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

It seems there would have to be much nicer places to work and live in than Jakarta.

Some schools supply small apartments for their teachers at a reasonable rental, or at least they used to. Wonder if they still do that?

[TEAM_PAPUA]

80.000 for a beer!!!

If you want to line some Fat Cat's pockets that's ok - but what a waste of money. I prefer to do it the 'pikey' way and get drunk at home first.

Traffic is NUTS here in Jakarta - BUT having a motorcycle, though insanely dangerous, slashes travel times.

Drinking & driving don't mix

Do as I say & not as I do

[kasihan deh loh]

"just out of curiousity, wats the 'official' inflation rate there now."

Now that's a good question. They government keeps saying around 7 or 8% and if you believe that I have a great deal for you on big cattle ranch in Texas, only $10,000 if you pay cash right now....

What it really is is anyones guess but this might give you some idea.

Electricity has increased twice in the last year or so by around 50% total and will probably go up by about 50% again this year due to the last fuel increase.

Petrol has gone up twice this year first time around 30% last week by 87%
it's still not bad by foreign standards but it has a big effect on other prices.
It's now Rp4.800 for standard, which they call Premium here and Rp 5.700 for Premium, which is called Pertamax. So roughly US 50c a litre.

Food prices never stop increasing, although chicken and rice are not so bad. Local steak has gone from Rp32.000 to Rp64.000 in the last 2 years and I would say most prices in the supermarkets in Jakarta have gone up around 50% over that period.

It costs me Rp 450.000, about US$45, just to buy a bag of dog food each month. More than some families live on.

A cable internet connection if you are lucky enough to live where it is available is US$55 a month.

Bus fares went up 40% this week
Taxis are about to follow by the same amount and they went up 30% less than a year ago.

I would guess at around 25 to 30% per year inflation over the last 3 years. Anyone else have a comment on that?

I actually bought a motorcycle in January not because of fuel prices but the traffic problems. I live about 4.5km from the school but coming home around 7pm in my car took 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. On the bike I can do it in under 15. The traffic is radical but not as dangerous as it appears. Basicaly in Indonesia if a car or any 4 wheel vehicle hits a motorcyle or pedestrian they are in the wrong no matter what. Also if a motorcycle hits a pedestrian the motorcycle is in the wrong, so you'd better watch out for crazy people who don't look when they cross the road. ie: everone

As for drinking, you're dead right Team Papua, drinking at home is the only sensible option then maybe go somewhere not too expensive later.

I remember my only visit to Tiga Puluh club about a year ago. I got 2 small Carlsbergs for my friend and I and a small coke for my wife. I gave the waiter Rp100.000 and he asked for more, I handed him another Rp50.000 and he said not enough. In the finish it caost me Rp158.000 for 2 small beers and a coke. If I bought it at the local minimart about Rp13.500. We finished our drinks and walked out.
Those sort of bars are just Gila, priced for overpaid expats and corrupt Indonesians.

[basiltherat]

[kasihan deh loh]

Ah... there's always Jalan Jaksa though, where you can get a large battle of beer for Rp12.000 to Rp15.000 and a good meal for Rp25.000 to Rp35.000

Went down there last Saturday nite. Great time, only spent about Rp100.000 ($10) all night.

Good food Western or Indo style. Very popular with English teachers.

[basiltherat]

[TEAM_PAPUA]

[kasihan deh loh]