Job Discussion Forums

[Salam]

Well I would have thought rent would be the biggest one. I know that renting a decent room in Jakarta costs about 600K/month, which you can get a whole house for in places like Bogor.

[gugelhupf]

This is true - but most ESL employers provide free housing so it never actually becomes much of an issue. Of those that don't provide accomodation, the reputable employers pay more than the local competition in order to make up the difference.

Petrol, air fares, motorbikes, packets of breakfast cereals etc etc cost exactly the same wherever you pitch up.

[hairyrambutan]

And the description of 'worse conditions in Jakarta' includes free housing anyway.

From my experience, in the provinces inflation is spiralling out of control, while a recent visit to Jakarta suggested that things are pretty much the same as before, except you can expect to make two or three times as much money.

[TEAM_PAPUA]

Again & again it has been said that STUFF costs the same everywhere, whether it be in small town China/Indonesia or big city China/Indonesia - if you want to buy a motorbike, computer, camera, some decent clothes, a nice meal etc the price will be the SAME.

If you want to live outside the main cities & earn less (often much less) then bring money from home (if you have it) to buy the stuff you need, then your 'local' salary will easily be enough for a 'local' lifestyle.

Housing (or allowance) is offered by most schools, though some schools (some EF) will actually deduct money from your salary for staying in their teachers' housing!!! Some schools provide an allowance, but houses/apartments come unfurnished. Another thing to look out for is if the school will pay you the housing 'up front' so you can lease for a 1-2 year term, or if they simply leave this initial expense up to you & then pay you monthly - this system makes it hard for teachers to secure their own housing & is also used by EF.

AND - EF, well if you like looooooong hours & repetitive classes then this could be for you. Also look out for 'Shines' as they also offer a massive workload that may interest you

[guruengerish]

[kasihan deh loh]

Food costs the same pretty much anywhere in Java that is true. As long as you are talking about eating in warungs.
It depends a lot on where you live in Jakarta also, it's a big place.

I've been working in South Jakarta for 5 years now and when I first came I rented a house in Depok, about 40 minutes from Blok M, which was Rp4.500.000 per year now it would be closer to Rp7.000.000. Problem was a year or so later the trip was over an hour and now it would be 1.5 hours so I moved to Cipete but now I pay Rp23.000.000 a year for a house half the size. the house I had in Depok would be closer to Rp40.000.000 around South Jakarta.

As for food if you go out to the average bar or restaurant in Sth Jak your paying between Rp16.000 in a chaep cafe to Rp25.000 in a bar for a glass of beer and the meal will set you back anything from Rp45.000 to Rp200.000.
If you go tho the Top Discos a beer will cost from Rp60.000 to Rp. 80.000,
eg. BATS or Tiga Puluh. A beer in most cafes in Kemang will cost about Rp23.000 and the meal around Rp50.000 upwards.
On a teachers wage this is pretty steep.

Jalan Jaksa is the only place in Jakarta where you can get a drink and meal for around the same cost as Bandung or Denpasar.
I know you don't eat out every night but even once a week can put a big dent in your budget.
Luckily I'm married to a good cook and can eat my steaks at home but most of the teachers I know spend quite a large part os there salary on food and entertainment.
Yes you make more in Jakarta but you need it unless you sit home doing nothing all the time.

The school I'm at pays between 8 & 10 juta depending on experience and with a family that's about the minimum you can live on.
For you single guys it's enough to have a pretty good time though.
Kelapa Gading is becoming pretty popular as they have built new malls and housing kompleks all round there. housing is much cheaper and bars and restaurants also a lot cheaper, Salaries are pretty much the same, but your an hour or so from the city. Fine for some, not for others.

[basiltherat]

just out of curiousity, wats the 'official' inflation rate there now. it must be rampant in reality but interested in what figure the gov gives people. my wife is going back to indo to spend idul fitri with parents etc there.
looks like shes gonna get a big shock when she sees figures such as those quoted in earlier posts here. incredible !
regards
basil

[guruengerish]

Gawd, getting around in Jakarta must be a real pain now, as it took long enough six years ago. What ever happened to the much-publicised urban train network. Wouldn't that be a nice worry-free means of travelling