As an expat living in Jakarta, you will be living in Indonesia’s largest
city. With its 9.8 million inhabitants, Jakarta is a metropolis with
international flair. Read the InterNations Guide on Jakarta for more
information on Southeast Asia’s “Big Apple,” from culture to healthcare.
Although Indonesia is perhaps not the highest ranking among expat
destinations, life in Jakarta can be thrilling. Due to Indonesia’s long
and turbulent colonial history, the influence of the Dutch and
Portuguese are still prevalent. There are many traces from colonial
times in Jakarta, from the buildings to the way the city itself is
structured.
With quite a
few cultural offerings to attract tourists, Jakarta successfully lures
expats to its city center. The restoration of the Jakarta Arts Center,
for example, along with a number of other buildings, means that the city
can now boast some of the country’s best concerts and exhibitions.
Jakarta’s Climate
Jakarta’s climate is generally hot and
humid, with the Indonesian wet and “dry” seasons dividing the year in
two. If you are planning on living in Jakarta, be prepared for average
temperatures in the upper 30°C range year-round, and be aware that the
rainy season is long, beginning in November and lasting until March.
As
a result, life in Jakarta also means putting up with severe flooding,
due to its many rivers. The flooding, however, can be mainly attributed
to overpopulation and the resulting deforestation required to provide
more space for the growing number of residents. The weak city
infrastructure can lead to clogged sewers as well, causing parts of the
Jakarta to be impassable at certain times.
Culture and Food in Jakarta
When
living in Jakarta, you will have a number of opportunities to make up
for any cultural deficits you may believe you have acquired. Jakarta is
known as the cultural center of Indonesia for a reason. In fact, expats
in Jakarta can easily profit from the city’s cultural offerings. From
jazz festivals and fashion weeks to international art exhibitions and
traditional trade shows, life in Jakarta is filled with leisure
activities.
If you are a food enthusiast, Jakarta’s spectacular
culinary offerings will make your mouth water at all times. Due to the
numerous domestic and foreign immigrants, especially betawis (immigrants
from other Southeast Asian countries), the mix of flavorful traditions
abounds in the streets of Jakarta. From savory traditional dishes
displayed by street vendors to expensive high-class restaurants, Jakarta
has it all.
Public Transportation in Jakarta
At the time
of writing, Jakarta’s public transportation system is still undergoing
construction. The Jakarta administration broke ground on a mass rapid
transit system, which encompasses an elevated and underground railway
system, as of March 2014. As many people living in Jakarta commute from
suburban areas around the city center, traffic jams are a major problem
in Jakarta.
Currently, the residents of Jakarta have the opportunity to take a number of rickshaw-type vehicles (bajaj, becak, bemo,
etc.), which can seat up to four people comfortably. However, using
such a rickshaw in areas with heavy traffic can be rather dangerous. In
addition, Jakarta has a bus rapid transit system called TransJakarta,
which serves all of the city center as well as the outer suburbs, making
it easier for those living in Jakarta to get around. Timetables are
available on the TransJakarta website (Indonesian only). Tickets are relatively cheap at IDR 3,500 (about USD 0.30 US) per ride.
