Jakarta
Editorial standardsMethodologyReviewed by WhereNext editorial · Verified , next review
Jakarta works for the right person — affordable (~$1,100/mo), but check the tradeoffs below.
WhereNext composite score
6-dimension index (safety, healthcare, education, career, climate, transport) · Indonesia avg 49 · global avg 63
- Cost index
- 30
- lower = cheaper · ~$1,100/mo single
- Safety (modeled)
- 48/100
- has some safety concerns
- Healthcare
- 56/100
- below average
- Climate
- 55/100
- moderate seasons
- Transport
- 50/100
- mixed
- Air quality
- 30/100
- watch AQI
Quick answer
Jakarta, Indonesia scores 49/100 on the WhereNext city composite (safety, healthcare, education, climate, career, transport). Estimated single-person monthly cost is around $1,100/mo (a central 1-bed runs ~$521/mo). Safety index 48/100 (modeled); healthcare 56/100; internet 28 Mbps (national median). Top neighborhoods: Central Core, Historic Quarter, Modern Suburbs.
Key facts
- ~$1,100/mo single-person estimated cost of living · 1-bed center $521/mo.
- Safety (modeled): 48/100 has some safety concerns city by modeled safety index using country-level inputs.
- Healthcare: 56/100 below-average healthcare access.
- Internet: 28 Mbps national median fixed broadband download, not a Jakarta-specific measurement — verify before relying on it for work.
- Top neighborhoods Central Core, Historic Quarter, Modern Suburbs — researched expat-friendly areas.
City composite
On par with peers
- Jakarta
- 49/100
- Indonesia avg
- 49/100
- Global avg
- 63/100
Compared against 4 indexed cities in Indonesia and 380 indexed cities globally.
Source: WhereNext 6-dimension city composite (safety, healthcare, education, climate, career, transport) · updated
The short version
How much does it cost?
~$1,100/mo for a single person. A central 1-bed is ~$521/mo. Outside the center: ~$431/mo.
Is it safe?
Safety score (modeled from country-level inputs): 48/100. Exercise caution — research neighborhoods carefully.
Can I work remotely?
Internet: 28 Mbps avg. Consider coworking spaces for reliable connectivity. Coworking: ~$80/mo.
What's the climate like?
Climate score: 55/100. Moderate climate with distinct seasons.
The honest take
What's great
- Career — scored 58/100
- Healthcare — scored 56/100
- Climate — scored 55/100
Watch out for
- Education — scored 25/100
- Air Quality — scored 30/100
- Safety — scored 48/100
Is this place viable for you?
Quick decision check — Jakarta
Strengths
- Affordability85/100
- Career58/100
- Healthcare56/100
Likely blockers
No major dimension blockers flagged — but a visa path is the gate for any move. Confirm yours before committing.
Check your visa path to JakartaDecision Snapshot
Quality scores are out of 100, higher is better. Cost uses a 0–200 index, where lower is cheaper.
Monthly Reality Check
What things actually cost in Jakarta. Estimated total: ~$1,100/mo for a single person.
Flagship coverage — itemised costs and neighborhood-level detail are first-party researched for this city.
Itemised Costs in Jakarta
Verified local pricing from researched sources. 11 of 12 core fields populated.
Rent (1BR, center)
$521/mo
Rent (1BR, outskirts)
$431/mo
Rent (2BR, family)
$1,241/mo
Utilities (single)
$108/mo
Utilities (family)
$107/mo
Groceries (single)
$199/mo
Transit pass
$42/mo
Coworking
$80/mo
Mobile plan
$8/mo
Inexpensive meal
$4
Cappuccino
$2.79
Landing Friction in Jakarta
What it actually takes to sign a lease and physically land here.
Daily Life Infrastructure in Jakarta
Connectivity, getting around, air quality, English support.
Climate & Seasonality in Jakarta
Year-round temperature, rain, and sunshine.
Monthly average temperature (°C)
- Jan28°
- Apr28°
- Jul28°
- Oct29°
Annual temperature bands — Jakarta
Each vertical band shows the monthly low-to-high temperature range. Green = comfortable (5-25°C); amber = hot (>25°C); grey = cold (<5°C).
