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]
This lunch of Noodles and fresh orange juice was 16,000 INR (about $1.50 US) The view of Lake Toba is an added bonus.
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.
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.