What is it like for Indonesians to live in London?

Like any other place, there are positives and negatives to living in London / UK. For starters: living cost is super high here. I agree with that estimate of £30K, BUT having said that, I know a lot of young people who earn very little and still manage to have a good time in London. Depends on what you're prepared to tolerate. Some share rooms, some live further out from the city centre, etc.

If you're a student, or young professionals, sharing a flat is your best bet to live comfortably and also cheaply. Have a look at housemate-wanted ads on gumtree.co.uk : you get a better idea of how much accommodation will cost. It is still possible to rent a room (with bills thrown in) for around £100-150 a week, depending on the area. Anything under £100 a week: watch out for scams or really horrible places. Rooms south of the river are generally cheaper than north of the river. Food / groceries is somewhere around £50-80 a week, public transport is around £30 a week (based on zone 1-2 oyster card--which is the transport card system in London). 



My main concern as an Indonesian in London is the lack of good Indonesian food or Indonesian groceries. Thankfully respectable Asian supermarkets have begun stocking kecap Bango in larger bottles! For me the taste of Asian food is the closest thing I can have that reminds me of home, and this is rare in London. Their notion of 'Asian' culture in the UK is more those of South Asia (India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka), not South East or East Asia. I choose to live in East London because there's higher concentration of Vietnamese community (and therefore restaurants/supermarkets here).

Some advantages of living in London / UK:

1. Europe on your doorstep. If you are prepared to backpack, you can experience Europe really cheaply.

2. Universal healthcare: Going to doctors is free, medicine is reasonably priced. Because of this, freelancing (depending on your chosen career) is more of an option, whereas in USA, so far people are more pressurised to find and keep a fulltime job, because they're reliant on the company's health insurance policy.

3. Socialising: Drinking culture is quite big here, people go to pubs to socialise instead of cafes or restaurants. It's also very easy to make friends here, with people from all kinds of backgrounds and nationalities.

4. Theatre, culture, musicals, museums, old buildings, history : London is filled with amazing things in these areas. UK in general is a super ancient land, so it's not unusual for you to come across a building that's dated from the 1100s. That still bring shivers down my spine.

5. There is always something to do: you will never be bored.

6. Public transport is excellent (although not cheap). If you want to get around London cheaply and quickly, cycle. The barclays bike cycle hire scheme is quite good. I would suggest taking free cycling lessons (available from your local council government) to familiarise with the dos and don'ts of riding in London. It's actually quite safe. If you decide to ride your own bike, be sure to have strong locks, as bike thefts is common here. Cycling is also one of the best ways to explore the city.

7. Healthier work ethic: young professionals and fresh graduates in USA are 'expected' to slave away 10-12 hours a day (or maybe more), and this kind of workaholic culture doesn't really get tolerated here in the UK. There's a healthier balance of work and life.

8. Last but not least: compared to USA (which is a popular place for parents to send kids / young adult Indonesians to go to), London/UK or Europe in general is a FANTASTIC example of a socialist economy working rather well. Sure, things aren't perfect in UK, but it's an eye-opening experience to see how a society can function well where people pay taxes according to their income grade, and the pool of money is used by the government to help the less fortunate. A nice change from the way you look at life in Indonesia where if you're poor and you're really sick, for instance, you're as good as dead. There is less of a car culture compared to the US, and things in general feel more forward-looking: green technology, ethical farming, public transport that works, etc.

In short, Indonesian expats/students may find it less cosy than say, living / working / studying in Melbourne/Australia or Holland, but London is a crazy, lively place, it's definitely worth trying. If you decide it's not for you, you can always leave!

Cr : https://www.quora.com/What-is-it-like-for-Indonesians-to-live-in-London (Lilian Darmono)