Some people, when they arrive to Indonesia, feel like millionaires. Here, everything is counted by thousands and millions. In Indonesia there are only 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 thousands banknote and 100, 200, 500, 1 000 coins. Paradox but more than 57% of all Indonesian inhibits earn till 1,78 EUR per day.
Money are using not only for shopping
Indonesians cure fever with metal coins. They scratch the back with coins for wind get out from the body. Indonesians believe that wind, makes them get fever and metal coins attracts bad spirits. This “procedure” (others say it “massage”) called “kerok”.
As well, like probably in many countries, money is given like presents.
In the end of Ramadhan, during Idul-Fitri, when relatives visiting relatives, if in the family there are any kids – guests brings colorful envelopment with money inside (usually 10 000 Rp – ~0,69 EUR) for kids. Even before this celebration banks specially is changing big amount of cash to smaller. Nobody surprised when kids, during Idul-Fitri, comes to guests and showing their wallets (asking money).
In the traditional Muslim weddings you rare will see guests with flowers or presents. Almost everyone brings envelopment with money. When you come, first of all you need to “register” in guest book and beside this book is always stands the box to put the money. There are not written rules how much you need to put, but it’s good gesture if one person brings at least 50 000 Rp (~3,43 EUR).
Before Christmas, Catholics in Indonesia are used to give money for kids like a present. The amount is ~20 000 Rp (1,37 EUR). It should be new banknote in beautiful envelopment. Some street sellers, especially for Christmas sells new banknote already packed. Of course for this “service” you need to pay extra ~2 000–5 000 Rp (0,14–0,34 EUR).
Different prices in different cities and for different people
For example, in Yogyakarta prices are ~1,5 times less than in Jakarta or Bali island.
As well different prices sellers gives for local people and for foreigners. Even if you already know how to barge in Indonesian language, still usually the final sum will be a bit bigger than for locals. Some Indonesians even don’t hide, that foreigners they see like walking ATM’s, so they try to take as much as possible cash from them :).
What can you do with 1 euro in Indonesia?
So what is possible to buy for 1 EUR in Yogyakarta city? Like EUR currency all the time changing let’s take average -1 EUR=14 500 Rp.
- Eat food in local restaurant “Rumah makan” (where is menu from which you can choose).
1 portion simple rise (“nasi putih”), fried mushrooms (“jamur goreng”), sambal sause with guava natural juice – 13 500 Rp (0,93 EUR).
- Have a dish in street restaurant “Warung makan” (food made and putted in the window, there are no menu, you take what is putted)
1 portion simple rice, vegetables (“sayur”), 2 balls of smash potatoes (“perkedel”), 1 chicken thigh in sweet suce (“ayam bakar”) and natural guava juice – 14 000 Rp (0,96 EUR).
- Eat in street restaurant (where you see how food is preparing for you)
1 portion fried rise (“nasi goreng” – called national Indonesian dish) with chicken scrap, omelet, several vegetables and cold drink “es jeruk” – 11 000 Rp (0,76 EUR).
- Take away food from street vendors “kaki-lima”.
1 portion rice cooked in coconut oil (“nasi uduk”), 2 peace “tempeh” and 2 peace of “tahu” – 7 000 Rp (0,48 EUR).
It’s really possible to find where to eat cheaper but I don’t go to places where I see that food is made and kept not in the best conditions :)
If you don’t have big requirements for food and don’t eat big portions, per day in Yogyakarta is possible to eat 3 times for 24 000 Rp (1,65 EUR): for breakfast instant coffee and 4 coffee cake; for lunch – rice, vegetables, chicken, simple drink; for dinner – rice, “tahu” and “tempeh”.
What possible to buy for 1 EUR in Surabaya city? (Thank you Abriani Ori Ratnasari for information)
1 EUR Abriani calculate like 15 000 Rp. Here is the list what you can do with 1 EUR:
- Buy food in KFC “goceng package”. You can choose: ice cream, soup, love float, melon float, grape float, burger and others.
