`Jakarta is just a place to earn money'

The skyrocketing price of housing in Jakarta has forced many people to move to the outskirts of the capital. Despite the long distances many people must now travel to get to work, financial considerations are forcing people to live farther and farther from the city. The Jakarta Post spoke with some people about the issue.

Irwan, 35, works for a company in Central Jakarta. He lives in Cibubur, East Jakarta, with his wife and two children:

It's impossible to buy a house in downtown Jakarta. Anyway, living in the capital means dealing with crime.

I can't afford to live in a decent area in the capital. A comfortable life is unreachable.

Another consideration for buying a house on the outskirts of the city is the fresh air, which you can't find in the capital.

Jakarta is just the place where I earn money, but it is definitely not the place to live and raise my children.

Anto, 28, is a police officer in Cawang, East Jakarta. He lives in Karawang, West Java, with his wife:

My main consideration when buying a house is the cost. I'm just a low-ranking officer who can only afford a house on the outskirts of the capital. Also, my wife was transferred to her company's branch in Karawang, so I bought a house there.

I have no choice but to leave for work very early every morning. I leave my house by 5 a.m.

I'm not planning on buying a house in Jakarta. Besides my limited budget, the capital is hot, overcrowded and uncomfortable. The alarming level of crime is another reason for me to stay away from the city.

However, spending two hours on the road back and forth to my office is exhausting. I have requested a transfer to Bekasi, which is closer to my house. However, I have not received a response and many of my colleagues have also asked to be transferred to Bekasi.

Heny, 32, is a housewife who lives in Bekasi with her husband and two children:

Buying this house was a blessing in disguise for us. Our friend offered us this house two years ago at a very reasonable price, and up to that point we were only renting.

Buying a house on the outskirts of Jakarta, like in Bekasi, is much cheaper. We definitely could not get a descent house in the capital for Rp 60 million (US$7,058).

When we rented a house in North Jakarta, the atmosphere was very uncomfortable.

However, having a house far from the capital means my husband has to travel quite a long distance to get to work. But we have no other option.

-- Leo Wahyudi S.