Jakarta: what to see and whether to move there

What the city lives on and who it suits

Jakarta is the capital of Indonesia in the north-west of Java. About 11 million people live in the city itself and over 30 million in the metropolitan area, one of the largest in the world. It holds the government, the central bank, the headquarters of the largest companies, the stock exchange and most embassies. The law moving the capital to Nusantara on Borneo was passed in 2022, but no relocation decree has been issued yet and the government works in Jakarta; the authorities name 2028 as the target. The city suits people working in Indonesian business, finance, trade and technology, and families who need international schools.

Districts and housing

• Kuningan and Sudirman - the business centre with office towers, residential complexes and malls.
• Menteng - a green older district with colonial mansions and embassies.
• Kemang - the foreigners' district in the south: houses with gardens, restaurants and schools.
• Pondok Indah - a quiet district of mansions and large malls in the south.
• The north - new waterfront districts, but with a higher risk of flooding and land subsidence.

Most foreigners rent a flat in a complex with a pool and security or a house in the southern districts, to be close to schools and offices.

Cost of living

• Rent - a one-bedroom flat in a good complex from $400-600 a month; a house with a garden in Kemang or Pondok Indah costs several times more.
• Costs excluding rent - about $600 a month for one person and about $1,500 for a family of four.
• Food - local food is very cheap; imported groceries and wine are expensive.
• Household help - a housekeeper and driver are affordable, and many families hire them.
• Currency - the Indonesian rupiah, about 17,900 rupiah to the dollar in 2026.

Transport and traffic

• Traffic - among the worst in the world, so people choose homes near work and school.
• Metro - the north-south line has run since 2019 and is being extended to the old town; there is also light rail and commuter trains.
• Buses - the world's largest bus rapid transit network on dedicated lanes.
• Taxis and motorbike taxis - booked through apps, the fastest way through traffic.
• High-speed train - about 45 minutes to Bandung.

Practicalities: climate, language, health

• Climate. Hot and humid all year, about +27 to +33. Rains last from November to April, and January and February can bring severe floods.
• Air. In the dry season from June to September air pollution is high, and homes use air purifiers.
• Language. Indonesian; English is understood in business, international companies and upmarket areas.
• Health. Dengue fever in the rainy season, and tap water is not drunk.

Entry and legal status

• Visits - citizens of many countries, including Russia, get a visa on arrival or an e-visa in advance: 500,000 rupiah, about $28, for 30 days with one extension of another 30.
• Remote work - a 1-year permit with income from $60,000 a year from abroad and $2,000 in the bank. Details are on the page Indonesia remote worker visa.
• Your own company - an investor residence permit with a stake from 10 billion rupiah, about $558,300; the company's paid-up capital since 2025 is from 2.5 billion rupiah, about $139,600.
• Second home visa - for 5 or 10 years with a 2 billion rupiah deposit, about $111,700, in a state bank.
• Golden visa - from $2.5 million for 5 years or $5 million for 10 years for an investor setting up a company.

We compare all routes on the page Indonesian residence and handle the process end to end.

Taxes and property

You become a tax resident by living there more than 183 days in 12 months. A resident pays income tax on a scale from 5% to 35%, corporate tax is 22% and value added tax is 12%, but effectively 11% for most goods and services. Rates and deductions are covered on the page taxes in Indonesia. A foreigner cannot own land freehold but can buy a flat or house under a right of use, with a minimum price for foreigners that depends on the province. Before a purchase we check the form of ownership and the seller.

Family and healthcare

• Schools - a wide choice of international schools with British, American, Australian, French and German curricula.
• Healthcare - good private hospitals in the southern and central districts; for complex cases many fly to Singapore, under two hours away.
• Leisure - malls, restaurants, the Thousand Islands a couple of hours away by boat, and the mountains near Bogor and Bandung.

Is it worth living here

Pros: South-East Asia's largest market, low living costs and household help, strong international schools and quick flights to Bali and Singapore. Cons: traffic, floods, dirty air in the dry season and heat all year. Jakarta suits people building a business or career in Indonesia; remote workers more often choose Bali. Write in the chat and we will choose a status and work out the moving budget.