Essentials
- City
- Bangalore (Bengaluru), Karnataka, India
- Population
- Approx. 13,500,000
- Internet Speed
- 100-300 Mbps on Fiber (ACT Fibernet, Airtel); 5G widely available (Airtel/Jio)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 83 INR, 1 EUR ≈ 90 INR. ATMs are ubiquitous; international cards work at HDFC and ICICI.
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use RO purified water or branded cans (Bisleri, 20L for ₹90).
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C, D, and M sockets. Power backups are essential.
- SIM Card
- Airtel and Jio offer best coverage; ₹719 for 84 days with 2GB/day at Indiranagar stores.
- Banking for Expats
- HSBC and Standard Chartered are best for expats; UPI (via Cheq app) is essential for small payments.
- Accommodation
- Coliving like Zolo or Stanza Living; serviced apartments in Koramangala (₹45,000/mo).
- Cashless Friendly
- Extremely high; UPI (PhonePe/GPay) is used everywhere from malls to tea stalls.
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (₹3,000-₹6,000/night in central areas), MyGate Homes for monthly rentals.
- Budget Accommodation
- Zostel Bangalore (Indiranagar) - Approx. ₹800/night for a dorm bed.
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Lavelle Road and MG Road for proximity to luxury shopping, parks, and metro.
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Indiranagar (nightlife/cafes) or HSR Layout (startup hub/co-working density).
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WeWork Galaxy (Residency Road) - Day pass approx. ₹800; BHIVE HSR Layout - ₹500/day.
- Best Cafe for Work
- Third Wave Coffee (12th Main Indiranagar) or Blue Tokai (Koramangala); high-speed Wi-Fi and power outlets.
- Networking Events
- HasGeek events for tech; 'Bangalore Startups' monthly meetups at various HSR venues.
- Social Events for Expats
- Bangalore Expat Club (organized by Viren Khanna); InterNations Bangalore Chapter.
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber, Ola, and BluSmart (the latter for reliable, clean electric vehicles).
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Royal Brothers (Indiranagar) - Approx. ₹500/day for a scooter; Bounce for short hops.
- Best Beach Nearby
- Gokarna (Approx. 9 hours by train/bus) or Panambur Beach, Mangalore (7 hours away).
- Top Regional Airline
- IndiGo (Hub at Kempegowda International Airport).
- Top International Airline
- Air India, Emirates, and Singapore Airlines.
- Highway Access
- NH44 (North-South Corridor) and Mysore Road Expressway (NH275).
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- KSR Bengaluru (Majestic) and Yesvantpur Junction.
- Public Transport Passes
- Namma Metro Smart Card (5% discount per trip); Daily bus pass ₹70 (non-AC) to ₹150 (AC).
- Regional Travel
- KSRTC 'Airavat' Volvo buses for intercity travel to Mysore, Coorg, or Hampi.
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Manipal Hospital (Old Airport Road) and Aster CMI (Sahakar Nagar).
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre (Indiranagar); Akshar Yoga (Sadashivnagar).
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Cult.fit (ubiquitous, app-based subscription); Gold's Gym (Koramangala).
- Laundry Services
- Fabricspa or UClean (Home pickup available via apps; approx ₹100/kg).
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Swiggy and Zomato (Delivery fees ₹30-₹100).
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Masala Dosa at Vidyarthi Bhavan (Gandhi Bazaar) or MTR (Lalbagh).
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Green Theory (Residency Road); Carrots (Koramangala).
- Best Dessert Spots
- Corner House (Death by Chocolate is iconic); Magnolia Bakery (Indiranagar).
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Commercial Street for clothes; Gandhi Bazaar for local produce.
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.in and Flipkart (Headquartered in Bangalore).
- Grocery Delivery
- Zepto or BigBasket (10-20 minute delivery for essentials).
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- 100ft Road, Indiranagar and 80ft Road, Koramangala.