Verified · Climate-Data.org + WhereNext city-monthly-climate dataset
Jakarta
| City | Month | High | Low | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jakarta | Jan | 30°C | 24°C | Hot (>25°C) |
| Jakarta | Feb | 30°C | 24°C | Hot (>25°C) |
| Jakarta | Mar | 31°C | 24°C | Hot (>25°C) |
| Jakarta | Apr | 32°C | 25°C | Hot (>25°C) |
| Jakarta | May | 32°C | 25°C | Hot (>25°C) |
| Jakarta | Jun | 32°C | 24°C | Hot (>25°C) |
| Jakarta | Jul | 32°C | 24°C | Hot (>25°C) |
| Jakarta | Aug | 33°C | 24°C | Hot (>25°C) |
| Jakarta | Sep | 33°C | 24°C | Hot (>25°C) |
| Jakarta | Oct | 32°C | 25°C | Hot (>25°C) |
| Jakarta | Nov | 31°C | 24°C | Hot (>25°C) |
| Jakarta | Dec | 31°C | 24°C | Hot (>25°C) |
Family & Schools in Jakarta
High-level family snapshot — full directory in the schools section.
Will you find your people in Indonesia?
Community density signals — quant + qualitative. Loneliness is a top-three relocation-failure factor; this section flags whether Indonesia has the expat scene to match your profile.
Expat density
Low0.1% foreign-born
English proficiency
15/100 (EF EPI)
Coworking density
High
Top nomad hubs
Bali (Canggu), Bali (Ubud), Jakarta
Adult community vibe
Hub
Family expat community
Active
What recurring expats complain about
“Bali's expat community is vibrant but the digital-nomad reputation has triggered local backlash; navigating respect/integration matters.”
Best neighborhoods for community
- · Bali: Canggu (nomads), Ubud (yoga/wellness), Sanur (families)
- · Jakarta: Menteng, Pondok Indah (families)
Internet reality in Indonesia
Median speed is a misleading single metric. What remote workers actually need to know: do Zoom calls survive peak hours, what happens during outages, what’s the mobile backup like.
Peak-hour Zoom quality
Mixed
Power outage frequency
Frequent
Mobile backup
Good
Coworking fallback
Dense
Recommended eSIM providers
Telkomsel · XL Axiata · Holafly
What to actually expect
Bali sees 2-4 outages/month, especially Canggu/Ubud. UPS + 4G mobile hotspot are standard nomad gear. Indihome fibre is generally reliable in Jakarta.
Safety reality in Indonesia
7 dimensions of safety, each scored separately so a single weak axis doesn’t drag the cross-dimensional view. Per Global Peace Index + WHO + national crime statistics.
GPI 2026verified Aug 2026HDR 2025 (HDI 2023 data)verified Aug 2026- Moderate
Overall public safety
Ring of Fire location; extremely high natural disaster risk; Aceh province enforces Sharia law.
- Serious
Political stability38/100
Material political instability — track-record of policy reversals or civil unrest. Verify residency rights are durable before committing.
- Serious
Natural disaster resilience20/100
High exposure (earthquake, tsunami, volcano, flood). The score reflects raw frequency — countries with strong infrastructure (e.g. Japan) handle this well, but plan for periodic disruption.
- Caution
Women's safety42/100
Elevated harassment / personal-safety reports — research neighbourhoods and apply additional precautions.
- Serious
LGBTQ+ safety15/100
Hostile legal regime — same-sex relationships may be criminalised or unrecognised. Do not relocate without legal advice.
- Caution
Emergency healthcare quality45/100
Limited emergency capacity — international medical evacuation insurance strongly advised. Avoid relocation without local-network research if managing chronic conditions.
- Moderate
Terrorism risk
Periodic incidents; standard urban awareness advised.
National averages only. Within-country variation is large — Mexico City vs Mérida differ massively. Cross- reference at the city / neighbourhood level before relocating.
Verify with current government advisories
Static-data signals don’t reflect this week’s situation. Cross-check against your home government’s current travel advisory before any irreversible commitment.
Neighborhoods
Where expats and locals actually live in Jakarta.
Menteng
luxuryHistoric Dutch colonial district with embassies, leafy boulevards, presidential palaces, and the most prestigious old-money residential streets in Jakarta.
Kemang
premiumSouth Jakarta expat hub with international cafes, galleries, organic markets, and the highest concentration of Western expat housing. Strong nightlife and weekend brunch scene.
SCBD (Sudirman Central Business District)
premiumJakarta's financial CBD with Pacific Place mall, the Indonesia Stock Exchange, multinationals' regional HQs, and modern apartment towers. Walking-friendly by Jakarta standards.
