Hello everyone, how are you? I am a migrant from Bandung and live in a big city called Jakarta. This is my first time living away from home. I have been living away from home for more than five years. Is the living cost the same as Bandung? So, how much i spend for living cost in Jakarta?
When I first arrived in Jakarta, I thought that Jakarta was always more expensive than Bandung. Starting from the price of food, transportation and others. But after more than five years in Jakarta, I think all of these things are a lifestyle. The expensive thing is lifestyle. What makes it expensive?
For example, transportation, using online transportation. Honestly, this transportation is very simple but requires a larger budget. When you use it often, it can be three times more than using other public transportation.
For the past three years, I prefer to use the busway and train. I only spend a budget of IDR 150,000 a month. While the unexpected budget for transportation, when I am late to the office is around IDR 150,000. The total budget for transportation is IDR 300,000 a month.
Because in the past, I got my lunch from the office. Sometimes, dinner too. So, I eat for the weekend and snacks. The total money I spend is around IDR 500,000 for food and snacks. For recreation and playing I spend around IDR 500,000. While buying new clothes or new equipment, I don't spend much.
Buying a monthly internet quota is around IDR 200,000 and skincare is around IDR 200,000. For my house rent it's around IDR 750,000. I also have installments of around IDR 500,000. My monthly needs are mostly for my younger sibling's education costs and to finance my younger sibling's needs in Bandung.
Actually, my personal costs are quite light. But, the biggest is my younger sibling's education and living costs in Bandung. Am I thinking about moving countries? The last few months, I've been thinking about moving countries to the European continent. not a popular country, but still part of the European continent.
Is the cost of living still the same? Actually, it's not much different from Indonesia. The cost of renting a house is the biggest expense, after I calculated it. For other costs, it's still the same as Indonesia. I am determined to go there, it's just a matter of time.
I moved there, for education. I want to start a new life there. I have also thought long and hard about this decision. That's my story about my living cost while living in Jakarta. I am preparing myself to live in a new country. See you in my next story.
About Author
My name is Nurdiani Latifah. I live in Jakarta – Indonesia, and after 25 years I live in Bandung. I am a media staff at an NGO in Indonesia. I have worked in this institution for almost 2 years on issues of women and peace. I have been a journalist in Bandung for 3 years.
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