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11. Moving to Jakarta

Jakarta at a Glance

Moving to Jakarta

Jakarta, like most of Indonesia, has a very large Muslim population.

The Big Apple (Big Durian) of Southeast Asia is the economic, political and cultural hub of the Indonesian archipelago. With almost 10 million inhabitants, it is the largest city in Indonesia. Jakarta is a fascinating city, even though it is fighting against the negative image of a terrorist stronghold. Expats who are moving to Jakarta are quite pleased with their decision and mostly enjoy the city’s exotic flair.

If you come from a small provincial town, moving to Jakarta will probably give you a small shock. To put it plainly, moving to Jakarta will send you to the tenth largest city in the world!

Moving to Jakarta: Brief Historical Background

Jakarta – formerly Batavia – has a very turbulent colonial history. Europeans first started moving to Jakarta all the way back in the 14^th century. Between the Portuguese and the Dutch colonists, Jakarta has seen its fair share of foreigners! Due to the lucrative work opportunities afforded by the Dutch government rule of the capital city, many Asians, especially Chinese, began moving to Jakarta, now making the Chinese the largest minority in Indonesia.

In 1942, Indonesian guerilla forces succeeded in regaining control over their city with the help of Japanese soldiers; however, they quickly backed down from the then Allied-occupied city. In 1950 after much back and forth, the city was finally proclaimed independent and made the capital of Indonesia.

When moving to Jakarta you should not be surprised to find many remnants of the colonial era, such as buildings, parks and the general infrastructure of the city.

Move to Jakarta: Housing and Neighborhoods

It is, generally speaking, a good idea to investigate housing options before moving to Jakarta. There are many neighborhoods fit for the budget of almost every person moving to Jakarta. Most expats moving to Jakarta end up renting an apartment because it is quite complicated to get permission to purchase property in Indonesia.

Central Jakarta is one of the most beautiful and oldest areas in Jakarta. If you are moving to Jakarta and are looking for a more upscale lifestyle, Manteng, the Golden Triangle and Kunningan would probably be of interest to you. Due to their proximity to the CBD, rents in these neighborhoods are higher in comparison to moving to Jakarta’s other districts. Housing in these neighborhoods comes mainly in the form of elegant apartment buildings, complete with a facility manager. Be aware, however, that these neighborhoods are quite loud in terms of traffic – something you should get used to when moving to Jakarta!

Moving to Jakarta: Other Residential Districts

If you do not have as much money for moving to Jakarta, you might consider moving to Jakarta’s eastern parts. East Jakarta is well-liked among expats for its nearness to the industrial areas of town, where many expats tend to work. Housing is not so expensive as in other parts of the city, but the cheap costs are made up for by the long travel distances. It is not recommended to live here if you have children, as the international schools are quite far away.

Those of you moving to Jakarta that are not necessarily fans of living in apartments are in luck! The neighborhoods of Kemang and Pondok Indah are beautiful areas with gorgeous villas hidden behind veils of flowers and trees. Those who are moving to Jakarta find this the perfect place to raise a family, thanks to the large gardens and the many shopping malls and restaurants nearby.