You are here: Forum > Living in Asia > Indonesia > Jakarta > Everyday life > Got a job offer in Jakarta... Hit me with the highs and lows!
  Register and reply  

Got a job offer in Jakarta... Hit me with the highs and lows!


#1  2013-02-04 23:27:49

Accurmi
New member
Registered: 2013-02-04
Posts: 7

Got a job offer in Jakarta... Hit me with the highs and lows!

Hey guys, I'm new to this forum. I recently got offered a teaching job in Jakarta and literally know nothing about the city. I was originally planning to move to Thailand to teach and live in bangkok. As such, I had researched bangkok and thai culture like crazy and have learned a great deal about it. So, my question is this: what is good and bad about life in Jakarta? Positive and negative? Is it anything like bangkok? How do they compare? Is Jakarta dangerous?

Thus far I have gathered that the traffic is horrendous, the pollution is ungodly, and you can't get in the water within 10 miles of the city. On the flip side, I have heard that the people are amazing, the food is incredible, and it is relatively inexpensive to live there.

I am weighing out my decision and could use some info so fire away!

  • Offline

#2  2013-02-05 04:06:11

lukereg
Serial expat
lukereg
From: Jakarta
Registered: 2009-11-24
Posts: 252

Re: Got a job offer in Jakarta... Hit me with the highs and lows!

Its as crazy with the traffic, noise and pollution as Bangkok thats for sure. Being an Islamic country the amount of bars and places to go gets reduced and all the bars are over priced due to the taxes put on alcohol.
Jakarta is lacking green space and fresh air however for me it is a vibrant and exciting place to be and I enjoy living here.
Close to Jakarta are the thousand islands (a boat ride away) and you can be in Bali in just over 1.5 hours, Belitung in 50 minutes  if you want to fly. There are many options.
Indonesia does not have the transport links or the investment in tourism like Thailand so there is a world of difference.
Having travelled both and stayed in both, I would say, on the whole Indonesia has a lot more to offer in terms of beauty, nature, exploration and sheer culture.

But as they say, the choice is yours....




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  • Offline

#3  2013-02-05 12:51:30

mas fred
ViP
mas fred
From: Jakarta
Registered: 2009-08-02
Posts: 2321

Re: Got a job offer in Jakarta... Hit me with the highs and lows!

Accurmi wrote:

and literally know nothing about the city.

my question is this: what is good and bad about life in Jakarta?

Is Jakarta dangerous?

Thus far I have gathered that the traffic is horrendous, the pollution is ungodly, and you can't get in the water within 10 miles of the city. On the flip side, I have heard that the people are amazing, the food is incredible, and it is relatively inexpensive to live there.

http://www.expat-blog.com/forum/viewtop … 21#p527221 will tell you a lot.

The traffic is terrible, live near where you work.
The pollution is smelly at best and rubbish clogs the rivers
Don't even think about swimming in a river unless you like green patchy skin.
The people, in general, are fantastic
The food is way better than incredible
It's dirt cheap to live here unless you toss money around as if it's going out of fashion.
It is safe as long as you don't do daft things.

Your job should pay not less than Rp20 million/month, more if you're well qualified/experienced
Never get a place to live that's priced in US$




 
 
 

  • Offline

#4  2013-02-06 00:12:13

Sophie Fisher
Serial expat
Sophie Fisher
From: Ulsan, South Korea
Registered: 2010-11-21
Posts: 476

Re: Got a job offer in Jakarta... Hit me with the highs and lows!

You can also read this thread to get the idea of living in the Big Durian http://www.expat-blog.com/forum/viewtop … 95&p=2

-Traffis is horrible, so yes, live close to your working place is very recommended. Walking distance is better.
-The food here is cheap and there are plenty to choose from, different cuisine from all over Indonesia and the world. You can find almost everything.
-People there are friendly, so smile  alot :-)
-So many beautiful places to go to all around Indonesia. You'd never get bored.

And mas Fred is right, dont settle for less than 20 mio IDR if you're a qualified teacher.
They also usually provide you with a decent accomodation.

Goodluck! :-)




 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  • Offline

#5  2013-02-06 16:28:19

Accurmi
New member
Registered: 2013-02-04
Posts: 7

Re: Got a job offer in Jakarta... Hit me with the highs and lows!

