With a population of almost 10 million and an area of 664 square kilometers, the heart of聽Jakarta is, without question, the largest and most populous city in Indonesia, in addition to聽being the country's capital.
The wider Jakartan metropolis has a population of over 30 million, and the sheer size of the聽Indonesian capital is such that it would be impossible to cover all the accommodation options聽and residential areas in one article. However, we can offer you some tips and advice that will聽come in handy before your move to Jakarta. Despite the lack of data on this subject, this city is聽undoubtedly home to the bulk of the roughly 350,000-expat population of Indonesia.
Thanks to its large area, it is easy to find a wide choice of various types of accommodation in聽Jakarta. However, rents are quite high compared to other major cities in the country, as the聽demand for housing in the capital far exceeds the supply, more than anywhere else in聽Indonesia. There is also a great deal of diversity in Jakarta's neighborhoods, with both quiet and聽vibrant areas. While expatriates tend to congregate in the same neighborhoods, you also have聽the option of living in more popular areas, which will allow you to experience the real Jakartan聽way of life.
Jakarta's neighborhoods
Even though it is often referred to as a city, even by its residents, Jakarta is technically not one.聽In fact, it is a province composed of five cities: Central Jakarta, South Jakarta, North Jakarta,聽West Jakarta and East Jakarta. Each of these parts of Jakarta is administratively considered a聽city in its own right.
Jakarta is actually a megapolis and, as such, includes many different districts that are more or聽less popular among expatriates.
Central Jakarta
It is the administrative, political and financial center of Jakarta. The district not only boasts聽many towering skyscrapers and luxury shopping malls but also has spacious green parks,聽museums and old historic buildings, most of which date back to the Dutch colonial era when聽the city was called Batavia. As a matter of fact, Central Jakarta is home to the city's oldest聽building, the Toko Merah, which means "red store" in Bahasa Indonesian. The area is popular聽with expatriates as it is the business center of Jakarta.
Several large national and international companies have set up shops in the capital, allowing聽most expatriates who live there to avoid the huge Jakarta traffic jams on their way to work in聽the morning and on their way back at night. Among the most popular neighborhoods in Central聽Jakarta is Menteng, the city's oldest and arguably most upscale district. It hosts several聽embassies, museums and historical buildings. Housing options are pretty limited in聽Menteng.
Nevertheless, thanks to its proximity to several business districts, one can find a few residential聽buildings, such as Menteng Park, Menteng Exclusive Apartments, and Menteng Regency, that聽offer luxurious apartments. However, those types of accommodation only benefit the聽wealthier.
By all means, Menteng is the most expensive district of Jakarta and by extension, in the entire聽Indonesian archipelago. Around Menteng are several business districts, such as MH. Thamrin聽and Sudirman, the two largest business districts in Indonesia. If your office is located in one of聽these areas and if you live in Menteng, then it will usually only take you a few minutes to walk聽up there.
South Jakarta
South Jakarta is the wealthiest district in the province. One can find many high-end shopping聽malls, prestigious buildings and offices, as well as large international schools and expensive聽residential areas. South Jakarta is popular with financially comfortable expatriates, especially聽those who have moved to Indonesia with their families. The area is home to several quiet聽neighborhoods with pleasant living conditions. It is even possible to rent large, comfortable聽houses there, provided that you have sufficient means.
South Jakarta's most popular neighborhood for expats is, by far, Kemang. This very appealing聽and international district has a genuine quiet village atmosphere, where it is nice to stroll聽through the streets. It offers apartments, studios, apartment complexes, and many other types聽of housing. Rents in Kemang are relatively modest compared to other more upscale areas of聽Jakarta but are still quite high, with a price range of between 2,000 and 6,000 per month for an聽apartment there.
West Jakarta
Although less prized by expatriates, West Jakarta is mostly a residential zone with many聽charms. It should be noted that this area is not considered a municipality, as are the other聽administrative sections of Jakarta. The majority of the inhabitants of West Jakarta, therefore,聽consider themselves more Indonesian than Jakartans, even if the ethnical diversity that聽characterizes Jakarta is very much present in many vivid ways.
Several modern and sophisticated shopping malls, universities (including Bina Nusantara聽University, one of the best in the country) and top schools are located there. In addition, West聽Jakarta boasts several comfortable residential areas, most of which are quite inexpensive in聽general. You can even choose to live in a very typical neighborhood if you want to immerse聽yourself deeper into the rich Jakartan culture.
