Premium House: Apartments versus Houses and Villas in Jakarta

Expats working in Jakarta's Central Business District will find that apartments are the most practical solution, especially to avoid spending hours each day stuck in traffic while commuting to and from the office.

When looking for accommodation in Jakarta, keep in mind that location is one of the most important factors. Expats will definitely save a lot of time by living close to their place of work, children’s school, hospital and other facilities. Jakarta suffers from major traffic congestion and this situation is continuously worsening.

Many apartment buildings have been constructed in Central Jakarta, so there is plenty of choice for new arrivals, from simple and small apartments with only basic facilities to large, luxurious, fully serviced apartments.

Most apartment buildings offer 24-hour security and other facilities including swimming pools, 24-hour shops, laundry services, sport facilities and leafy parks. Fast wireless Internet connections are also available in most apartments, but not always, so it would be wise for expats to ask the housing agency or owner about this if it is important.

For expats with children, South Jakarta is a good place to live as most international schools are located here and the neighbourhoods are more suitable for children and families. South Jakarta has more suburban neighbourhoods with large houses and villas. It is possible to rent a house or villa for a minimum period of six months or a year, either with or without personnel such as maids and the security guards.

Well, if you call Kemang, it is an area that traditionally has been popular to be Jakarta’s expatriate community to live in. This area provides availability of generous facilities, business center and the international school close by, as well as western supermarkets, like Kemchicks, Hero Kemang and Gourmet Garage, as well as a myriad of popular restaurants and bars. Kemang offers residents a self contained all-in-one living experience.