Cost of Living in Jakarta in 2023

The cost of living in Indonesia per month varies greatly depending on where you live. Living in smaller cities tends to be cheaper compared to the bigger cities. The cost of living in Jakarta is 16.9% more expensive than in Surabaya, the second largest city in Indonesia.

This article will discuss how much the cost of living is in Jakarta, especially for expats. 

Accommodation

The first cost of living in Jakarta you need to consider is the accommodation as this is going to be the place where you live during your stay. There are a few options for accommodations, which include an apartment, boarding house, or house rent. Boarding house tends to be cheaper, but with less strategic location or fewer facilities provided.

Expats living in Jakarta tend to choose apartments as they are closer to the office and entertainment centers in Jakarta. However, the price is a lot pricier compared to a boarding house.

A one-bedroom apartment costs around IDR 7 million per month in the City Centre and around IDR 4 million per month in the less strategic area. A 3-bedroom apartment costs around IDR 19 million per month in the City Centre and around IDR 10 million per month outside the City Centre.

          Also Read : The Most Ideal Jakarta Neighborhoods for Expats

Transportation

Transportation costs can vary depending on your chosen vehicle. Private transportation is certainly easier to get you anywhere, but you will need to prepare for additional costs other than gasoline, which include parking and toll fees. 

1 liter of gasoline is around IDR 13,000,- per liter and the average car parking fee is IDR 5,000,- per hour. Considering the road can be heavily congested, your car will use up a lot of gas. Therefore, the estimated cost of gas per month would be around IDR 2 million or even more.

Using public transportation is cheaper and there are plenty of options you can use. There are Commuter Line (KRL) or Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), TransJakarta, and online Taxis. The normal tariff for taxis starts at IDR 7,000,-, but after the first km is around IDR 5,000,- per km. However, the price usually increases during peak hours. In general, the cost of living in Jakarta for expats for public transportation is around IDR 3 million.  

Utilities 

The next cost of living in Jakarta that you need to carefully calculate is utilities. The electricity and water bill in Indonesia usually depends on how much you use it. However, the basic utility bill for an 85m2 apartment is usually around IDR 1,2 million. For internet usage with 60 Mbps speed or more and Unlimited Data, it can cost around IDR 460 thousand per month.

Of course, the price would be different depending on whether you are living alone or with family. If you’re co-living, your utility cost may be cheaper as you’re splitting the bills with your roommate. 

Food and Drink

Everybody would agree that making a meal yourself is cheaper than eating out. However, it is understandable if you want to eat out all the time during your stay in Jakarta as the city is packed with great restaurants and food stalls. In this city, you can enjoy authentic Indonesian food as well as foreign ones such as Japanese, Korean, Mexican, and European food.

Street food offers the cheapest price, which ranges from IDR 10,000,- to IDR 40,000,-. If you’re eating in an Indonesian food canteen, the price ranges between IDR 30,000,- to IDR 70,000,-.

There are also different price ranges for restaurants. For mid-range restaurants, you will need to prepare between IDR 70,000,- to IDR 200,000,- per meal. The price range of restaurants at the mall is starting from IDR 100,000,-, while high-end restaurants start from IDR 300,000,-

          Also Read : Crash Course on Living Costs in Jakarta for International Expats

Entertainment

The cost of entertainment in Jakarta depends on what type of activities you’re doing. Enjoying a movie in a cinema tends to be cheaper as the tickets only cost between IDR 50,000,- to IDR 150,000,-. If you prefer to spend your leisure time working out, however, it may be a bit expensive.

The monthly fee for a fitness club is about IDR 470,000,- per month for 1 adult. Meanwhile, if you prefer tennis, the 1-hour rent of a tennis court on weekend is around IDR 190,000,-. 

There is also plenty of salon and spa with great quality around Jakarta. The price can be pricier in South Jakarta which starts from IDR 60,000,- for a haircut and IDR 100,000,- for a spa. 

These are the basic cost of living in Jakarta in 2023 for your consideration if you are planning to move. Expats can expect to spend around IDR 20-25 million per month depending on the lifestyle they choose. If converted to dollar currency, the cost of living in Jakarta in USD is around US$ 1,350,-.

The cost of living in a foreign country can be expensive and it can be difficult to save money especially when you need to transfer money to a different country. However, you can use Flip Globe to transfer to another country as it is faster and cheaper. With Flip Globe, you don’t need to spend unnecessarily expensive admin fees!