Cost Of Living: Tuk Tuk, Sumatra – Indonesia
Indonesia is one of the best value countries for travel in Asia. To give you an idea of the cost of living I have kept track of a days expenditure for where I am staying in Tuk Tuk, Sumatra.
The following expenses are food, accommodation and other sundries. Travel expenses are not included here as I will not need to travel for a month.
Daily Expenses
The Indonesian Rupiah is highly denominated but it is easy enough to keep track of as 10,000 INR = $1 USD.
Accommodation 60,000 INR ($6.00 USD)
Internet (2 hours) 30,000 INR ($3.00 USD)
Bottled Water 5,000 INR (50 cents USD)

[Lakeside accommodation: Tuk-Tuk - Sumatra]
Breakfast
Banana Pancake 9,000 INR (90 cents USD)
Coffee with milk 5,000 INR (50 cents USD)

[Sumatran Coffee]
Lunch
Nasi Goreng 12,000 INR (1.20 USD)
Banana Shake 10,000 INR (1.00 USD)

[Nasi Goreng]
Dinner
Veg Rendang 15,000 INR (1.50 USD)
Rice 4,000 INR (40 cents USD)
Sprite 6,000 (60 cents USD)

[Vegetable Rendang]
So tallied altogether my expenses are:
Accommodation 60,000 ($6.00 USD)
Internet 30,000 ($3.00 USD)
Water 5,000 (50 cents USD)
Breakfast 14,000 INR ($1.40 USD)
Lunch 22,000 ($2.20 USD)
Dinner 25,000 ($2.50 USD)
Total: 156,000 ($15.60 USD)
This total is kept down as I have no daily travel expenses here. I also only eat meat a couple of times a week so a vegetarian diet tends to be less expensive.
My $6 accommodation consists of a cottage room with a king size bed, a bathroom with hot water and a view of the lake. Rooms without hot water and a view can be found for $3.
If you are a meat eater and like to snack more during the day you will still come in under $20 USD a day. If you really wanted to you could get the expenditure down to $10 a day, making it one of the best value countries in Asia.

$15 day in indonesia is inspiring !! i wonder if you have visit the capital, Jakarta. How much the living cost there that you managed in Jakarta ?
I did visit Jakarta it it is more expensive than living in Sumatra. The biggest expense in Jakarta is accommodation.
$15 day in indonesia is inspiring !! i wonder if you have visit the capital, Jakarta. How much the living cost there that you managed in Jakarta ?
How did you find your accommodations? And did you plan them ahead of time or not until arrival? Thanks
I just looked around when I arrived. There are so many guest houses there that it is easy enough to find a place.
How did you find your accommodations? And did you plan them ahead of time or not until arrival? Thanks
I just looked around when I arrived. There are so many guest houses there that it is easy enough to find a place.
This is a good “find” in terms of frugal travel.
This is a good “find” in terms of frugal travel.