Cost of Living in Jakarta for Expats

Cost of Living in Jakarta: This article was updated in June 2011. Thanks for those who sent me feedback.

The cost of living in Jakarta for an expat can be very different whether you try or not to buy products or services that are imported. Generally speaking, things are much cheaper than in Europe so you should enjoy a much greater quality of life here, provided you can live without a few things.

If you have an expat salary, the cost of living will seem low and you will have access to a luxurious quality of life. You will be able to sleep in great serviced apartments or huge houses, employ a guard, a gardener, a driver, a maid, a cook and a baby-sitter, go to the restaurants twice a day, party in the hippest clubs, etc... Normally, your company should pay for housing, cars, school and plane tickets, so you won't have to worry about money.

Even if you are not paid like an expat, you can live comfortably with around 10 million rupiah per month or US$1,000, or less. You can still afford a room in a kos, or take a smaller apartment, go out a lot, pay for the gym, take the taxi and treat yourself a spa on the weekend. Once in a while, you can go to Bali/Lombok for holidays. Some expenses might be a problem though: For instance anything medical or international schools. You may want to be careful with taxis too because they end up being quite pricey. And of course, don't underestimate your party budget.

By far, and you may understand why if you've browsed this blog, my biggest expense is in the nightlife. A restaurant, plus 2 or 3 bars on a particular evening, plus the entrance of a nightclub, plus the taxi, and repeat that 5 times a week and you will end up with US$300/week. That's way too much and I'm ashamed of it. The only positive thing about it is that at least I got Jakarta's most popular blog from it!

To give you an idea of the prices in Jakarta, here is a list of items you may buy (Updated June 2011, the conversion mistakes were corrected, with $1=Rp8,500):

- Taxi ride from the airport to Central Jakarta: Rp 130,000 (US$15.27)

- Bus ride from the Airport to Jakarta: US3$

- Soup in the street: Rp 4,000 (US$0.46)

- Meal in a warung (basic restaurant): Rp 25,000 or US$2.94

- Meal in a restaurant: Rp 60,000 or US$7

- Large local Beer in a cheap bar: Rp 24,000 or US$2.8

- Cocktail in Dragonfly club: Rp 100,000 or US$11.74

- Coffee at Starbucks: Rp 27.500  or US$3

- Instant coffee: Rp 1.500 a sachet or US$0.20

- Price of entrance of: Stadium (Rp50,000, US$5.87), Red Square or X2 (Rp 100,000, US$11.74), Monggo Mas (Rp 15,000, US$1.76)

- Big Mac menu delivered at your door with ice-cream: Rp 50,000 or US$5.87

- Taxi ride if traffic is not so dense, for 15 minutes: Rp 20,000 or US$2.35

- Ride with Transjakarta: Rp 3,500 (US$0.41)

- Cigarettes (Marlboro or Lucky Strike): Rp 10,000 (US$1.174)

- Serviced-apartment rent: US$2500/month

- Normal apartment: US$500/month (Taman Rasuna)

- Kos accommodation (for students/young executives): From Rp 800,000 to 3,500,000 (US$94 to US$411)

- Hotel room in cheap hotel: Rp 80,000 (US$9.4)

- Hotel room (2/3 stars): Rp 400,000 (US$47)

- Hotel room (5 stars): Rp 1,500,000 (US$176)

- Massage 90 minutes in nice hotel: Rp 400,000 (US$47)

- Massage 90 minutes in a local salon: Rp 80,000 (US$9.4)

- T-shirt in a popular mall with no brand: Rp 30,000 or (US$3.52)

- Pair of jeans, same as the above: Rp 75,000 or US$8.8

- Cutting your hair in Tony & Guy: Rp 250,000 (US$29.4)

- Cutting your hair in a normal salon: Rp 60,000 (US$7.04) with tips and shoulder massage

- Food: When I buy fruits from the street, I usually give around Rp 10,000 and I get a lot of them, without even asking the price (bananas especially). Food is quite cheap in the supermarket; the only problem is that you may not find what you like. Imported food is very expensive; add 50% to the price you usually pay in your home country.

- Electronic: Quite cheap, especially non-branded, low quality products like DVD players, mp3s, cellphones. A very good deal is to buy your Playstation 3, PSP, or Wii here since the vendor will crack it for you and give you very cheap games.

- Fake stuff: Jakarta is a paradise for fake DVDs (US$1 each), CDs, bags, clothes, etc...

The prices may not be completely exact but it should give you a first idea of the cost of living in Jakarta. If you feel you can improve this list, please make a comment to add other items. Idem if you want to ask about the price of something.

More info on this website about living in Jakarta/travelling to Jakarta: Party Weekend In Jakarta.

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