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Dreams can wait: Newcomers to Jakarta put survival first
Many young adults who relocate to the capital are forced into living frugally as high costs eat away at any extra income they might otherwise set aside for their future.
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Security guards ask people not to gather at the entry gate of the MRT's Dukuh Atas Station in Central Jakarta on July 4, 2022. The area has become a popular place for youngsters to hang out. (Antara/Chairul Rohman)
R
ofi Jaelaani, a 25-year-old from Bangka Belitung, relocated to Jakarta four months ago to chase his dream of becoming a writer, but this has proven more challenging than he expected. Struggling as a freelancer just to cover food and rent, he has had to move house every month.
"Before, I lived in a boarding house for a month that cost Rp 1.5 million [US$99], but given the circumstances, it was uncertain that I could generate a monthly income equal to the regional minimum wage [UMR], so I had to find a place to live within my budget of around Rp 500,000 in the Pejaten area," he said, referring to an area in South Jakarta.
This year’s minimum wage for Jakarta is around Rp 4.9 million.
Finding a job in Jakarta was not as simple as he had though, said Rofi, pointing to intense competition among workers to establish connections.
"I also work in a field that is not my true passion, as I believe it is pointless to be too idealistic at this time and survival is paramount," Rofi told The Jakarta Post, without elaborating on his current projects as a freelancer.
"I'm just fortunate that I don't have any dependents relying on me for rent or anything else, so I believe that's enough, even if it's barely enough," he added.
As the business and employment hub in the highly centralized country, Jakarta promises a higher standard of living than other regions. That promise, elusive though it may be, still draws many people from far-flung regions across the archipelago in search of a better life.
