Complete Guide to the Cost of Living in Jakarta

Now that it’s 2025, the cost of living in Jakarta is not as low as you think.

Jakarta is one of the busiest and most populous cities in the world. As the center of business and government of Indonesia, this city attracts a lot of people from all over the world to move here and try their luck.

Jakarta is especially good for people who are just starting to build their own company. That’s why the expat community here is getting younger each year with the influx of tech/digital startup founders and employees.

If you’re planning to do the same thing and settle in Jakarta as your home base, make sure you are well prepared mentally, physically, and financially.

Living Cost in Jakarta for Expats

The prices in Indonesia are generally cheaper than in most cities in the US and Europe. However, Jakarta itself is not a cheap city.

In fact, when you compare it to other capital cities in Southeast Asia, Jakarta is probably the most expensive city (after Singapore, of course) for expats.

Take a look at this break down of the cost of living in Jakarta:

1. Housing: apartments, houses, and coliving

There are various alternatives of accommodation that you can choose for living in Jakarta. For expats, renting an apartment is probably the most ideal way to stay comfortably in Jakarta.

Although renting an apartment is considered expensive,  the rent cost actually quite varies. It all depends on the apartment type, location, and facilities.

For instance, if you rent a high quality apartment in a central business area, the cost may start from IDR 10 million per month (fully furnished). Most of the time, “central business” area means either South Jakarta or Central Jakarta.

However, you can rent an apartment at a cheaper price if it’s located in suburban areas with limited facilities. The rent cost may start from IDR 4 million per month.

Renting a house on a yearly basis for a long-term stay in Jakarta is also popular for expats. Families often prefer landed houses in expat-friendly areas like Kemang or Pondok Indah, with rent starting at IDR 25 million per month and going much higher.

Another living solution is kost coliving, which means room for rent in a building. It’s very popular among younger expats and digital nomads, coliving can cost IDR 2–7 million per month, often including utilities and community perks, and they usually allow you to pay monthly.

Coliving focuses on private bedrooms with shared social spaces, making it more affordable and community-driven than apartments. Other facilities, such as the kitchen, living room, and dining room, have to be shared by other tenants. With these limitations, coliving offers a cheaper rent price than an apartment.

Coliving has been the latest trend for both expats and locals in Jakarta. With a coliving provider like Rukita, you can choose to rent a room in a standalone co-living building, or even in an apartment.

Rukita coliving offers an all-inclusive bill which requires you to pay between IDR 2-10 million (depending on the unit and location) per month, and it already includes furnishing, water and electricity, AC, laundry, cleaning, and even maintenance.

Also read: The True Cost of Living in Indonesia | What Expats Should Know

2. Public transportation

Living in Jakarta means you gotta be ready for the traffic jam. That’s why it’s crucial to choose an accommodation that is near where you work.

However, Jakarta offers various types of public transportation you can make use of. You can commute to the office or anywhere within Jakarta by Transjakarta. The cost of its one-way ticket is very affordable, only IDR 3,500.

Another convenient public transportation that you can ride is MRT, which only costs IDR 3,000 – IDR 14,000 from Central to South Jakarta. As of 2025, more lines are being developed, so getting around Jakarta will be much easier.

Also, the LRT that connects East Jakarta and Bekasi to Central Jakarta is a convenient choice of hassle-free transportation. The Jabodebek LRT fare is IDR 5,000 for the first kilometer and IDR 700 for each subsequent kilometer.

One of the most preferable forms of transportation in Jakarta is online-based ridesharing. You only have to download the app (Gojek and Grab are the most popular) and either book a car for more comfort or book a ride with a motorcycle taxi to beat the traffic. The fare varies according to the destination; normally it costs you only IDR 2,200 – IDR 3,300 per km.

If you’re not comfortable using public transportation and prefer to drive on your own, then you need about IDR 12,000 for 1 liter of high-quality gasoline. On the other hand, many expats hire drivers, which can cost IDR 5–7 million per month, not including fuel.

3. Food & drink

When we talk about food, Jakarta never disappoints! You can have whatever type of food you crave in this city, from local food, popular Western or Asian cuisine, to exotic culinary experience (North Korean food, anyone?)