Pondok Indah
luxuryAffluent established South Jakarta enclave of large gated houses and golf greens. Home to Jakarta Intercultural School (JIS) and the Pondok Indah Mall complex — the default choice for senior expat families who prioritise international schooling and space over walkability.
Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK)
premiumModern master-planned coastal district in North Jakarta on reclaimed land, with a fast-growing PIK 2 extension. A booming food, cafe, and nightlife destination anchored by a large Chinese-Indonesian community, newer high-rises, and waterfront developments.
Neighborhood profiles are WhereNext editorial assessments (modeled). Rent index (100 = city median), walkability, and safety feel are relative estimates to compare areas within Jakarta — not third-party-verified figures.
Housing reality: Standard rental laws apply. Direct landlord negotiations are common, with 1-2 months deposit standard.
School Report
Find the right school in Jakarta
A School Fit Brief gives you a ranked shortlist of international schools in Jakarta — curriculum tradeoffs, hidden fees, admissions timing, and a 30-day action plan.
Deep Research
Expand any section for detailed data and narrative.
Transport & Getting Around
Transport & Getting Around
Ridesharing apps (Uber/Bolt/Local equivalent) are highly recommended outside the walkable core.
Monthly transport pass: $42
Indonesia — Policy & Systems
Indonesia — Policy & Systems
Visa, tax, healthcare, and education policies are set at the national level. See the Indonesia country guide for full details.
Language & Expat Community
Language & Expat Community
Official Languages
Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia)
English Proficiency
Low
Foreign-born
0.1%
Expat Level
Low
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jakarta a good place to live for expats?
Jakarta scores 49/100 overall. It is very affordable (~$1,100/mo), has some safety concerns on the modeled safety index, and has a healthcare score of 56/100. Top neighborhoods include Central Core, Historic Quarter, Modern Suburbs.
What does it cost to live in Jakarta?
The estimated monthly cost of living in Jakarta is ~$1,100 for a single person. A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs about $521/mo. Standard rental laws apply. Direct landlord negotiations are common, with 1-2 months deposit standard.
What are the best neighborhoods in Jakarta?
The most recommended neighborhoods are Central Core, Historic Quarter, Modern Suburbs. A growing hub balancing local authenticity with emerging remote-work infrastructure.
How do I get around Jakarta?
Jakarta has a transport score of 50/100. Ridesharing apps (Uber/Bolt/Local equivalent) are highly recommended outside the walkable core.
Cities Like Jakarta
Similar cities worldwide, scored across cost, safety, healthcare, education, career, climate, and transport.
Suggested citation
CC BY 4.0This dataset is free to redistribute, quote, and embed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. The composite form below preserves source lineage so AI assistants can cite both WhereNext and the underlying institutional publishers.
WhereNext composite — WhereNext Jakarta, Indonesia City Profile 2026 (2026-05-20). Derived from: Numbeo (city-level cost; verified via WhereNext audit); World Bank ICP (country-level PPP anchor); OECD + Eurostat (where applicable); WhereNext flagship-city research (qualitative + neighborhood depth). Available at https://getwherenext.com/city/id/jakarta?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
WhereNext. (2026). WhereNext Jakarta, Indonesia City Profile 2026. Retrieved from https://getwherenext.com/city/id/jakarta?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
WhereNext. "WhereNext Jakarta, Indonesia City Profile 2026." WhereNext, 20 May 2026, https://getwherenext.com/city/id/jakarta?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. Accessed via https://getwherenext.com/city/id/jakarta?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation. CC BY 4.0.
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author = {{WhereNext}},
title = {WhereNext Jakarta, Indonesia City Profile 2026},
year = {2026},
url = {https://getwherenext.com/city/id/jakarta?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation},
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}<a href="https://getwherenext.com/city/id/jakarta?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=citation&utm_campaign=data-citation">WhereNext — WhereNext Jakarta, Indonesia City Profile 2026</a>
Next step
Anchor Jakarta as your destination. Cost, neighborhoods, visa, healthcare and schools tools inherit the same context.
Important Notice
WhereNext provides data-driven insights for informational purposes only. Scores and rankings are algorithmically generated from public institutional data and may not reflect your individual circumstances. This tool does not replace professional advice for immigration, legal, tax, or financial matters.