Rumah247.com – As the capital of Indonesia, Jakarta offers a lot of lucrative career options. The strength of the local economy, as well as the easing of foreign investment regulations, have brought in a lot of jobs that can be done by expats. So if you are looking to boost your career, moving to Jakarta may be a good idea. The cost of living here is considered lower than most capitals in Southeast Asia, which is enough to seal the deal for those who seek higher living standards.
However, moving to a new country might open another can of worries, if you are not prepared enough. As a developing country, Jakarta still has terrible traffic on most days, and public transportation is jammed during peak hours, like weekday mornings and nights. Therefore, you might want to pick a property near your workplace to avoid traffic jams. Besides, you might want to consider the availability of supporting infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools and shopping malls when choosing a place to live.
In this article, we pick seven expat-friendly residential areas that might interest you when you choose your accommodation options. Our choices are influenced by various factors, such as rent prices, proximity to business centers and amenities, and the number of expats residing in these areas. Read on to see our picks, as well as the availability of property here.
1. Menteng
Located in South Jakarta, Menteng allows you to conveniently reach various business centers in Jakarta, as well as malls such as Grand Indonesia, Plaza Indonesia and Sarinah. You also have access to many F&B outlets, from restaurants to coffee shops. In Menteng, you can choose to rent an entire house or get a space in apartments such as Besides, you need not worry about your children’s education as the Jakarta International College is situated just around the Menteng area. In addition, Menteng Mitra Afia Hospital is also a short drive away.
Expect to spend Rp60-140 million per year if you choose to rent an apartment, or Rp300-700 million per year if you rent an entire house.
Check out apartment listings here.
Interested in a landed house? View properties here
2. Kuningan
If you work in Mega Kuningan or Rasuna Epicentrum, renting a property in Kuningan is your best bet. Just like Menteng, Kuningan is also located in South Jakarta. In Kuningan, you will find embassies for various countries such as Australia and India, and this might help you if you encounter immigration issues. Along with the embassies, you can enjoy shopping at the Kota Kasablanka mall which offers a wide-range of shopping options, such as fashion, culinary, etc. Additionally, the Mayapada Hospital Kuningan helps address your health needs with some top-of-the-line professional services.
Renting a house in Kuningan will set you back by around Rp300-650 million, while the rent for an apartment starts from Rp8 million per month.
Check out apartment listings here.
Interested in a landed house? View properties here
3. Kemang
Kemang, another upscale residential area in South Jakarta, is rated as an expat-friendly location too. Life in Kemang is unique, as behind the thick walls of the skyscraper, lies a laid-back kampung community that allows you to interact with locals. On top of that, Kemang offers various entertainment options, such as bars, Lippo Mall Kemang and restaurants. As your children’s education is worth its weight in gold, you don’t need to compromise at all when living in Kemang. The Australia Independent School can be your children’s education provider.
The proximity to hospitals, takes away another concern. The Global Doctor Indonesia Clinic’s presence aims to complement health needs of expatriates and families with general health and dental medical services.
If you want to stay in Kemang, you need to spend Rp500-700 million per year renting a house, or Rp150-250 million per year renting an apartment.
Check out apartment listings here.
Interested in a landed house? View properties here.
4. Kebayoran Baru
Fancy staying in south Jakarta, but find your budget a bit short? You can consider picking a property in Kebayoran Baru. Kebayoran Baru has numerous fancy cafes, coffee shops and restaurants located in Senopati and Panglima Polim areas. In Kebayoran Baru, you can enjoy diverse shopping experiences at Gandaria City, Pondok Indah Mall and Blok M area. While Kebayoran Baru is still close to Jakarta’s business centers, the rental is not as exorbitant.
Renting an apartment, for example, starts from Rp4 million per month in , while an entire house will cost you around Rp150-600 million.
