Many people believe that living in Solo is less expensive than living anywhere else in Indonesia. For one person, the monthly living cost is approximately IDR 2,000,000 (no more than USD 200), including housing, meals, local transportation, and other daily necessities.

Housing Options

Asrama UNS

Here are numerous housing options that suit all lifestyles and can be considered low-budget. You can live downtown or in popular student suburbs such as Jalan Surya, Gang Kabut, Ngoresan, and Gulon, which are only a short walk, ojek, or bus ride from campus.

Meals

Meals

As one of the most popular culinary travel destinations for people from all over Indonesia, Solo has a wide variety of food options available around campus. Each meal costs between IDR 5,000 and IDR 15,000 on average. For around IDR 5,000 – 7,500, you can get a portion of Soto (soup dish) or rice with vegetables and an egg. A portion of meat, chicken, or fish, on the other hand, costs around IDR 10,000–15,000. There are also some cafes around campus with various menus, including both Indonesian and Western cuisine. Prices range from IDR 15,000 to 30,000 depending on the restaurant.

Transportation

There are various forms of transport available to take you to campus. You can choose ojek (motorcycle taxi), campus bus, or go on foot since convenient sidewalks are available in all campus areas. The price of taking ojek starts from IDR 5,000; it depends on the distance you will reach. Meanwhile, if you take the campus bus, you can pay some money voluntarily, but typically students pay IDR 1,000 or 2,000. If you intend to live around the city center, far from the campus, Batik Solo Trans bus will always be ready to take you to the campus. You would only need to take one bus ride to get to the campus.

Batik Solo Trans Route

If you’re in a hurry and need a quick and easy mode of transportation, you could download the Go-jek app, which is technically the Uber version of a motorcycle taxi. Go-jek fares start at IDR 4,000/km and can travel up to 25 kilometers.