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Cost of Living in Indonesia
Living in Asia is generally cheaper than back home, but you probably didn’t know that Indonesia is one of the cheapest places to live on the planet. That’s good news because it means with a little bit of careful planning, your salary is going to go a long way! Eating out, groceries, transportation, and accommodation are exceedingly good value and well within the budget of our teaching staff. The prices listed below are a guideline average.
Food
Eating local food and buying produce from the Indonesian markets gives our English teachers amazing insight into the Indonesian diet and a glimpse at new cuisine. It also leaves them with money in their pockets for massages and traveling.
A loaf of bread = IDR 20,000
Bag of pasta = IDR 25,000
Rice (1kg) = IDR 20,000
Eggs (12) = IDR 25,000
Chicken breast (1kg) = IDR 45,000
Instant noodles = IDR 3,000
Apples (1kg) = IDR 40,000 - IDR 60,000
Potatoes (1kg) = IDR 15,000
A large bottle of beer (660ml) = IDR 35,000
Leisure activities
Indonesia has a wide range of regional cuisines and eating out is the best way to discover this variety. Indonesian people eat out frequently and often entertain friends and colleagues in restaurants instead of having them in their homes. Whether you’re enjoying a meal with friends, working out at the fitness club, or getting a massage, you’ll find that leisure activities are often very affordable in Indonesia.
Rice or noodle dish at a street stall = IDR 30,000
Meal at a warung (the most popular style of restaurant, serving local Indonesian favorites) = IDR 40,000
Meal at a western restaurant with drinks = IDR 100,000 – IDR 200,000
Buffet meal (all you can eat) at a 5-star hotel = IDR 300,000 – 500,000
Combo meal at a fast food chain = IDR 45,000
Pizza delivery = IDR 50,000 -100,000
Coffee at a café (Starbucks) = IDR 45,000
A large bottle of beer (660ml) or draught pint in a bar or restaurant = IDR 60,000 – IDR 80,000
Transportation
Indonesia has inexpensive public transport and even taxi rides are quite reasonably priced. Indonesian people often commute by motorcycle, but this mode of transport is only for the bravest of foreigners.
Short taxi trip (20 minutes) = IDR 50,000
Long taxi trip (45 minutes) = IDR 150,000
motorcycle taxi (Ojek) trip starts from IDR 4,000
Motorcycle rental (1 day) = IDR 75,000
Car rental (1 day) = IDR 350,000
Gasoline (1 litre) = IDR 10,000
Accommodation
Finding accommodation in Indonesia can be relatively easy and cheap. Below find some sample prices from everything from apartments to hotels.
Budget hotel (AC/Hot water) = IDR 200,000 to 400,000 per night
Hotel (3-4 stars) = IDR 400,000 to 1,000,000 per night
Hotel (5 stars) = IDR 1,500,000 to IDR 2,500,000 per night
Room in a boarding house = IDR 1,500,000 to IDR 4,000,000 per month (Utilities included)
Apartment (1 bedroom) = IDR 3,500,000 to IDR 7,500,000 per month (+ Utilities)
Sample Budget
To give you an idea of how teachers at English 1 Indonesia spend their salary, here is a sample monthly budget:
Gross Income (Salary): From IDR 14,000,000
Meals and Groceries: IDR 4,000,000
Toiletries: IDR 600,000
Transport: IDR 1,500,000
Phone & Internet: IDR 400,000
Remaining Disposable Income: IDR 7,500,000