- Buy food: rice, chicken and ice tea – 5 000 Rp (0,33 EUR)
- Buy books
- Buy pensil case
- Buy ticket for public transportation like “angkot” or bus – it’s only 5 000 Rp (0,33 EUR) one way, for 1 person
- Buy 3 underwear units (for girls)
More things what can you do with 1 euro
- Eat sandwich with cobra meat– 13 000 Rp (0,89 EUR).
- Order 2 natural juice in local restaurant – 10 000-14 000 Rp (0,69-0,96 EUR).
- Try Robusta coffee from Flores island in local restaurant– 10 000 Rp (0,69 EUR).
- In small shop buy 13 packages of instant coffee – 13 000 Rp (0,89 EUR).
- In small shop buy 10 packages of instant noodles (Indonesians just love this ”dish”)– ~14 000 Rp (0,96 EUR).
- Buy ~ 1,2 kilo simple rice – ~14 000 Rp (0,96 EUR).
- In big supermarket buy “Coca cola” 1,5 l – 13 000 Rp (0,89 EUR). Or in small shop buy 3 small bottles (425 ml) – 12 000 Rp (0,82 EUR).
- Buy 4 bottles of water in not touristic are (500 ml) – 12 000 Rp (0,82 EUR).
- Buy 1 kilo tomatoes and cucumber in local market – 14 000 Rp (0,96 EUR) (locals can buy cheaper ;)).
- Buy 1-2 kilo of seasonal fruits (banana, mango…) – 7 000-13 000 Rp (0,48-0,96 EUR).
- In small shop buy food „package“ – 2 packages of instat coffee, pie, jam – 13 500 Rp (0,93 EUR) or 0,5 kilo of rice, small package of sauce and 2 pieces of “tahu” and “tempeh” – 13 500 Rp (0,93 EUR).
- Put the fuel almost 2 l in petrol station – 14 800 Rp (1,02 EUR).
- Buy bus ticket from Yogyakarta to Magelang city – 13 000 Rp (0,89 EUR).
- With “becak” go short distance (that takes no longer than 10 min.) – 10 000 Rp (0,69 EUR).
- Pay for motorbike parking 7-14 times – 14 000 Rp (0,96 EUR). The price depends where you want to park – touristic places more expensive.
- Go with taxi ~2-4 km – 12 000-14 400 Rp (0,82-0,99 EUR).
- Buy local cigarettes 1-2 (with „kretek“) – 8 000-14 000 Rp (0,55-0,96 EUR).
- Buy small souvenirs in Malioboro street, for example T-shirt– 13 000 Rp (0,89 EUR)
- Visit 1 person, 1 time Sultan palace “Kraton” – 13 500 Rp (0,93 EUR) or Water castle “Taman sari” – 14 000 Rp (0,96 EUR).
- Put to mobile “pulsa”– 11 000 Rp (0,76 EUR).
- Buy cleaning stuff for home, for example in small shop liquid for cleaning the floor – 9 700 Rp (0,67 EUR).
- Buy hygienic stuff (in small shop): tooth paste, soap, wet napkins – 13 700 Rp (0,94 EUR).
- Take laundry service for ~5,5 kilos – 13 750 Rp (0,94 EUR).
- Buy 1 pair of slippers – 12 000 Rp (0,82 EUR).
And some other things possible to do with 1 EUR ;).
Per day, if not spread out the money, possible to live for ~ 30 000 Rp (2,06 EUR). That’s why mostly people use banknotes of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20 thousand. Those banknotes are mostly dirty and damage. Sometimes I see when locals get new banknote of 2 000 Rp, they are smiling while looking at them, because not many new banknotes you can see of such amount.
As well, sometimes it’s happens (especially in small shop) when they don’t have back change, they give back small candies (I really don’t like it). But when I tried once in the same shop pay with the same candies – I didn’t manage :D
What you managed to buy with 1 euro in Indonesia?
Useful? Great! :) You might also like these:
How to save some money before going to Indonesia
How much cost live in Yogyakarta
How to save money in Indonesia