Located on the island of Java, Jakarta is the largest city and capital of Indonesia. This economically diverse city has everything from obscene wealth to some of the poorest slums in Southeast Asia. Jakarta budget travel is easy, but it is important that you stay safe and always be aware of your surroundings.

Choosing a Budget Accommodation

There are many hostels, called Losmens, in Jakarta which will give you plenty of options at a very inexpensive rate. A good choice is the recently renovated Borneo Hostel which has rooms, with a communal bathroom, starting at 50,000 RP (roughly $5 USD) a night to rooms with air conditioning and private bathroom for 135,000 RP ($14.7 USD). Due to the extremely low cost of the nice hostels in Jakarta, budget travelers should never have to stay in a hostel where they feel unsafe or uncomfortable.

Getting around Jakarta

Buses cost a flat rate of 5,000 RP ($0.22 USD) but the bus system in Jakarta does not run on any set schedule or even stop at all bus stops. The several taxi services are cheap, with a immediate fair of 6,000 RP ($0.65 USD) and 3,000 RP ($0.33 USD) per km after 2 km. If you choose to take a taxi, it is important to know where you are going as some drivers will try to take you the long route to collect a larger fare. A unique way to travel around Jakarta is by bajaj, an orange tricycle with a small cabin in the back to carry passengers. Though slow, the bajaj is capable of weaving through the extremely heavy traffic in Jakarta.

Budget Eating

Jakarta has a large number of street vendors that sell a wide variety of Indonesian dishes that can be had for a low cost. Before eating street food in Jakarta you should acclimatize yourself to the local spices for at least 2 weeks or you run the risk of becoming ill. Meals bought from street vendors generally cost between 5,000 RP and 25,000 RP. Another good place to stop for a meal while on a Jakarta budget travel vacation is a food court in 1 of the many malls.

Where to Shop

Open-air markets are a great place to get a feel for the culture and find inexpensive souvenirs. In the Mangga Dua district of Jakarta there are several larger markets including Pasar Pagi Mangga Dua and the Wholesale Trade Center Mangga Dua. It is acceptable to barter with shop owners in markets if you are looking for an even better deal.