Is it really cheaper to live in Indonesia (Jakarta) than in USA (Los Angeles)?
I kept on asking that to myself recently, esp on this trip.

All along, I always have the mindset that everything in LA is sooooooo expensive. From food, clothes, shoe, bag, travel, services, etc. And everything from JKT is so cheap.

However, on this trip I've realised how wrong was I. No..not everything in JKT is cheap. Not everything in LA is expensive. Lets see....

Clothes
Everyone always said buy clothes in JKT, so cheap! Buy at ITC, so cheap! So yeah, this round I came to JKT with the mission "I wanna buy lots of clothes". But after went to one mall after another, I can't find cheap clothes. All the clothes start at Rp250,000 (that's about USD25).

I could only find cheap one at ITC (at mom's regular shop) at only Rp70,000 ($7), that's just a regular shirt nothing fancy.

However, while I was in LA, hub and I could find a really cheap clothes, that's even cheaper than in JKT. I've bought shirt that is only at $4, $6, $7 and $10. I hardly buy clothes that's over $20. In fact, I once bought a sweater and PJ at SwapMeet (Flea market) at only $1. How cheap is that?!!!!

Legging is another comparison. People said buy legging in Indo, so there I went to ITC and stunned. When I asked "How much is this legging?" all said "Rp98,000-Rp110,000". Days before I came to JKT, hub and I were doing some window shopping and there I saw legging that's only $5-6 (that's Rp50,000-60,000).

So...who said clothes are cheaper in JKT?
I think clothes are cheaper in LA, IF you know where to look and IF you don't look for branded stuff.
Anyway, if you are buying at ITC it already means you are not looking for branded stuff.

Besides, my type of body could only fit into American clothes due to my broad shoulder, chest, and long torso; and especially my hips. In LA, I'm considered regular-petite size, but in JKT I'm considered LARGE or EXTRA LARGE. bad bad bad....

Food
As for food, I've to say some foods in JKT are cheaper than LA. I think it's only applicable for traditional local food, not those franchised food like McDonald, Pizza, Italian, Japanese, etc.

Last year, I brought Hub to this Japanese restaurant in Singapore, Sushi Tei. I quite like this resto coz it's inexpensive. But when Hub ate it, he said to me "wow..so expensive!". I was stunned and refused to believe him. He said "I'll bring you eat a way better Jap resto in LA and cheaper".

So...few months later on my b'day, Hub brought me to this Jap resto in LA. How true was he. The price is slightly cheaper than at Sushi Tei in Singapore and the salmon was soooo huge and thick! The one in Singapore was as thin as tissue paper. That time, I ate my salmon with a wide grin on my face and like small kid who just got their candy

So...who said food are more expensive in LA? But of coz if you eat other fancy food, it is expensive. But it doesn't really matter to me anyway coz I usually cook at home.

But from what I gather, it seems it's not expensive coz the serving size/portion in LA is 2-3times than those in JKT. So, at almost at the same price, you got double the size. So, I'd say it's cheaper than in LA.

Services
This I've to admit it's way cheaper in JKT. A body massage for 2 hours cost me only Rp65,000 ($6.5), but in LA 1hour massage already cost me at $50 (Rp500,000). With that price, I can go to very fancy Spa in JKT.

Pedicure and manicure in JKT is so cheap, only like rp60,000 ($6). I dunno the price in LA thou for those services, but I bet it's very expensive maybe $20.

Hair mask, hair treatment, hair wash, hair cut in JKT cost at around Rp30,000 - 100,000 ($3-10). But in LA, the cheapest salon hubby can find is at Chinatown at only $5 for MEN, that's just cut with no wash and blow.

Housing
Housing in JKT are actually cheaper, way cheaper, than those in LA.

A nice big decent house in JKT cost Rp1,000,000,000 ($100,000). But a nice decent house in LA already cost $300,000 (Rp3,000,000,000). So expensive!

So yeah....could only think of those to compare at the moment. But I'd say....food variety wise in LA is better, thou not much of Indon food, but there are others.

However, I still prefer home cook meal coz there's no MSG.
I realised all the food in JKT are fried, oily, coconut milk and full of MSG. Hiks..everytime came back to JKT, I'd fall sick. Lousy body.