Job Discussion Forums

[jpvanderwerf2001]

I have been offered a job in Jakarta (not sure of the area of the city yet), with a salary of 15 million rupiah/month.
I have a wife and a three-year old son. We live rather simply, although we do like cafes. My wife must, and I mean must here, have tennis courts available, but they don't have to be in some country club.
I would say we're a rather typical small family.
I don't envision my son going to daycare/preschool for the first bit, although it is a possibility eventually. I highly doubt we'd stay in Indo long enough for him to be needing school.
We don't need to save money (though I certainly wouldn't scoff at it), and will probably have a bit (roughly $600/month) coming in from renting out our flat here in Russia (assuming we have tenants of course).
With all of that in mind: Do you think that 15 million (plus the probable $600/month) would be enough for a family of three in Jakarta? How about without the rent?
What are the family-friendly areas of the city? Areas to avoid?
Input greatly appreciated.

[travelNteach]

should be ok but really depends on what part of the city you are going to live in. your school isnt offering your a housing allowance? usually in indonesia, you have to pay the entire year's rent up front plus a small deposit. some require 2 year leases. it is possible to find 6 month rentals on houses but very rare. it is easier to find apartments that will rent by the month, quarterly, and yearly. renting for shorter time periods usually results in slightly higher rental rates.

where u live will affect the availability and cost of tennis courts, but your wife should be able to find one to play on. there are also some competitive and non-competitive leagues/groups around that she might like to join. i can get you more info on this when u find out where u are living.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Thanks traveln, I appreciate the input.
I will know more specifics on location after I chat with the potential employer tomorrow. From what I've seen, two- to three-bedroom flats go for anywhere from 2 million/month to 25 million, so I guess there's quite a swing.
Are there areas of the city which are really shady? I mean, with a gang presence and high violent crime? Mostly concerned for the tyke, of course...
Again, cheers.

[travelNteach]

the shady areas like tanah abang and tanjung priok dont have english schools in there. for the most part, indonesia is a very safe country. Although there are some murders and violent crimes, i would say the majority of crimes in this country are petty larceny. If you turn your back on something, it is gone.
You should be able to find a gated community or apartment that is safe and within your budget. the only unknown will be how far you have to commute to your school. traffic can be a nightmare. however, there should be safe, decent housing near your school as they are generally located near where their customers either work or live, middle class neighborhoods.
when you have a more specific location, let us know. chances are a teacher on the board here will live in the area and will be able to help. a recent trend which is really make it much easier to rent a place is real estate agents. Franchises like ray white realators, chika realators and others have opened up offices all over jakarta. even though they arent hooked up to a central data base and act more like independant agents, i quick visit to these agents will give u a good idea on housing available and prices. usually u are able to nego the price down 10-20%. u can probably google search and find some of their websites. I know that Ray White offices have websites and listings. they deal more with sales than rentals, but it should help you get an idea what is available. before u had to find a neighborhood you liked and then drive around looking on the gates of each house for cardboard signs with phone numbers on them to find rental units.

also ask the school for assistance. and if the vacancy is due to a teacher leaving, see if u can can the contract on the house they are vacating if it meets your needs.

good luck

[rayman]

Gangs and street violence is not something you really encounter in Jakarta. Not in the western sense anyway. Having said that, with a toddler I would avoid living in North Jakarta, with the possible exception of Kelapa Gading. Kota is pretty seedy, with nightlife and prostitution as its attractions. The infrastructure is also least supportive of children with seemingly more dust, grime and floods. East Jakarta is also a dive. Central or south Jakarta would probably be your best bets with a young family. Tangerang may be okay too as long as you don't mind living in the 'burbs.

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Thank you for the input, all! I will let you know how the convo goes, and with more specifics.
Cheers