- Local Brewery
- Toit (Indiranagar); Arbor Brewing Company (Magrath Road); Windmills Craftworks (Whitefield).
- Wine Bars
- Sunny's (Lavelle Road); Wine Rack (High Street Phoenix).
- Street Food Stalls
- V V Puram Food Street (Try the 'Avarekalu' dishes).
- Popular International Cuisine
- Biergarten (German/European); Fatty Bao (Asian Fusion).
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Bangalore Palace (Entry ₹480); Vidhana Soudha (Outer view).
- Museums & Art Venues
- Museum of Art & Photography (MAP); Visvesvaraya Museum.
- Historical Sites
- Tipu Sultan's Summer Palace; Bangalore Fort.
- Religious Sites
- ISKCON Temple (Rajajinagar); St. Mary's Basilica (Shivajinagar).
- Annual Events
- Lalbagh Flower Show (January and August); Kadalekai Parishe (Groundnut Fair).
- Cultural Districts
- Malleswaram (Traditional culture/markets); Basavanagudi.
- Theater Venues
- Ranga Shankara (JP Nagar); Jagriti Theatre (Whitefield).
- Local Markets
- Russell Market (Shivajinagar); KR Market (Flower Market).
- Music Scene
- Hard Rock Cafe (St. Marks Road); Fandom at Gilly's Redefined.
- Street Art
- Malleshwaram St.ART project murals.
- Cooking Classes
- Slurp Studio (Indiranagar) - Hands-on Indian and global cooking.
- Art Galleries
- National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) on Palace Road.
- Historic Buildings
- Mayo Hall; Central Library (Cubbon Park).
- Local Heritage
- Kannada literature cafes and the 'Garden City' colonial legacy.
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Nandi Hills (60km away, popular for sunrise); Bannerghatta Biological Park (National Park).
- National Parks Nearby
- Bandipur National Park (5 hours drive) for tiger safaris.
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Cubbon Park and Lalbagh Botanical Garden (Vehicle-free on Sundays).
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Skandagiri Hills (Trek for sunrise views above clouds).
- Birdwatching Locations
- Hebbal Lake; Jayanagar Madhavan Park.
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Campfire facilities at campsites in Kanakapura (approx. 50km from city).
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Dunzo (Within city); DTDC or Blue Dart for domestic/international.
- Tech Repair Services
- SP Road (Sadar Patrappa Road) for hardware; iCare for Apple repairs.
- Table Tennis Spots
- Playo app (Book slots at Star Badminton Academy or Fitnest).
- Language Classes
- Alliance Française (French); Kannada Gottilla (Local language online/offline).
- Libraries & Study Spots
- State Central Library (Cubbon Park); British Council Library.
- Community Centers
- Bangalore International Centre (BIC) in Domlur.
- Gaming Lounges
- League of Extraordinary Gamers (LXG) in Indiranagar.
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Not legal in Karnataka; nearest legal casinos are in Goa (1 hr flight).
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹1,50,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = ₹6,000,000 / $72,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹80,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² = ₹3,200,000 / $38,500)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹1,30,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = ₹7,800,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹70,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² = ₹4,200,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹1,20,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ₹9,600,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹65,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = ₹5,200,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% for domestic companies (with turnover < ₹400cr), 30% for others plus surcharge.
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents, 20% for non-residents (subject to DTAA).
- Tax System
- Residence-based (Worldwide income taxed if 'Resident and Ordinarily Resident').
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 30% for income above ₹1,500,000 (plus applicable Cess/Surcharge).
- VAT
- Replaced by GST; standard rates are 5%, 12%, 18%, and 28%.
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC rules, but POEM (Place of Effective Management) rules apply.
- Property Tax
- Yes, annual tax calculated via Unit Area Value (UAV) system by BBMP.
- Property Transaction Tax
- Stamp duty (approx. 5%) and Registration charges (1%).
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific visa, but 'RNOR' status allows tax-free foreign income for 2 years.