Culture and Attractions
- Cooking Classes
- Jakarta Culinary Center, Almond Zucchini (Pondok Indah)
- Art Galleries
- Hadiprana Art Gallery (Kemang), ROH Projects
- Historic Buildings
- Cafe Batavia (19th-century colonial building), Bank Indonesia Museum
- Local Heritage
- Ondel-ondel (giant puppet folk performance), Batik workshops
- Must-See Landmarks
- Monas (National Monument), Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta Cathedral
- Museums & Art Venues
- Museum MACAN (Modern and Contemporary Art), Museum Nasional
- Historical Sites
- Kota Tua (Old Batavia Square), Fatahillah Museum
- Religious Sites
- Istiqlal Mosque (largest in SE Asia), Gereja Katedral Jakarta
- Annual Events
- Jakarta International Java Jazz Festival (May), Jakarta Fair (June-July)
- Cultural Districts
- Glodok (Chinatown), Kemang (Artsy/Expat enclave)
- Theater Venues
- Teater Jakarta at Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM)
- Local Markets
- Pasar Santa (hip retro market with food/vinyl), Pasar Mayestik
- Music Scene
- Dragonfly (Clubbing), Jaya Pub (Oldest bar/Live music), Lucy in the Sky
- Street Art
- Taman Ismail Marzuki area and the graffiti walls near Dukuh Atas
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Setu Babakan (Betawi cultural village/lake), Mangrove Ecotourism Center PIK
- National Parks Nearby
- Mount Gede Pangrango National Park (3 hours drive to Bogor/Cianjur)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- GBK (Gelora Bung Karno) Sports Complex, Sudirman Car-Free Day (Sundays 6am-11am)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- SKYE Bar on the 56th floor of BCA Tower for a panoramic city skyline view
- Birdwatching Locations
- Suaka Margasatwa Muara Angke (Mangrove forest)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Not permitted in city limits; available at campgrounds in Sentul or Sukabumi (2 hours drive)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- JNE, J&T Express, Ninja Van; SiCepat is very popular for e-commerce
- Tech Repair Services
- ITC Kuningan or Mall Ambasador (Go-to spot for laptop/phone repairs)
- Table Tennis Spots
- PTPN (Persatuan Tenis Meja) clubs found in local community 'GOR' (Sports halls)
- Language Classes
- Alam Bahasa (Indonesian/BIPA courses), Wisma Bahasa
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Perpustakaan Nasional (National Library) - Highest library building in the world
- Community Centers
- Erasmus Huis (Dutch Cultural Center), Goethe-Institut Jakarta
- Gaming Lounges
- TNC Cyber Cafe (Kemanggisan), Highgrounds Indonesia (PIK)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Gambling is illegal in Indonesia; no casinos available
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 45,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 1,350,000,000 IDR / $86,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 22,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 660,000,000 IDR / $42,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 40,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 2,000,000,000 IDR / $127,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 20,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 1,000,000,000 IDR / $64,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 38,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 3,040,000,000 IDR / $193,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 18,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 1,440,000,000 IDR / $92,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Standard rate is 22%
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 10% for residents, 20% for non-residents (may vary by treaty)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income for residents (>183 days in Indonesia)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 35% (for income above 5 billion IDR per year)
- VAT
- 11% (standard rate)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, applicable to 50% or more ownership in non-listed foreign companies
- Property Tax
- PBB (Land and Building Tax) approx. 0.1% to 0.5% of value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- BPHTB (Buyer's Tax) usually 5% of purchase price
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Remote Worker Visa (E33G) allows tax-free foreign-sourced income under specific conditions for up to 1 year
Essentials
- Currency & Banking
- 1 USD ≈ 15,700 IDR, 1 EUR ≈ 17,000 IDR (Indonesian Rupiah)
- City
- Jakarta, Special Capital Region of Jakarta, Indonesia
- Population
- Approx. 11,300,000 (Greater Jakarta Metro: 35,000,000)
