confused over cost of living

0POSTS

12 years ago

I am so darned confused reading the threads about living cost. Before I get to why I am confused I'll say This. If you are unable to answer a question please don't respond. We all are aware that individual spending will be a key factor in a persons living costs so enough already in starting a response with it depends on what you like ....I mean seriously folks. I'm from the US. If someone asked me how much it cost in dollars and cents I'd simply tell them rents range from 600 to 1k per month for apartments and 800 to 1200 for houses. Then give the general breakdown of services and food cost. That's all people are asking so why make it difficult? My main confusion is the currency exchange. I get 4k a month. I am moving to Bali. Next month and I've heard mostly from disgruntled folks who aren't very happy. So if there are folks who live happily then by all means speak up. Some say a nice place to live will cost 1200 to 1800 per month US dollars. Then I hear that living in Indonesia is cheap. How is that cheap? Please don't do the INR use the US dollar please and tell me how much it cost to live there. That way I will know if I need to write a note to a bank teller before I get there.don't ask about my personal life in order to answer my question because I want general information that is all.

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lukereg ViP

2114POSTS

12 years ago

My blog http:mylifejakarta.Blogspot.Com has a post about the cost of living in terms of food and basic requirements which would help you. Many people coming here use usd to work things out and that makes things more expensive. Better to look at it like this. One dollar is 10,000 rupiah as a simple guide.
Yes it is cheaper to live here in real terms but if you choose to live a western lifestyle here then it is no real difference to living at home in many ways.
Also your salary will be far higher than the locals so they would be aggrieved to hear how you struggle on five times as much a month as they earn. For those that complain 40 million a month is not enough well they need to wake up and stop feeling sorry for themselves because the majority of Indonesians don't earn that a year. Plus go away because they are annoying.

I have lived in Jakarta for 7 years and my salary whilst not big is enough to support a family of four and still allow to save and enjoy life. My rent is high but that's where I live and again in real terms what I pay each year would equate to a quarter of what I would pay back home for the same house but I am not in the West so I am not complaining.
I hope some of this helps. Take a look at my cost
of living posts for 2013 and 2012 and let me know. There are plenty of people on this site in Bali and Jakarta not complaining but enjoying what they have.

Fred Indonesia Expert

30693POSTS

12 years ago

lukereg wrote:
For those that complain 40 million a month is not enough well they need to wake up and stop feeling sorry for themselves because the majority of Indonesians don't earn that a year. Plus go away because they are annoying.

I don't believe it's possible for anyone to more agree with a comment than I agree with that one.

So many expats come to Indonesia, act like idiots, get ripped off with everything because they have no clue as to the true cost of living, then go home and moan how crap the place is.

See it this way, a very well paid local teacher will get about 5 million per month but live reasonably, run a car and feed his family.
I tend to spend about 8 million in an expensive month; I'm married with a kid and like to eat out a lot, but it's usually a million or so less than that.

Advice:
* never rent a place quoted in Dollars - they're for idiots with loads of cash but no brains.
*Leave the booze alone - it's daft prices and a waste of time anyway
* Consider that well paid local teacher when you buy anything. Ask yourself if he could afford it. If it sounds way to expensive for a local; you're probably being ripped off.

sirrobcentral Guest

0POSTS

12 years ago

Lukered, thank you so very much. I'm sure you haloed others as well.

sirrobcentral Guest

0POSTS

12 years ago

Thank you for this gauge to use. I will also be wise to your warnings. I too want to eat out and on special occasions enjoy fine dining. I see now I can do that.

Fred Indonesia Expert

30693POSTS

12 years ago

Except the restaurants aiming at the tourist and daft foreigner trade, you can eat out cheaply.
Such as Papa Ron's start at 17,000 for a six inch pizza.
Pizza hut costs a lot more but I rather like their pizzas. Three of us can nosh there for around Rp200,000 or so.
Loads of other local restaurants around at half that price but with great food.
I don't know if SS (Special sambal) is in Bali but that costs bugger all and the food is out of this world. I use their places a lot because they're so great.
Once you get the feel for local food, eating out is a cheap affair for someone with 40 million/month to play with.

Booze is a killer; expensive because it's taxed to hell by the government.
If you can leave that out of a meal, it will remain a cheap evening out.

aly123 Active member

47POSTS

11 years ago

Is it possible to live in Bogor with 2 million per month?

lukereg ViP

2114POSTS

11 years ago

Yes but it won't be nice. That's for sure

1 member reacted to this post

aly123 Active member

47POSTS

11 years ago

#10

thank you lukereg for the information. But it is still enough to survive the whole month..

sirrobcentral Guest

0POSTS

11 years ago

#11

Rp2 million a month is next to nothing and considered as a low salary even for Indonesians. What kind of job would pay you that?

1 member reacted to this post

happyhour ViP

1588POSTS

11 years ago

#12

No foreigner can survive with just 2mio juta a month this is even below min wage for locals.

1 member reacted to this post

Fred Indonesia Expert

30693POSTS

11 years ago

#13

aly123 wrote:
Is it possible to live in Bogor with 2 million per month?

Yes, but only if you live in a small shack, eat veggie and rice, and don't get arrested for working illegally.
(Assuming you're working, not living off your partner's income)
I've actually done the 2 million a month lark, but that was in a very small village where there was little need for cash.
I rather enjoyed the simple life, but not everyone can do that. It was a few years of holiday.

If that is a salary, it's for an illegal job.
That you can't get away with, so don't do it unless you want to explore an Indonesian prison.