Essentials
- City
- Hyderabad, Telangana, India
- Population
- Approximately 11,000,000
- Internet Speed
- Average 100-300 Mbps on Fiber (ACT Fibernet, JioFiber); 5G widely available
- Currency & Banking
- Indian Rupee (INR). 1 USD ≈ 83 INR, 1 EUR ≈ 90 INR
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use RO filtered water or brands like Bisleri (₹20 for 1L)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C, D, and M sockets
- SIM Card
- Jio and Airtel; approx. ₹299/month for 1.5GB/day
- Banking for Expats
- NRE/NRO accounts via HDFC, ICICI, or digital wallets like Paytm and PhonePe (UPI is essential)
- Accommodation
- Coliving spaces (Zolo, Stanza Living) or high-end apartments in Gachibowli
- Cashless Friendly
- Extremely high; UPI (QR codes) used from luxury malls to street vendors
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb (₹2,500 - ₹5,000/night in Jubilee Hills) or Nestaway for monthly stays
- Budget Accommodation
- The Hosteller Hyderabad in Gachibowli (starting at ₹800/night for dorms)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Banjara Hills or Lakdikapul for proximity to historical sites
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Gachibowli or Kondapur; modern infrastructure and close to tech hubs
Culture and Attractions
- Art Galleries
- Kalakriti Art Gallery (Banjara Hills)
- Historic Buildings
- Faluknuma Palace (now a Taj Hotel)
- Local Heritage
- The Nizam's culture, Urdu poetry, and pearls heritage
- Must-See Landmarks
- Charminar and Golconda Fort
- Museums & Art Venues
- Salar Jung Museum (one of the largest in the world)
- Historical Sites
- Qutb Shahi Tombs and Chowmahalla Palace
- Religious Sites
- Birla Mandir (White Marble Temple) and Mecca Masjid
- Annual Events
- Numaish (All India Industrial Exhibition) in Jan/Feb
- Cultural Districts
- Old City (Historical) and HITEC City (Modern)
- Theater Venues
- Ravindra Bharathi and Lamakaan (Open Cultural Space)
- Local Markets
- Begum Bazar (Wholesale) and Moazzam Jahi Market
- Music Scene
- Hard Rock Cafe (Banjara Hills) and The Moonshine Project
- Street Art
- MS Maqta Art District (near Hussain Sagar Lake)
- Cooking Classes
- Hyderabadi Biryani classes at Culinary Academy of India
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Ananthagiri Hills (80km away) for trekking and camping
- National Parks Nearby
- Kasu Brahmananda Reddy (KBR) National Park (Jubilee Hills)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Pala Pitta Cycling Park (Kondapur) - ₹50/hour rental
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Khajaguda Hills for sunsets and boulder climbing
- Birdwatching Locations
- Ameenpur Lake (Biodiversity Heritage Site)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Wild Waters or various resorts in Gandipet
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Delhivery, Blue Dart, and Porter (for local shifting)
- Tech Repair Services
- CTC (Coastal Towers Center) in Secunderabad for all hardware needs
- Table Tennis Spots
- Game On (Gachibowli) and various gated community clubhouses
- Language Classes
- Ramakrishna Math (Hindi/Telugu) and Goethe-Zentrum (German)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- British Council Library or State Central Library (Afzal Gunj)
- Community Centers
- Our Sacred Space (Secunderabad)
- Gaming Lounges
- LXG (League of Extraordinary Gamers) in Ameerpet
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Not legal in Telangana; nearest is Goa (flights daily)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹85,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² ≈ ₹3,400,000 / $41,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹55,000 per m² (e.g., 40 m² ≈ ₹2,200,000 / $26,500)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹80,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² ≈ ₹4,800,000 / $58,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹50,000 per m² (e.g., 60 m² ≈ ₹3,000,000 / $36,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ₹75,000 per m² (e.g., 90 m² ≈ ₹6,750,000 / $81,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ₹45,000 per m² (e.g., 90 m² ≈ ₹4,050,000 / $49,000)
- Corporate Tax
- 25% for domestic companies; 15% for new manufacturing units
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents; 20% for non-residents
- Tax System
- Residence-based; worldwide income is taxable for Ordinary Residents
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 30% (plus surcharge and cess for income above ₹1.5M/year)
- VAT
- GST (Goods and Services Tax) - 5%, 12%, 18%, or 28% depending on good/service
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- POEM (Place of Effective Management) rules apply to determine residency
- Property Tax
- Yes, GHMC (Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation) annual property tax
- Property Transaction Tax
- 7.5% (Stamp duty 5.5% + Transfer duty 1.5% + Registration fee 0.5%)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; standard Income Tax Act applies based on days stayed
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WeWork Krishe Emerald (Kondapur) - ₹12,000/month; T-Hub 2.0 (Raidurg) for startups
- Best Cafe for Work
- Roastery Coffee House (Banjara Hills) or Third Wave Coffee (Gachibowli)
- Networking Events
- TiE Hyderabad events and Startup Saturday by Headstart
- Social Events for Expats
- Hyderabad Expats Facebook Group or Internations Hyderabad monthly meetups
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber and Ola for cars; Rapido for bike taxis
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Royal Brothers (Gachibowli) - approx. ₹400-₹800/day
- Best Beach Nearby
- Chirala Beach (approx. 6 hours / 300km away)
- Top Regional Airline
- IndiGo and Akasa Air
- Top International Airline
- Air India, Emirates, and Qatar Airways (via Rajiv Gandhi International Airport - HYD)
- Highway Access
- Outer Ring Road (ORR) - an 8-lane expressway encircling the city
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Secunderabad Junction (Major trains) and Nampally Station
- Public Transport Passes
- Hyderabad Metro Smart Card (rechargeable, 10% discount on fares)
- Regional Travel
- TSRTC luxury buses to Bangalore (9 hours) or Vijayawada (6 hours)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Apollo Hospitals (Jubilee Hills) or AIG Hospitals (Gachibowli)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Isha Yoga Center (Jubilee Hills) or Bharat Thakur Artistic Yoga
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Cult.fit (multiple locations) - ₹15,000/year subscription; Gold's Gym
- Laundry Services
- UClean or Fabricspa (pickup and delivery via app)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Swiggy and Zomato (24/7 availability)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Hyderabadi Mutton Biryani at Paradise or Bawarchi (₹350 - ₹500)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Terrasen Cafe (Banjara Hills) - 100% Vegan; Fabcafe
- Best Dessert Spots
- G. Pulla Reddy Sweets and Karachi Bakery (Fruit Biscuits)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Laad Bazaar near Charminar for bangles; Sarath City Capital Mall for brands
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.in and Flipkart
- Grocery Delivery
- BigBasket, Zepto (10-min delivery), and Blinkit
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Jubilee Hills (Road No. 36 and 45) - Home to numerous breweries
- Local Brewery
- Prost Brew Pub or Zero40 Brewing (Jubilee Hills)
- Wine Bars
- Gigis (Banjara Hills) or chic lounges like Olive Bistro
- Street Food Stalls
- DLF Street Food (Gachibowli) - famous for Momos & Kebabs at night
- Popular International Cuisine
- Haiku (Asian) or Little Italy (Italian Vegetarian)