Living in Jakarta: Complete Expat Guide
Jakarta remains Indonesia’s economic, commercial and diplomatic centre — and one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic cities for expatriates. Despite the Indonesian government’s ongoing process of relocating the national capital to Nusantara in East Kalimantan, Jakarta is, and will continue to be, the undisputed heart of business and expat life in Indonesia. This guide covers […]
Living in Pondok Indah, Jakarta
Often described as the Beverly Hills of Jakarta — a comparison that is part compliment and part gentle ribbing — Pondok Indah is one of the city’s most established and well-planned residential areas. Conceived in the 1970s and developed steadily since, it offers wide tree-lined streets, well-maintained infrastructure, gated communities and a suburban orderliness that […]
Living in Cipete, Jakarta
Cipete sits south of Kemang and has long been overshadowed by its more famous neighbour in expat conversations. That is changing. In recent years, and particularly since the opening of the MRT, Cipete has quietly established itself as one of South Jakarta’s most practical and appealing places to live — offering a more residential, less […]
Living in Lebak Bulus & Cilandak, Jakarta
At the southern end of Jakarta’s expat residential corridor, Lebak Bulus and Cilandak offer something that is genuinely hard to find in a megacity: space, greenery, quiet streets and excellent schools within easy reach. These neighbourhoods have traditionally been overlooked in favour of the better-known addresses to the north — but the opening of the […]
Living in Kemang, Jakarta
Kemang was never planned — it grew organically, and that unplanned quality is both its greatest charm and its most persistent frustration. For decades, it has been one of the most beloved addresses in South Jakarta, drawing expat families back posting after posting with a personality that is genuinely hard to find elsewhere in the […]
Living in Permata Hijau & Simprug, Jakarta
Conveniently located roughly ten minutes west of the southernmost end of Jl. Sudirman, Permata Hijau and Simprug offer a combination of qualities that is quietly hard to beat: well-planned streets, genuinely green surroundings, good infrastructure and convenient access to both the CBD and the international school corridor. These neighbourhoods don’t often top the list when […]
Living in Sanur, Bali
Sanur sits on Bali’s sheltered eastern coast, facing calm, reef-protected waters and separated from the intensity of Kuta by the Ngurah Rai bypass. It is, by most measures, the most established expat residential area in Bali — quieter than Canggu, more genuinely Balinese in character than Seminyak, and consistently preferred by long-term expat families who […]
Living in Kuta & Denpasar, Bali
Kuta and Denpasar form the commercial and logistical heart of Bali. They may lack the aesthetic glamour of Seminyak or the cultural cachet of Ubud, but they offer something that the trendier areas cannot: convenience, affordability, and a genuinely Indonesian urban life. For expats who prioritise proximity to government offices, hospitals, schools and the airport […]
Expat Living in Bogor, West Java
Bogor is the 14th largest city in Indonesia, with a population of approximately 1.231 million (2023 census). CIFOR-ICRAF (www.cifor-icraf.org) — formed by the 2022 merger of the Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) — continues to bring foreign researchers to Bogor for short-term study, research projects and meetings, and […]
Expat Living in Malang, East Java
Editor’s note: This page has been reviewed and updated to reflect current conditions in Malang. While many of the places and services mentioned continue to exist, readers should verify practicadl details such as contact information, school availability, and medical providers directly before making decisions. Community Welcome to East Java. The Malang area has long attracted […]
Expat Living in Medan, North Sumatra
Medan is the largest city in North Sumatra, and the third largest city in the country with a population of approximately 2.45 million (2023). Medan sits at the heart of North Sumatra’s expat community, with a well-established international school, reliable private hospitals, and a lively dining and social scene shaped by the city’s remarkable ethnic […]
Expat Living in Mataram, Lombok
Lombok, the quieter island neighbour of Bali, has been drawing a steady stream of expatriates for decades. Whether you have come for the pearling industry, the surf, the slower pace, or simply the chance to be somewhere still genuinely off the beaten track, here is what you need to know about life on the ground. […]
Expat Living in Semarang, Central Java
Semarang is the capital of Central Java and one of the most comfortable medium-sized cities in Indonesia for expatriates who want a slower pace of life than Jakarta, but still need good schools, hospitals, shopping malls, airport access, and easy weekend escapes. The city continues to grow and offers a practical balance between business life, […]
Expat Living in Surabaya
Surabaya is the second largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta and has long been one of the country’s most important trading ports. Located on the northeastern coast of Java, the city serves as the commercial gateway to eastern Indonesia and has historically played a key role in shipping, manufacturing, and regional trade. Today Surabaya remains […]
Expat Living in Balikpapan
Balikpapan, located on the eastern coast of Kalimantan, has long been known as one of Indonesia’s key oil and gas hubs and a relatively comfortable city for expatriates. In recent years, its strategic importance has grown significantly due to its proximity to Indonesia’s new capital, IKN Nusantara (Ibu Kota Negara Nusantara, meaning “National Capital of the […]
Expat Living in Jayapura, Papua
Papua, formerly known as Irian Jaya until 2001, has undergone significant administrative changes in recent years. In 2022, the original Papua Province was formally divided into four new provinces: Papua (the residual northern coastal province, of which Jayapura remains the capital), South Papua, Central Papua, and Highland Papua (Papua Pegunungan). A further new province, Southwest […]
Expat Living in Manado, North Sulawesi
Overview of Manado Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi, offers a very different experience from Indonesia’s larger cities such as Jakarta or Surabaya. With a population of approximately 460,000–480,000, it is a mid-sized coastal city known for its relaxed pace of life, strong community ties, and access to some of the world’s best diving. The people […]