ASEAN

Been living in Singapore, travelling frequently to some parts of Malaysia and recently visiting Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, I still wonder why Jakarta can be so expensive...

Below is the comparison of a plate of Chicken Rice in some ASEAN cities:

Jakarta (Plaza Senayan Food Court) = Rp 35.000 (S$ 6)
Singapore (Takashimaya Food Court) = S$ 4
Kuala Lumpur (Suria KLCC Food Court) = RM 4.5 (S$ 2.5)
Bangkok (Central Chidlom Food Court) = Baht 60 (S$ 2.5)
Ho Chi Minh City (Parkson Food Court) = VND 25.000 (S$ 2.5)

The food courts I mentioned above are all located in the prime area. Plaza Senayan in Jakarta is one of the favourite mall, even the newest one: Senayan City, is more expensive. Takashimaya in Singapore is a house of world branded items. Suria KLCC is located below the famous Twin Tower. Central Chidlom in Bangkok is on the tourist shopping street. Parkson Shopping Centre in Dong Khoi Street, District 1 HCMC is one of the luxurious mall.

I think those malls are equal enough to be compared.

But why a portion of Chicken Rice in Jakarta is more expensive than the others? Is it because Chicken Rice is not a "real" Indonesian food? How about the other traditional foods like Rawon (Eastern Javanese Beef in Black Soup) and Soto Betawi (Beef in Thick Coconut Soup) which the stalls are placed next to this Chicken Rice? How about them?

Well, a portion of those soups including rice is about Rp 30.000 - Rp 40.000 (S$5 to S$ 6.5).

So it's not about the Chicken Rice being an "unauthentic" traditional food of Indonesia, but it's a matter of pricing method in Jakarta.

To cut the story short, I just hope that the government (in this case, is Indonesian government) is more concern about the food pricing in Indonesia, especially in Jakarta, as food can be a trigger for a crime.