In order to fulfill your educational needs, Binus School Simprug is a good option you may want to explore. They offer the International Baccalaureate (IB), and stay true to their vision of creating “a world-class community of proud and outstanding achievers.”
Kebayoran Baru is also home to the Pertamina Central Hospital. This hospital is supported by more than 1000 professionals and offers a variety of medical services including emergency installation, medical rehabilitation, intensive care unit, stroke unit, hemodialysis, and other non-medical facilities such as mosques, canteens, minimarkets, lodging and helipads.
Check out apartment listings here.
Interested in a landed house? View properties here.
5. The Golden Triangle
The Golden Triangle, or Segitiga Emas as known by locals, is a triangular area stretching between Central Jakarta to South Jakarta. The Golden Triangle has the headquarters of big companies and multi-national corporations, as well as some embassies. In the Gold Triangle area, you can find and enjoy numerous first-rate hotels, such as the Ritz Carlton and preferable malls like the Pacific Place.
As the business center of the capital, the Golden Triangle area is complemented with world-class hospital services such as those offered by the Metropolitan Medical Center Hospital. Founded in 1976, it is the only private hospital in Indonesia that is supported by more than 30 sub-specialist doctors and more than 200 specialists.
To rent an apartment in Golden Triangle area, expect to spend around Rp200-500 million a year.
Check out listings here.
6. Kelapa Gading
Located in North Jakarta, Kelapa Gading is known as a bustling business district. Various amenities catering to expat workers can be found here. As one of the most famous culinary spots in Jakarta, Kelapa Gading presents many options, such as Chinese, Minang, Javanese, Japanese, Thai, and Western food. You also get a pleasant shopping experience at the two main shopping centers in this area, the Mall Kelapa Gading and the Mall Artha Gading. This area is also close to Dufan, one of the biggest theme parks in Indonesia, and just at a 30-minute driving distance from Kelapa Gading.
In addition, this area houses the Penabur International School that can serve your children’s education needs. This international school implements the Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) Curriculum and the National Curriculum.
The rent in Kelapa Gading is affordable. You can rent a furnished house for as low as Rp50 million per year, and an apartment from Rp95 million per year. That said, if you are working in Central or South Jakarta, you might not want to pick a property there, as the distance from Kelapa Gading to Central or South Jakarta is quite significant and you could be stuck in traffic jam most days.
Check out apartment listings here.
Interested in a landed house? View properties here.
7. Tanjung Duren
Just like Central and South Jakarta, West Jakarta is home to various big business centers, such as the media headquarters. Moreover, West Jakarta area is easily reachable via public transportation, such as the Transjakarta buses or local commuter line train. Tanjung Duren has some of the biggest malls in Jakarta, such as the Central Park and Taman Anggrek.
The Penabur International School, Tanjung Duren is best-equipped to meet the needs of leading students with their implementation of Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) Curriculum and National Curriculum. Also in close proximity is the Harpan Kita National Hospital. The rent in West Jakarta is relatively cheaper than Central or South Jakarta, as you can find an apartment for Rp5 million per month.
Check out apartment listings here.
Interested in a landed house? View properties here
You can make your life in Jakarta even more comfortable with the help of household helpers. So how does one get household service in Jakarta?
Household help mainly comprises various roles, such as babysitting, driving, cooking, gardening or being a satpam (uniformed trained guard). The good news is that household helper service in Jakarta is easily accessible. Perhaps, the best way is through word-of-mouth as expats share information and provide personal reference. Further, household helper service can be accessed through websites of household agencies online. You just have to fill the required information and pick which household service you need. Most of the household agencies select its employees through numerous stages of interview, and document inspection, including verifying criminal records to ensure safety and comfort of expats.
Recommended online household agencies include gomaid-agency.com, maimaid.id, klikpembantu.com, mhomecare.co.id, and solusipembantu.com.
Good luck with your newfound career in Jakarta!
Looking to move to Jakarta and find a home? We can help. Check our rental listings here.
