Essentials
- City
- Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia
- Population
- Approx. 1.8 million
- Internet Speed
- Avg. 35-60 Mbps; fiber providers like Biznet and IndiHome are common
- Currency & Banking
- Indonesian Rupiah (IDR); 1 USD ≈ 15,700 IDR
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use bottled water (Aqua 600ml ≈ 5,000 IDR) or gallon dispensers
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F Europlugs
- SIM Card
- Telkomsel (best coverage) or XL Axiata; 20GB data ≈ 100,000 IDR
- Banking for Expats
- Mandiri, BCA, and BNI; Wise and Revolut work at most ATMs (BCA is most reliable)
- Accommodation
- Range of hotels, Airbnbs, and 'Kos' (boarding houses); Monthly rentals vary from 2M to 10M IDR
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, via QRIS (QR codes) used everywhere from malls to street food vendors; cards used in malls
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Travelio, and Mamikos app for monthly 'Kos' payments
- Budget Accommodation
- Sleep & Sleep Capsule (60,000 IDR/night) or Imam Bonjol Hostel (120,000 IDR/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Kota Lama (Old Town) for history or Simpang Lima for central access
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Candi (hills) for better air and views, or Tembalang for a young, cafe-heavy student vibe
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Genius Idea Coworking (Jl. Imam Bonjol) - approx. 100,000 IDR/day
- Best Cafe for Work
- Spiegel Bar & Bistro (Kota Lama) or Blue Lotus Coffee House (Jl. Ahmad Yani)
- Networking Events
- Startup Semarang meetups and creative industry gatherings at Impala Space
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Semarang chapter or Friday night mixers at Tavern Specialty
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Gojek and Grab (Bikes are fastest in traffic, Cars for comfort)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Oemah Heru (Kota Lama) or local rental agents; daily rates approx. 75,000 - 100,000 IDR
- Best Beach Nearby
- Marina Beach (city) or Maron Beach; Jepara beaches (2.5 hours away) are much cleaner
- Top Regional Airline
- Citilink or Batik Air for domestic connections
- Top International Airline
- AirAsia or Scoot (connecting via Singapore)
- Highway Access
- Trans-Java Toll Road (connecting Semarang to Jakarta and Surabaya)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Semarang Tawang (Historic station) and Semarang Poncol
- Public Transport Passes
- Trans Semarang (BRT); fixed fare of 3,500 IDR payable via e-money or QRIS
- Regional Travel
- Shuttle buses like DayTrans or Joglosemar to Yogyakarta/Solo (approx. 85,000 IDR)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Siloam Hospitals Semarang or RS Columbia Asia (International standards)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Sana Yoga (Jl. Puri Anjasmoro) or Real Yoga Semarang
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Celebrity Fitness (Paragon Mall) or Rai Fitness (Jl. S. Parman)
- Laundry Services
- Dressed Laundry or local 'Kiloan' services (approx. 7,000 IDR per kg)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- GoFood (Gojek app) or GrabFood
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Lumpia Semarang (Spring rolls) at Lumpia Gang Lombok (approx. 20,000 IDR/pc)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Fortunate Coffee (Plant-based meals) or Loving Hut
- Best Dessert Spots
- Toko Oen (Historic colonial ice cream shop, approx. 35,000 IDR)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Pasar Johar or DP Mall (Superindo supermarket)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Tokopedia and Shopee (same-day delivery often available)
- Grocery Delivery
- Astro or GrabMart
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Pleburan district or the Candi area hills (e.g., Bowery, Old Design)
- Local Brewery
- No local craft breweries; Bintang and Prost dominate. Try 'Jamoe' (traditional herbal drinks) at Acaraki
- Wine Bars
- The Tavern or Wine & Co at Gajahmada
- Street Food Stalls
- Simpang Lima Food Court or Semawis Night Market (Friday-Sunday)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Pesta Keboen (Dutch-Indonesian fusion) or Marugame Udon (Paragon Mall)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Lawang Sewu (Thousand Doors) and Sam Poo Kong Temple
- Museums & Art Venues
- Semarang Contemporary Art Gallery (Kota Lama)
- Historical Sites
- Kota Lama (The 'Little Netherlands' district)
- Religious Sites
- Great Mosque of Central Java (MAJT) with its giant umbrellas
- Annual Events
- Dugderan (festive market before Ramadan) or Semarang Night Carnival
- Cultural Districts
- Pecinan (Chinatown) for food and temples
- Theater Venues
- Raden Saleh Culture Park (Taman Budaya Raden Saleh)
- Local Markets
- Pasar Semawis (Weekend night market in Chinatown)
- Music Scene
- Live jazz at Spiegel or indie performances at various cafes in Tembalang
- Street Art
- Murals throughout the Kota Lama alleys
- Cooking Classes
- Lumpia making workshops organized by local tourism boards in Kota Lama
- Art Galleries
- Dia.Lo.Gue (pop-up events) or Semarang Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Blenduk Church (GPIB Immanuel) with its iconic dome
- Local Heritage
- The 'Warak Ngendog' mythical creature representing ethnic harmony
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Brown Canyon (scenic excavation site) or Umbul Sidomukti (mountain springs)
- National Parks Nearby
- Karimunjawa National Park (accessible via ferry from nearby Jepara/Semarang port)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Banjir Kanal Barat walking track or Sunday Car Free Day at Simpang Lima
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Gombel Park for a panoramic view of the 'Lower City' and the sea
- Birdwatching Locations
- Maerokoco (Grand Maerakaca) Mangroves
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Camping grounds in Bandungan (Mt. Ungaran area, 1 hour away)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- J&T, JNE, and POS Indonesia (widely available)
- Tech Repair Services
- Semarang Computer Center (SCJ) or Plasa Simpang Lima
- Table Tennis Spots
- Gor Tri Lomba Juang
- Language Classes
- Lembaga Bahasa LIA for Indonesian (BIPA) courses
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Provincial Library of Central Java (Perpusda Jateng)
- Community Centers
- Semarang Creative Hub
- Gaming Lounges
- Gamer Village (Simpang Lima)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Illegal in Indonesia; no legal casinos available
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 15,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 450,000,000 IDR)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 10,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 300,000,000 IDR)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 14,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 700,000,000 IDR)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 9,500,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 475,000,000 IDR)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 13,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 1,040,000,000 IDR)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 8,500,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 680,000,000 IDR)
- Corporate Tax
- 22% standard rate
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents, 20% for non-residents (subject to tax treaties)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents (staying >183 days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% (on income over 5 billion IDR)
- VAT
- 11%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to foreign entities controlled by Indonesian residents
- Property Tax
- Annual PBB tax based on NJOP (assessed value), usually 0.1% to 0.2%
- Property Transaction Tax
- 5% BPHTB paid by buyer; 2.5% income tax paid by seller
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- B211A (Visit Visa) allows remote work for foreign companies tax-free for up to 180 days; De facto 'Digital Nomad Visa' programs under E33G