Security is not a big problem in Jakarta, and even the threat of terrorism that has long plagued聽the Indonesian archipelago has declined significantly in recent years thanks to the efforts of the聽authorities. Just be sure to respect local traditions and customs to better adapt to the vibrant聽Jakartan culture.
West Jakarta is also home to the old city of Jakarta and features several other history-rich聽neighborhoods. Some of the most popular sections of the district include Cengkareng, Kalideres聽and Kebon Jeruk. You should be able to find fairly inexpensive accommodation there, starting at聽around $300 a month for a fully equipped kost (small one-room apartment with shared聽facilities). Those who can afford it may choose to live in a more expensive apartment, which can聽be found in West Jakarta for about $2,500 - $3,000 per month.
North Jakarta
Here is another area of Jakarta, not so popular with expatriates. Nevertheless, it proudly聽features many typical shops, entertainment centers, and some comfortable residential areas.聽However, most of North Jakarta remains primarily a huge industrial area, harboring some of聽Jakarta's most important seaports, as well as several major national and multinational factories.聽A few hundred expatriates live in plush apartment complexes like Green Bay Pluit Apartment,聽The Mansion Kemayoran Bougainville, Tifolia Apartment. Other complexes such as Gading Nias聽Apartment or Callia Apartment offer less luxurious apartments at more affordable prices.聽Altogether, you should find something to suit your needs in North Jakarta for a monthly budget聽of between IDR 1,500,000 and IDR 12 million per month.
East Jakarta
East Jakarta is the largest of the capital's five municipalities. The area is less residential and is聽mainly industrial. It is also home to one of Jakarta's most important airports, Halim Perdana聽Kusuma. However, there are a few good-quality apartment complexes that are prized by聽expatriates. They are Cibubur Village, Bassura City Apartment, Sentra Timur Residence and聽Casablanca East Residence. Rents there are between 2 and 6 million IDR per month.
The Thousand Islands
The Thousand Islands form a chain of islets off the coast of Jakarta and fall under the聽administrative regency of the city.聽Located off the mainland and made up of many beautiful islands, the Thousands Islands are a聽very popular tourist destination.聽As mentioned above, Central Jakarta and South Jakarta are the most popular areas for聽expatriates. On the other hand, however, it could also be nice to live in West, North and East聽Jakarta. In any case, though, it will all boil down to your budget and needs.
Keep in mind that if you want to live in this busy city, it is better to choose your home close to聽your workplace or your children's school. Jakarta has severe traffic problems, which should be聽avoided for a trouble-free daily life.
Types of accommodation in Jakarta
Like in all major cities, there is no shortage of options when it comes to accommodation in聽Jakarta. For a short stay, a hotel room or Airbnb will save you money.
Otherwise, as part of your relocation to Jakarta, you can opt for renting or buying a property. In聽any case, Jakarta has no shortage of houses and apartments at different prices and suiting all聽preferences. You just have to plan and stick to your budget.
Good to know:
In Jakarta, you will find a unique and cheap type of accommodation called the "kost"聽.
The Kost is synonymous with affordable rent. In other words, it is a fully equipped room,聽sometimes fully furnished, that comes with electricity, access to free laundry or free wi-fi聽connection included in the price. Mind you, however, this is a form of shared accommodation聽with 15 to 50 other people living in the same building or house. As a rule, the kitchen and聽bathroom are shared. But one can find exceptions, where the room is equipped with an indoor
bathroom.
Renting in Jakarta
As an expat in Jakarta, you may choose to rent-to-own or buy on lease a home. Be aware,聽however, that this option comes at a price for an expatriate, as the law sets the minimum聽purchase price at IDR 10 billion (about USD 700,000) for a house and IDR 5 billion (about USD聽350,000) for an apartment in the entire administrative region of the capital.
If you don't want to go that route, you can always rent and save money. In addition to the聽comfortable, fully furnished kost that can cost as little as IDR 2 million ($140) per month, you聽can rent a furnished apartment or studio again for as little as IDR 2 million ($200) per month or聽sometimes a little less. Finally, if you have a family, you may need a furnished multi-bedroom聽house that will cost you around IDR 45 million ($3,500) per month for the cheapest rents.
Finding accommodation in Jakarta
Finding accommodation in Jakarta is easy, especially thanks to the internet, which is never short聽of forums, specialized networks and local housing websites. Don't forget to network with other聽expats already in Jakarta! If you are already in Jakarta, get in touch with real estate agencies.
They will help you find the ideal accommodation.
Useful links:
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