Cost of Living for Expatriates in Indonesia: Foodstuffs

Indonesia, sebagai negara tropis dan kepulauan di kawasan Asia Pasifik, bahan makanan yang diproduksi Indonesia berbeda dengan yang biasa dibeli ekspatriat di negara asalnya. Oleh karena itu, bahan makanan atau panganan menjadi hal yang penting untuk diperhatikan bagi para ekspatriat yang akan datang dan berniat menetap di Indonesia. Untuk lebih spesifiknya, pertimbangan mengenai bahan makanan di Indonesia akan dipisahkan ke dalam harga bahan makanan pokok bagi ekspatriat guna menghemat anggaran dengan memasak sendiri. Kedua, mengenai jenis kuliner yang biasa ditawarkan oleh pengusaha lokal atau asing di Indonesia.

Untuk jenis bahan pangan yang pertama, hal ini disebabkan karena beberapa bahan makanan yang diproduksi secara lokal cenderung lebih murah dibandingkan dengan bahan makanan impor. Kemudian para ekspatriat harus lebih kreatif untuk bergantian dan memadukan dengan bahan makanan lokal untuk mendapatkan rasa yang cocok untuk mereka. Jenis pasar juga mempengaruhi harga dimana di pasar tradisional cenderung lebih murah dibandingkan di pasar modern meskipun kedua pasar tersebut menawarkan bahan makanan produksi lokal selama ekspatriat dapat menyesuaikan standar kenyamanannya dengan pasar tradisional. Secara keseluruhan, seperti negara berkembang lainnya, harga di Indonesia cenderung lebih terjangkau dibandingkan negara maju kecuali barang impor. Berikut harga Sembako untuk ekspatriat di Indonesia:

Bahan Makanan Pokok	Harga Sembako
1. Telur (kg)	$1,5 – $2,5
2. Unggas (Kg)	$1 – $3,5
3. Daging Sapi Dasar (Kg)	$6,75 – $13,5
4. Milk (Liter)	$1- $6.75
5. Flour (Kg)	$1 – $2.25
6. Potatoes (kg)	$1 – $6.75
7. Sausage (Pack)	$2.75 – $13.5
8. Bread (Loaf)	$1– $3.35
9. Fruits (Kg)	$1 – $6.75
10. Salt and Sugar (Kg)	$0.5 – $1.5
11. Basic Herbs and Seasoning (Kg)	$2.5 – $4.5
12. Olive Oil (Liter)	$10 – $12.75
13. Rice (Kg)	$1
14. Canned Fish (Sardine and Tuna)	$1 – $2.5
15. Cheese (Kg)	$6 – $19.75

Type of common Local Culinaries in Indonesia

Padang Culinary

Minang culinary or Padang culinary has a main taste that is spicy and savory. The savory and spicy taste is obtained through coconut milk and red chilies. This seasoning can be mixed with raw materials such as duck, beef, chicken, fish and so on. Examples of the most famous food are nasi padang and rendang.

Javanese and Sundanese Culinary

The hallmark of Javanese culinary specialties is their savory taste, combined with a light sweet taste and traditional spices. Culinary examples, such as kerak telur, lumpia, gudeg, rujak cingur, and others. Meanwhile in the west part of Java Island is predominantly Sundanese cuisine that is characterized by the freshness and modesty of its ingredients for example, lalap or fresh and raw vegetable is famously eaten with sambal and accompanied with grilled fish or fried chicken.

Balinese culinary

The hallmark of Balinese cuisine is its aroma and taste. There is a fragrant smell coming from Balinese food. In addition, most Balinese dishes taste sweet on the tongue, both vegetables and processed meat. Bali also has dishes that taste spicy. Culinary examples, such as ayam betutu, sate lilit, nasi campur bali, and others.

Other Indonesian Culinary
Kalimantan: Kalimantan has a distinctive dish with a tendency to taste spicy, sour, savory using coconut milk in it. Kalimantan cuisine is also synonymous with vegetables and a variety of fresh seafood. The most commonly used spices are garlic, cardamom and cloves. Culinary examples, such as soto banjar, gangan asam banjar, and others.
Sulawesi: One of the characteristics of the typical food of the Sulawesi region is that it uses a lot of fish as a food ingredient with a spicy and sour taste. Examples of typical Sulawesi food are Manado corn grits, coto Makassar, and panada cakes.
Papua: One of the typical Papuan culinary delights that is widely known is Papeda. This food made from sago has a fresh taste.
Foreign Influenced Culinary tend to be more expensive than locals culinary of course due to either imported ingredients, recipe, technique or brand (mostly East Asian, Middle east Western especially Italian, French and American fast-food chain)
Veganism in Indonesia

Indonesia is a country suitable for adopting a vegan diet. Because there are many restaurants specifically for vegans, the food ingredients needed are easy to reach, relatively inexpensive, there are many meat substitutes available, and many of the original foods are actually vegan-friendly.

Bali Belly

Bali Belly is popular term for diarrhea or one of the digestive problems occured due to consuming food that has been contaminated with viruses or bacteria while foreigners come to Indonesia especially to Bali because not used to the differences of the local culinary. The causes of Bali Belly include contamination with Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria, parasites, viruses, or other unknown things that trigger a reaction in the digestive system. Symptoms of Bali Belly that are felt include feeling uncomfortable in the stomach such as nausea, vomiting, to diarrhea with varying degrees of severity. The way to deal with Bali belly is to immediately see a doctor to get treatment or take anti-diarrhea drugs that can be found in pharmacies and supermarkets.

Culinary centers that are often visited by expatriates in Indonesia by region:

No	Region	Restaurant area frequented by expats
1	Jabodetabek	1. Jakarta (Pondok Indah, Kelapa Gading, Mampang, Senayan, Puri Indah, Kuningan, Kemang, Thamrin, Pantai Indah Kapuk (PIK), Cibubur, Tanjung Duren, Kebayoran Baru, Menteng) 2. Bogor (Tanah Sareal) 3. Depok (Margonda) 4. Tangerang (Gading Serpong, Serpong, Sudirman, Situ Gadung, Bintaro) 5. Bekasi (Cikarang, Pekayon Jaya)
2	Bali	Kuta Utara, Payangan, Nusa Dua, Canggu, Sidemen
3	Industrial Estate	Cikarang, Karawang