concentration of dolphin tour operators and restaurants |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads |
Anturan or Temukus; quieter residential areas with private villas and better value for long-term stays |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space |
Golden Garden (in nearby Singaraja, 15m away) or private setups at villas; Lovina lacks a dedicated 'branded' coworking space |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work |
Global Village Kafe (Jalan Labuan Padi); reliable Wi-Fi, social mission, and plenty of power outlets |
| 💼 Networking Events |
Weekly expat meetups at Kantin 21 or Spice Beach Club |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats |
The 'Lovina Community' Facebook group; volunteer events at the North Bali Reef Conservation |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic |
Details |
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App |
Grab and Gojek are available but limited; local 'Transport' drivers are preferred (Lovina to Ubud approx. 600,000 IDR) |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental |
Local shops on Jalan Raya Lovina; 75,000 - 100,000 IDR per day, or 1,200,000 IDR per month |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby |
Lovina Beach (Black Sand); Pemuteran Beach (1 hour west) for better snorkeling and white sand |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline |
Citilink or Wings Air for domestic hops from Bali (DPS) |
| ✈️ Top International Airline |
Garuda Indonesia, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates flying into Denpasar (DPS) |
| 🛣️ Highway Access |
No highways; accessed via the winding mountain roads from Bedugul (approx. 3 hours from South Bali) |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub |
No trains in Bali; the main hub is the Singaraja Bus Terminal (Banyuasri) for regional buses |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes |
None; Perama Tour shuttle buses are the primary tourist transport link between Lovina and South Bali |
| ✈️ Regional Travel |
Private driver (Standard day rate 600k-800k IDR) or the Perama bus to Ubud/Kuta |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏥 Best Hospital |
RSUD Kabupaten Buleleng in Singaraja (15 mins) or Parama Sidhi Hospital for private care |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers |
Santhika Bed & Breakfast/Yoga Retreat; daily drop-in classes around 100,000 IDR |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers |
Lovina Fitness (Jalan Seririt-Singaraja); simple local gym with essential weights, approx. 30,000 IDR per session |
| 🧺 Laundry Services |
Numerous 'Laundry Kiloan' shops; 10,000 - 15,000 IDR per kg for wash, dry, and iron |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic |
Details |
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App |
GrabFood and GoFood (Limited selection compared to South Bali, but covers major spots in Kalibukbuk) |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try |
Siobak Singaraja (Pork in savory brown sauce); found at Siobak Khe Lok in nearby Singaraja |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options |
Akelolong; offers high-quality plant-based Indonesian and Mediterranean fusion |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots |
Bakery at Sea Breeze Lovina; excellent cakes and pastries with an ocean view |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots |
Pasar Seririt for local produce; Seririt Hardys for department store needs |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store |
Shopee and Tokopedia; deliveries take 3-5 days from Java/South Bali |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery |
GrabMart (Limited); most expats visit Pepito Market in Lovina for imported goods |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area |
Binaria Square / Kalibukbuk beach front; Kantin 21 for live music |
| 🍻 Local Brewery |
Stark Craft Beer (Brewery located near Lovina in Temukus); the only craft brewery on the island |
| 🍷 Wine Bars |
Spice Beach Club; offers a curated wine list and sunset cocktails |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls |
Pasar Senggol (Night Market) in Singaraja for satay, martabak, and nasi campur |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine |
Le Petit Restaurant (French/International) or Jasmine Kitchen (Thai) |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks |
Lovina Dolphin Statue at Binaria Square; early morning dolphin watching tours (100k-150k IDR) |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues |
Gedong Kirtya Lontar Library in Singaraja; the only library in the world housing ancient palm-leaf manuscripts |
| 🏰 Historical Sites |
Pura Beji (Sangsit); an 15th-century 'subak' temple known for intricate carvings |
| 🕍 Religious Sites |
Brahmavihara-Arama; Bali's largest Buddhist monastery, 20 minutes from Lovina |
| 🎉 Annual Events |
Lovina Festival (usually held in September) featuring traditional dance and food |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts |
The old colonial port area of Singaraja (Buleleng Harbour) |
| 🎭 Theater Venues |
Occasional traditional Wayang Kulit (shadow puppet) shows at local temples during Odalan festivals |
| 🛍️ Local Markets |
Anyar Market in Singaraja for authentic daily Balinese life/produce |
| 🎼 Music Scene |
Live acoustic bands at various beach bars like Funky Place and Spice every weekend |
| 🎨 Street Art |
Occasional murals in Singaraja town center near the waterfront |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes |
Lovina Cooking Class (Bambu Bali); approx. 450,000 IDR including market tour |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries |
Art Zoo (in Pemuteran, nearby) by Symon; eclectic and colorful pop art gallery |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings |
The old Dutch Colonial administrative buildings in Singaraja |
| 🏴 Local Heritage |
North Balinese Gamelan music, which is faster and more aggressive than South Balinese style |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes |
Banjar Hot Springs (Air Panas Banjar); sacred hot springs set in lush jungle (20k IDR entrance) |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby |
West Bali National Park; 1.5 hours west, home to the rare Bali Starling |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths |
Coastal path between Kalibukbuk and Anturan; rice field walks in the hills of Kayu Putih |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints |
Puncak Wanagiri; overlooking Twin Lakes (Tamblingan and Buyan) |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations |
West Bali National Park or the forested hills behind Lovina |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots |
Tukad Mungga Beach; often used by locals for evening gatherings and small fires |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic |
Details |
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service |
JNE or J&T Express; central branch located on Jalan Raya Lovina |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services |
Cellular shops on Jalan Ahmad Yani in Singaraja for phone/laptop repair |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots |
Local community halls (Banjar); requires local inquiry as there are no commercial clubs |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes |
I Am Bali Language School (Singaraja); courses in Bahasa Indonesia |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots |
Gedong Kirtya Library (cultural study) or quiet resort lobbies like The Lovina Bali |
| 🏘️ Community Centers |
North Bali Reef Conservation center in Tianyar (volunteering hub) |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges |
Small 'Warnet' (Internet Cafes) in Singaraja town used mainly by local students |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls |
Illegal in Indonesia; no casinos permitted |
BUSINESS
| Topic |
Details |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. 15,000,000 IDR per m² for Leasehold (e.g., 40 m² = 600,000,000 IDR / $38,000) |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. 10,000,000 IDR per m² for Leasehold (e.g., 40 m² = 400,000,000 IDR / $25,000) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. 14,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 840,000,000 IDR / $53,500) |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. 9,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 60 m² = 540,000,000 IDR / $34,500) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) |
Approx. 13,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 1,040,000,000 IDR / $66,000) |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) |
Approx. 8,500,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 680,000,000 IDR / $43,000) |
| 💼 Corporate Tax |
22% standard rate |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax |
10% for residents; 20% for non-residents |
| 🏦 Tax System |
Worldwide income for tax residents (over 183 days in Indonesia) |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket |
35% (for income over 5 billion IDR) |
| 🧾 VAT |
11% (standard Value Added Tax) |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules |
Yes, applicable to Indonesian residents with 50%+ ownership in foreign entities |
| 🏠 Property Tax |
Land and Building Tax (PBB) approx. 0.1% to 0.2% of assessed value annually |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax |
5% for buyer (BPHTB); 2.5% for seller (PPh) |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads |
New 'Remote Worker' E33G Visa allows 1-year tax-free residency for income earned outside Indonesia |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING LOVINA