Crash Course on Living Costs in Jakarta for International Expats

Expats living in Jakarta have to know how to make a weekly or monthly living budget so they can live comfortably in the city. Even though Jakarta is one of the most expat-friendly cities in Indonesia, researching the living cost in Jakarta is mandatory for all expats who want to live there. 

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Jakarta in a Nutshell

As the capital and largest city in Indonesia, Jakarta has a long history of choosing to deal with foreigners coming to Indonesia. Jakarta is the center of government that hosts various embassies and consulates general from various countries, and the center of the country's economy. 

Because Jakarta is the center of government and the economy of Indonesia, many expats live in the city for work or sightseeing. In this case, expats living in Jakarta usually come from countries in America, Europe, or other Asia. 

How to Prepare the Living Cost as an Expat

If you have just arrived in Jakarta as an expat, how do you calculate the living cost in Jakarta so that your life can be more fulfilling and convenient? See estimated prices below. 

1. Food and Drinks

 When you have started a new life in Jakarta, you need to use the Rupiah currency to estimate the total amount of your living cost in Jakarta. For this reason, all your calculations must be done in Rupiah. For starters, the cost you need for lunch in general, including drinks in business areas in Jakarta, usually costs as much as IDR 44,606. 

This price includes rice, side dishes, and so on. If you prefer to shop, you will need costs ranging from IDR 19,250 to IDR 44,006 to buy basic food items such as rice, bread, meat, eggs, vegetables, and so on.   

2. Living Spaces

 How about living space? Of course, you will need a certain living space to consider in estimating living costs in Jakarta. As an expat, you usually need an apartment with a studio for your privacy. In general, available studios have dimensions of 45 M2 to 85 M2. The price for the studio (including utilities) ranges from IDR 5,000,000 for a dimension of 45 square meters to IDR 19,000,000 for a dimension of 85 square meters. 

3. Transportation

 In Jakarta, you can use public transportation such as trains and buses or private vehicles such as cars and motorbikes. If you choose transportation such as a taxi, you will need around IDR 51,910 as the basic fare for every 8 KM. If you prefer to use public transportation such as the train, prepare IDR 191,328 per month as a budget for using the train.  

4. Clothes 

An important consideration for living cost in Jakarta is the costs you need to prepare for clothing needs. For jeans and women's clothing, you will need to pay as much as IDR 450,000 to IDR 570,000 to buy one pair of pants or clothes. If you like shoes from quality brands, prepare a budget of IDR 500,000 to IDR 1,250,000 to buy shoes from quality brands such as Nike or Adidas. 

5. Personal Care 

Because health is one of the most important needs, your estimation of living cost in Jakarta must consider how much money you need when you have to do health care. It costs IDR 24,000 to IDR 30,000 to buy necessities such as soap, deodorant, shampoo, and so on. For drug problems, you can prepare a fee starting from IDR 30,000 to buy medicines such as antibiotics, cold medicines (coldrex, tylenol, etc.), and many more.

6. Entertainment 

After tiring working days, you need entertainment so that your life in Jakarta can be more enjoyable and fulfilling. Fortunately, Jakarta provides many entertainment places that you can visit as an expat because Jakarta's conditions are relatively friendly for people like you. For example, if you like the gym, you can prepare money starting from IDR 500,000 for a monthly membership. If you prefer to enjoy a good drink like a cup of cappuccino or beer at a cafe or pub, you will need to pay at least IDR 40,000 to enjoy it. 

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By meticulously considering the living cost in Jakarta, you can start a new, comfortable and wholesome life in this metropolis. Happy counting, and don't forget to visit our website for the more useful information!