In short
Jakarta is Indonesia's economic centre and one of the largest urban areas in the world. Indonesia has begun moving its political capital to Nusantara, on Borneo, but Jakarta remains the economic engine.
It is not a sightseeing city: few monuments, many towers, shopping centres and business districts. You come here to work.
What it really costs
Living costs are low for a capital this size, with modern housing in the Kuningan, Menteng and SCBD districts.
Ride-hailing apps, cars and motorbikes alike, are everywhere and cost very little. That is what makes the city workable despite the distances.
What nobody tells you
The traffic jams are among the worst in the world and the real cost is time: the recent MRT still covers only part of the city, and the motorbike taxi is often fastest.
Air pollution is a serious and documented problem, with regular peaks. On a long stay it weighs more than the budget does.
Jakarta is sinking: the north of the city loses several centimetres a year through groundwater extraction. It is one of the reasons the capital is moving.