Daily Earnings for Ride-Hailing Drivers Keep Shrinking

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia — Ride-hailing drivers’ earnings have declined since the Covid-19 pandemic. Average daily gross income, which previously reached almost Rp187,628, has now fallen to Rp126,313. After operating costs are deducted, drivers take home just Rp60,619 a day.

The figures are based on a 2025 survey by the Institute for Demographic and Affluence Studies (IDEAS). Ride-hailing drivers spend an average of Rp65,694 a day on operating costs.

These costs include Rp33,375 for petrol, Rp24,883 for food and drink, Rp3,255 for internet data and Rp4,181 for vehicle maintenance and oil. This means more than half of their gross income is spent on costs incurred while working.

The situation is also reflected in IDEAS’ Survey on the Economic Conditions and Debt Ownership of Online Motorcycle Taxi Drivers, conducted from 23 to 27 August 2026. The survey included 531 ride-hailing drivers across 51 regencies and cities in 13 provinces in Indonesia.

The survey found that 73.07% of respondents — nearly three out of four drivers — earned net income of less than Rp100,000 a day. Net income is calculated after app fees and operating costs, including petrol, food and drink, and internet data, have been deducted.

Meanwhile, only 7.34% of respondents were able to earn net income of Rp150,000 or more a day.

Assuming they work 25 days a month, drivers earning Rp50,000–Rp74,999 a day take home just Rp1.25 million–Rp1.87 million a month. Those earning Rp75,000–Rp99,999 a day make around Rp1.87 million–Rp2.5 million a month.

These amounts remain well below the minimum wage in most of the areas where respondents live, including Greater Jakarta, which accounted for the largest share of the survey.

8% commission deduction

Against this backdrop, the government has introduced a new policy on app operators’ commission deductions. Ride-hailing operators such as Grab and GoTo (Gojek) began applying an 8% commission deduction for drivers on 1 July 2026.

The policy refers to Presidential Regulation No. 27 of 2026, announced by President Prabowo Subianto during Labour Day commemorations on 1 May 2026.

Under the new regulation, drivers are entitled to receive at least 92% of the fare, up from the previous arrangement, under which they received 80%.

However, according to the IDEAS survey, the new policy has yet to raise ride-hailing drivers’ earnings to the minimum-wage standard in Greater Jakarta.