It’s no secret that necessities in Papua, especially in the West Papua area, are costly. The reason is the lack of infrastructure and logistics transportation on the earth of paradise. Another cause is the hilly demographics, where flights are the only way to get necessities.
Joko Widodo and Jusuf Kalla (JK) administrations have decided to build infrastructure in Eastern Indonesia, particularly Papua, since they were elected. The distribution of logistics to Eastern Indonesia, especially Papua, is still minimal. That way, the price of goods on the earth of paradise becomes very high.
Cost of Living in West Papua Area
1. Where to Live
Of course, the most important thing to consider if you want to migrate to Papua is where to live. For someone who has just relocated to the West Papua area, especially if you live alone.
The cost of renting a boarding house varies in Papua, depending on the location, the area of occupancy, and the facilities provided. On average, boarding for students ranges from Rp. 600,000 to 1,000,000 per month.
Meanwhile, it can be even more expensive for workers, from Rp. 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 per month. The cost of housing can be different for each person, depending on their choices.
For immigrants who bring their families, renting is a more appropriate choice. Of course, the rental price also varies depending on the location, area of occupancy, and the facilities provided.
If possible, choose a boarding house or rent close to your workplace or campus so as not to burden transportation costs.
2. Utility Bills of the West Papua area
By owning or renting a residence, there is a utility bill as one of the monthly expenses that you must pay. If you rent a boarding house, maybe this fee is already included in the rental price.
However, utility bills are another unavoidable expense for those who own a home. Of course, the amount per person can vary, depending on usage and lifestyle. So, there is no absolute number for utility bills.
3. Food and Beverage
Another basic need that is no less important for survival is eating and drinking. The costs incurred for one person’s meal can vary, depending on the lifestyle of each.
Of course, immigrants who eat out more often will probably spend more money than those who cook their food. The price of one portion of food ranges from Rp. 15,000 to 25,000, depending on the place.
If you eat three times a day, the minimum expenditure for consumption is Rp. 45,000 per day. If you do the calculations, you can spend Rp in one month. 1,350,000 for food!
The National Most Expensive Elementary School Education Cost in West Papua Area
Based on a report from the Central Statistics Agency (BPS), Indonesia’s average primary school education (SD) cost is IDR 3.24 million per 2020/2021 academic year.
West Papua became the province with the highest average cost in that period, IDR 4.86 million.
DKI Jakarta is in second place with an average elementary education cost of Rp4.78 million in the same period. There are two islands, Riau and Banten, each costing Rp. 4.69 million and Rp. 4.55 million, respectively.
Other provinces with the highest average cost of elementary school education are DI Yogyakarta Rp. 4.53 million, East Kalimantan Rp. 4.3 million, and North Maluku Rp. 4.23 million.
BPS noted that 17 provinces had elementary education costs above the national average from June 2020 to June 2021. Meanwhile, 17 other regions had elementary education costs below the national average.
The province with the lowest cost of elementary education is West Sulawesi. The government recorded that the average primary education expenditure in the province was only Rp. 1.67 million per 2020/2021 academic year.
Wrapping Up
So, the minimum amount of money for living expenses in Papua is Rp. 3,250,000 per month. It includes primary components such as housing, food, transportation, and communications and some secondary expenses only.
Of course, the number above is not absolute because it depends on the lifestyle and needs of each person. For those of you who live with family, it will be more expensive than for those who live alone.
So, after knowing the figure for the cost of living in the West Papua area, do you think it’s cheap or expensive?
