Essentials
- City
- Ubud, Gianyar Regency, Bali, Indonesia
- Population
- 75,000 (Greater Ubud area)
- Internet Speed
- Average 40-100 Mbps; Fiber optic is common in villas and coworking spaces
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 15,700 IDR, 1 EUR ≈ 17,000 IDR (Indonesian Rupiah)
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use filtered water or gallon refills (Aqua/VIT)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C/F (European standard)
- SIM Card
- Telkomsel (Best coverage), XL Axiata; 25GB approx. 150,000 IDR ($10)
- Banking for Expats
- Bank Central Asia (BCA), Wise, Permata Bank; ATMs widely available
- Accommodation
- Guesthouses, Luxury Villas, and Boutique Hotels via Booking.com and Facebook Groups
- Cashless Friendly
- Partially; QRIS (local QR pay) and cards in cafes, cash needed for local markets/warungs
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Ubud Rentals Facebook Group; approx. $800-$1,500/month for private villa
- Budget Accommodation
- Puri Garden Hotel & Hostel (approx. 350,000 IDR/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Ubud Centre / Monkey Forest Road for walking access to sights
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Penestanan or Nyuh Kuning for quieter vibes and nomad communities
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Outpost Ubud (Penestanan) or Beluna House of Creatives (Jln Udara)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Sayuri Healing Food or Clear Cafe ($10-15 per day spend, fast Wi-Fi)
- Networking Events
- Outpost Community Lunches and Ubud Digital Nomads Facebook Meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Ecstatic Dance at Yoga Barn and Friday Networking at Parq Ubud
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Gojek and Grab (Note: Local 'taxi mafia' restrictions apply in some zones)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Local vendors like Ubud Scooter Rental; approx. 1,000,000 - 1,500,000 IDR/month
- Best Beach Nearby
- Keramas Beach (40 mins drive) or Sanur (1 hour drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- AirAsia, Lion Air, Citilink via Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS)
- Top International Airline
- Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways
- Highway Access
- Jl. Raya Ubud connects to the Bypass Ngurah Rai for south Bali access
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- No trains; Sarbagita Bus (limited) or Denpasar Ubung Terminal
- Public Transport Passes
- None; private transport or ride-sharing is the standard
- Regional Travel
- Private Driver (approx. 600,000 IDR/day) or Perama Tour Bus for shuttles
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- BIMC Hospital Ubud or Ari Canti Hospital (Mas, Ubud)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- The Yoga Barn ($10/class) and Radiantly Alive
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Titi Batu Ubud Club (Gym, pool, courts) or Ubud Fitness Center
- Laundry Services
- Local 'Laundry Kiloan' (approx. 10,000 - 15,000 IDR per kg)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- GoFood (via Gojek app) and GrabFood
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Babi Guling (Suckling Pig) at Ibu Oka ($4-6)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Zest Ubud or Alchemy (Plant-based raw food)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Monsieur Spoon Ubud (Croissants) and Gaya Gelato
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Ubud Morning Market (Jl. Raya Ubud) for fresh produce at 6:00 AM
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Tokopedia and Shopee (Standard in Indonesia)
- Grocery Delivery
- HappyFresh or GrabMart
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- CP Lounge (Late night music) and Jln. Goutama
- Local Brewery
- Kura Kura Beer (Bali craft beer) available at most bars
- Wine Bars
- Bridges Bali (extensive wine list and riverside views)
- Street Food Stalls
- Gianyar Night Market (15 mins from Ubud center)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Locavore (Fine dining) and Mamma Mia (Italian/Pizza)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary and Tegalalang Rice Terrace
- Museums & Art Venues
- Agung Rai Museum of Art (ARMA) and Blanco Renaissance Museum
- Historical Sites
- Goa Gajah (Elephant Cave) and Gunung Kawi Temple
- Religious Sites
- Pura Taman Saraswati (Water Temple)
- Annual Events
- Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (typically October)
- Cultural Districts
- Peliatan Village (traditional dance heritage)
- Theater Venues
- Ubud Palace (Daily Legong dance performances, 100k IDR)
- Local Markets
- Ubud Art Market (Souvenirs, sarongs, crafts)
- Music Scene
- Live jazz at Laughing Buddha Bar on Jln. Monkey Forest
- Street Art
- Murals along Jln. Penestanan and Jln. Raya Ubud alleyways
- Cooking Classes
- Lobong Culinary Experience ($35-45 per person)
- Art Galleries
- Neka Art Museum and Komaneka Fine Art Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Puri Saren Agung (Ubud Royal Palace)
- Local Heritage
- Balinese Hinduism traditions, daily 'Canang Sari' offerings
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Campuhan Ridge Walk (Free, scenic hiking trail)
- National Parks Nearby
- West Bali National Park (approx. 4 hours drive)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Sayan Ridge path and rice paddy walks in Keliki
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Sayan Valley overlooking the Ayung River
- Birdwatching Locations
- Petulu Village (Heron watching at sunset)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Usually limited to private villas or specific beach clubs in Sanur/Canggu
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- J&T Express, JNE, and Pos Indonesia
- Tech Repair Services
- iBox (Authorized Apple) in Denpasar or local shops on Jln. Raya Ubud
- Table Tennis Spots
- Titi Batu Ubud Club
- Language Classes
- Cinta Bahasa Indonesian Language School
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Pondok Pekak Library and Learning Center
- Community Centers
- Parq Ubud (Large complex with work spaces, cafes, and gym)
- Gaming Lounges
- Limited; mostly internet cafes (Warnet) in Denpasar
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Illegal in Indonesia
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Leasehold (~25-30 years): $80k - $120k for approx. 50m²
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Leasehold (~25-30 years): $60k - $90k for approx. 50m²
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Leasehold: $150k - $220k (Example: 80m² modern villa)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Leasehold: $100k - $150k (Example: 80m² joglo style)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Leasehold: $250k - $350k (Example: 120m² villa with pool)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Leasehold: $180k - $270k (Example: 120m² forest view villa)
- Corporate Tax
- 22% standard rate
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents, 20% for non-residents (subject to treaty)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents (>183 days)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% (on income over 5 billion IDR)
- VAT
- 11% (PPN)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to certain foreign entities held by residents
- Property Tax
- Land and Building Tax (PBB) is roughly 0.1% - 0.2% annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- Buyer's tax (BPHTB) 5%, Seller's tax (PPh) 2.5%
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- B211A Visa for remote work; 'Remote Worker Visa' (E33G) allows 1-year stay