Jakarta is fast becoming a shopping destination in South East Asia and it has been said that you can find anything you want here….
Check our Directory for listings of what is available to buy here.
Whether you are moving into a fully furnished house or want to bring much-loved items with you, here is our guide to what you should consider when planning your move.
Furniture & furnishings – there is a wealth of high quality furniture here and many people have taken advantage of shops offering tailor-made wood furniture, particularly using local wood. As well as this, there is a wealth of furniture and furnishing shops to decorate your home with an Indonesian or international style.
Appliances – check that your appliances are compatible with the electricity supply in Indonesia of 220 volts AC and 50 Freq/Hz. cycle. For larger appliances, although you may be able to find adapters for your applicances fro
m home, it may be hard to find someone to service or repair them.
Kitchenware – there is a great range of kitchenware available here, with local artisans creating beautiful pieces. You may want to bring your own kitchenware if you have special cooking or serving items andf it is worth checking if local products are microwave safe.
Ornaments and high value items – the climate is hot and humid here and some items, for example wood and textiles, can suffer if fragile and not suited to this climate. For small, valuable items, it is worth investing in a safe. Also, make sure that all high-worth items are adequately insured.
Medicines – there are good pharmacies available across the city, but for specific medicines or brands, it is worth consulting your doctor and checking availability here. See our Medical Guide for more information.
Clothing – with the hot and humid climate here, it is worth packing light, summer clothing.
For work wear, you will mainly be in air-conditioned environments, so you will probably feel comfortable in what you would wear at home although, in terms of cultural norms here in the workplace, women are advised to cover the tops of their arms and not wear skirts which are very short. Batik is worn for many important occasions and there is now the custom of wearing it on Fridays, which is not compulsory, but is an idea to promote the local batik industry.
For your children, many schools require a uniform and will inform you of how to purchase it.
For going out, you may be invited to formal occasions requiring evening wear and it is worth remembering that many restaurants, bars, cinemas etc are highly air-conditioned and can be chilly.
Larger sized adult clothing is available here, although you may want to bring larger sized shoes as they can sometimes be hard to find.
There are many high quality tailors here who can either copy or create clothing for you.
Bed and bath – if you want to bring your own sheets, it is better to pack flat sheets as bed sizes may be different from home. You will probably not need heavy duvets or blankets.
Personal grooming and beauty products – availability of international brands is growing, but bear in mind that imported items will be more expensive. It may be worth packing a few months’ supply of your favourite items to bring before you can check out if they are available (and affordable) here.
Women’s personal hygiene – tampons and many international brand items are not available here so it is worth packing a good supply.
Sports equipment – although sports equipment is available here, many items can be expensive and not as readily available as you are used to.
Books and toys – there is a growing number of shops selling books in English and art and craft supplies. It is worth packing books in other languages. For toys, major brands are available although specialised toys can be hard to find. It is worth packing your children’s favourite toys to help them settle into their new home.
Computers, laptops, TVs and telephones – most will work here but it is worth considering the voltage and if there are services to maintain and repair them. We have been told that Mackintosh parts need to be imported and are therefore not readily available and can be expensive..