There are innumerable restaurants in Jakarta. You can divide Jakarta restaurants into some categories based on how much it will cost for a one-time meal (alcoholic drinks are not included):

• Street vendors: IDR 10,000 – IDR 30,000
• Indonesian food canteen: IDR 30,000 – IDR 70,000
• Food court and mid-range restaurant: IDR 70,000 – 150,000
• Mall restaurant: Starting from IDR 150,000
• High-end restaurants: Starting from IDR 400,000

Even though food is generally affordable in Jakarta, alcoholic beverages in this city cost very high due to the heavy taxation by the government. Expect to pay 10 times the price of a bottle of wine or liquor.

Except for locally produced wine (normally from Bali), the cheapest bottle of wine in bars and restaurants in Jakarta cost around IDR 600,000, while cocktail price normally starts at IDR 150,000.

What about coffee? Well, as one of the famous coffee producers, Indonesia offers you a lot more variety of coffee and coffee shops that pop out every few meters. Prices of regular cuppa in a coffee shop starts from IDR 10,000 to 50,000 in a fancier place (an espresso in Starbucks is around IDR 28,000).

4. Utilities

You will have to prepare at least IDR 1 million to IDR 1,5 million per month for utility bill including water, gas, and electricity.

For internet plan at home, you can install it with the cost of around IDR 500,000 – IDR 700,000 per month. In addition to that, monthly internet plan with a local SIM card will cost you around IDR 100,000 – 200,000.

Bonus: if you hate doing laundry and cleaning the house yourself, getting someone else to do it for you is quite cheap in Jakarta. “Laundry by kilo” places are available everywhere and charge maximum IDR 10,000 for a kilo of laundry, including ironing. They will even pick up and deliver the laundry to your house.

Meanwhile, a housemaid service can be found either through a maid agency, or from a Go-Jek app (they have a service called Go-Clean) and won’t cost you more than IDR 200,000 for a one time cleaning of a 1BR apartment.

5. Entertainment and lifestyle

The cost of living in Jakarta, Indonesia, largely depends on your lifestyle. Known as the city of malls, Jakarta offers shopping centers that double as weekend destinations for most residents.

Even if you’re not the type to spend hours shopping, malls in Jakarta are almost unavoidable. They’re not just for retail therapy—you’ll also find supermarkets, clothing stores, movie theaters, salons, gyms, and even spas all under one roof.

• Personal care
  A haircut at a regular salon or barbershop costs around IDR 80,000–150,000 for men and IDR 150,000–300,000 for women.

• Spa & massage
  Jakarta (and Indonesia in general) is famous for high-quality spas and massages. An hour-long treatment at a well-known spa ranges from IDR 150,000–400,000. For a more affordable option, you can book a massage therapist through the GoJek app (GoMassage service) for about half the price.

• Cinema experience
  Movie lovers are spoiled in Jakarta. Ticket prices start from IDR 50,000 for the latest blockbusters with IMAX and surround sound. Want a premium experience? Try Premiere or Gold Class, where you relax in recliner sofas, or CGV Velvet Class, where you and a partner can watch from a cozy bed complete with pillows and blankets. All this luxury costs no more than IDR 250,000 per session.

Average Monthly Budget for Living Expenses in Jakarta

If you’re moving to Jakarta in 2025 and wondering how much it costs to live here as an expat, here’s a realistic breakdown of monthly living costs for expats in Jakarta, updated for 2025.”

• Housing (apartment, mid-range): IDR 8–12 million
• Utilities and internet: IDR 1.5 million
• Food and dining: IDR 4–6 million
• Transport: IDR 2–3 million
• Healthcare & insurance: IDR 2–4 million
• Lifestyle & extras: IDR 3–5 million

Total estimate: IDR 20–30 million per month (USD 1,300–2,000), depending on lifestyle. However, families with children should expect significantly higher expenses due to housing and schooling.

Living in Jakarta in 2025 isn’t the cheapest in Asia, but with smart choices you can balance comfort and affordability. The question is—are you ready to make the move?

Updated by Alice

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The cost of living in Jakarta for expats in 2025 remains relatively affordable compared to other major Asian capitals, especially if you adapt to a mix of local and expat-friendly lifestyles. With thoughtful planning—balancing imported luxuries and local conveniences—you can live comfortably while enjoying everything this dynamic city has to offer.

So, was the cost lower or higher than what you expected? Leave your thoughts below.

Want to find a comfortable, modern, and strategically located apartment to stay in? Rukita offers many kinds of apartments that you can rent to live a more comfortable life.

Don’t forget to download Rukita app via Google Play Store or App Store or visit www.rukita.co. Follow Rukita’s Instagram account @rukita_indo, X account @rukita_id, and TikTok account @rukita_id to get the most recent information and other interesting deals!