- Internet Speed
- Average 45-100 Mbps; Fiber optic widely available in business districts (SCBD/Mega Kuningan)
- Tap Water
- Not drinkable; use mineral water brands like Aqua or Pristine (8,000 IDR per 1.5L)
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C & F (European standard)
- SIM Card
- Telkomsel (best coverage) or XL Axiata; Tourist Prepaid SIM 25GB for approx. 150,000 IDR
- Banking for Expats
- BCA, Mandiri, BNI; Wise and Revolut work at most ATMs (BCA/Maybank best for international cards)
- Accommodation
- Mix of luxury high-rises, 'Kost' (boarding houses), and serviced apartments
- Cashless Friendly
- Very. QRIS (local QR pay), GoPay, OVO, and credit cards accepted almost everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Travelio (specializes in furnished apartments), Mamikos (for local 'kosts')
- Budget Accommodation
- Wonderloft Hostel (Kota Tua) - approx. 180,000 IDR/night; Capsule Hotel Old Batavia
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Menteng (heritage/central) or Jalan Thamrin (luxury/modern)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Senopati/SCBD (upscale, social) or Kuningan (central, many coworking spaces)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- GoWork (multiple locations like Pacific Place or Fatmawati) - Daily pass approx. 150,000 IDR
- Best Cafe for Work
- Common Grounds (ASHTA District 8) or 1/15 Coffee (Menteng); both have reliable Wi-Fi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- Jakarta Digital Nomads Meetup, Startup Grind Jakarta, Indonesian French Chamber (IFCCI) mixers
- Social Events for Expats
- InterNations Jakarta monthly gatherings, 'Jkt Events' on Instagram, Sunday brunches in Senopati
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Gojek and Grab (Bike/Car) - extremely cheap; Blue Bird Taxi (for premium/reliable taxi service)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Gowes (bike sharing via app), but Jakarta is not bike-friendly; most use GoRide (moto-taxi)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Ancol Beach (city) or a boat trip to Pulau Macan (Thousand Islands) - 2 hours away
- Top Regional Airline
- Batik Air, Citilink, AirAsia
- Top International Airline
- Garuda Indonesia (Flag carrier), Singapore Airlines, Emirates
- Highway Access
- Inner City Toll Road (Dalam Kota) and Outer Ring Road (JORR) connecting to Airport and outskirts
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Gambir Station (Intercity); Dukuh Atas BNI (LRT/MRT/Commuter/Airport Link interchange)
- Public Transport Passes
- JakLingko card or e-money (BCA Flazz/Mandiri E-Money) - works for MRT, LRT, and TransJakarta
- Regional Travel
- Whoosh High-Speed Rail (Jakarta to Bandung in 45 mins) from Halim Station - approx. 300,000 IDR
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- RS Pondok Indah or Siloam Hospitals Semanggi (MRCCC) - high standard for expats
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Union Yoga (Dharmawangsa), Gudang Gudang Yoga (Kemang) - approx. 200,000 IDR/class
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Fitness First Platinum (Senayan City), Celebrity Fitness (Grand Indonesia) - approx. 1,000,000 IDR/month
- Laundry Services
- Local 'Laundry Kiloan' (7,000-10,000 IDR/kg) or premium services like 5àsec
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- GoFood (Gojek app) and GrabFood; extremely efficient and cheap
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Nasi Goreng (Fried Rice) or Sate Betawi (Jakarta-style Satay) at Sate Khas Senayan
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Burgreens (multiple locations), Fedwell (Senopati), and The Local Search
- Best Dessert Spots
- Union (Red Velvet Cake is legendary), Scarlett's Cafe (Senopati)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Pasar Baru (historical) or Tanah Abang (wholesale textiles/clothing)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Tokopedia and Shopee (widely used for everything from tech to snacks)
- Grocery Delivery
- Astro (15-min delivery), HappyFresh, or Sayurbox for organic produce
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Senopati and Gunawarman (posh bars/lounges), Mega Kuningan (expat pubs)
- Local Brewery
- Stark Beer (Bali-based but everywhere in JKT), Pizza 📍 Beer (casual spots)
- Wine Bars
- Cork & Screw (Country Club/Senayan), Vin+ (Kemang)
- Street Food Stalls
- Jalan Sabang (Central) or Blok M (South) - try Martabak and Kerak Telor
- Popular International Cuisine
- Henshin (Japanese Fusion - highest rooftop bar/resto), Osteria Gia (Italian)