Good to hear! Well, if the job offer is still on the table, I am most likely going to accept. What I have heard thus far makes Jakarta sound like a very fun and interesting place to live. I don't think money will be an issue as I will be making around USD$2,000 per month with all of my living expenses (apartment and utilities) covered by my employer. Hopefully I will be able to save some of this as well. Does that sound like a decent amount to live on? I really know very little about the cost of living in Jakarta. But if it is anything like most southeast Asian countries, it is quite cheap.

  • Offline

#6  2013-02-06 16:32:47

Momiji
New member
From: Jakarta
Registered: 2013-02-06
Posts: 3

Re: Got a job offer in Jakarta... Hit me with the highs and lows!

I just started my asignment in Jakarta a month ago. Keep asking myself what I have got myself into. The traffic is really bad...I just waited for 4 hours today to get a taxi back from office to hotel after heavy rain.

Plus:
- People
- Shopping
- Food

Negative
- Traffic
- Frequent flood
- Water filter system
- Food is nice but uncooked food may cause food poisoning if you have weak stomach.
- Sound pollution
- Air pollution.

  • Offline

#7  2013-02-07 04:05:37

princess sandra
Serial expat
princess sandra
From: Jakarta
Registered: 2012-10-04
Posts: 255

Re: Got a job offer in Jakarta... Hit me with the highs and lows!

Momiji wrote:

I just started my asignment in Jakarta a month ago. Keep asking myself what I have got myself into. The traffic is really bad...I just waited for 4 hours today to get a taxi back from office to hotel after heavy rain.

Plus:
- People
- Shopping
- Food

Negative
- Traffic
- Frequent flood
- Water filter system
- Food is nice but uncooked food may cause food poisoning if you have weak stomach.
- Sound pollution
- Air pollution.

agreed 100%




 
 
 
 
 
 

  • Offline

#8  2013-02-07 05:15:37

mas fred
ViP
mas fred
From: Jakarta
Registered: 2009-08-02
Posts: 2321

Re: Got a job offer in Jakarta... Hit me with the highs and lows!

You'll be on about 10 times minimum wage.
Unless you like the bars, you'll save at least half of it without even considering the cost of things you buy.




 
 
 

  • Offline

#9  2013-02-10 23:27:49

Accurmi
New member
Registered: 2013-02-04
Posts: 7

Re: Got a job offer in Jakarta... Hit me with the highs and lows!

So, I have read that Jakarta's tap water quality is such that one cannot even brush their teeth with it. Is this true?

  • Offline

#10  2013-02-11 10:03:28

mas fred
ViP
mas fred
From: Jakarta
Registered: 2009-08-02
Posts: 2321

Re: Got a job offer in Jakarta... Hit me with the highs and lows!

Accurmi wrote:

So, I have read that Jakarta's tap water quality is such that one cannot even brush their teeth with it. Is this true?

I never risk it and Aqua (the local top quality bottled water) is so cheap, it hardly matters.

Last edited by mas fred (2013-02-11 10:04:10)




 
 
 

  • Offline

#11  2013-02-22 01:27:32

jonidib
New member
From: Jakarta
Registered: 2013-02-22
Posts: 4

Re: Got a job offer in Jakarta... Hit me with the highs and lows!

the tap water is not drinkable,.
for brushing teeth OK,. the quality itself is really depends on from where the water came from and where you live.

for upstate apartment or serviced-condo,. the quality is actually good the sanitation system is great. with 2000USD. you can save a lot. if you settle for less.

learn to talk in indonesian might be great
and sing it...

lets go to the mall,..




 

  • Offline
Like this topic? Share it with your friends!


Expatriate health insurance Jakarta

Free advice and quotation service to choose an expat health insurance in Jakarta.
>> Click here

Moving to Jakarta

A few tips from professionals about moving to Jakarta.
>> Click here

Expat banking Jakarta

Discover the benefits of expat banking for people living and working abroad.
>> Click here

Businesses and services in Jakarta

Find the professionals in Jakarta in the Expat blog directory.
>> Click here

Luggage shipping Jakarta

Useful information about luggage shipping to Jakarta.
>> Click here

Travel insurance Jakarta

Don't worry and travel happy across Jakarta.
>> Click here

To
Subject *
Message *
   You are here: Forum > Living in Asia > Indonesia > Jakarta > Everyday life > Got a job offer in Jakarta... Hit me with the highs and lows!