‘Where will I live?’ is the first question that most ACICIS participants have. The good news is that arranging accommodation in Indonesia upon arrival is an easy matter.
Your host university international offices and ACICIS will provide you with detailed accommodation guides upon arrival. We also maintain a student buddy system whereby all ACICIS students will be shown around by local counterparts during the orientation period to survey accommodation options. Virtually all ACICIS students find suitable accommodation by the conclusion of the orientation period. So we implore, do not worry about where you are going to live, it is an aspect of the program that ACICIS and your host universities are very experienced in managing.
Kos/Boarding Houses
99 percent of students who study in Yogyakarta, Malang, Bogor or Bandung opt for a kos, or student boarding house. This can be a house with a set of attached rooms or a house/building which is essentially like a mini-apartment block. They are in over-supply in university precincts. In university neighbourhoods, every street has a number of kos. There are a number of types—male, female or mixed. The latter are rare in cities such as Yogya and Bandung. A kos is usually full of university students. This is a great starting point for establishing social networks in a new city.
Some kos have rules (such as curfews for females) and all come with managers or the family itself who enforce those rules. Payment is upfront and monthly, although three months in advance is often a minimum contract period. They usually have a basic common kitchen, parking area, guest room, and security/domestic staff. In some laundry is inclusive, in others such extras involves additional fees.
A basic kos may cost as little as Rp.600,000 a month (3×4 furnished room with a bed/mattress, wardrobe, desk and shared Indonesian-style bathroom facilities). Prices increase as additional luxuries such as ensuite bathrooms, hot water, air conditioning, wifi and cable TV are added. Most participants end up paying between Rp. 800,000 (basic) and Rp. 3,000,000 (luxury) per month.
Homestays
Homestays are a second, albeit more expensive, option. Whereas the kos is simply a furnished room, a homestay entails all meals and incorporation into the routines of the host family. Options are more limited than the ubiquitous kos. ACICIS can advise on options once you are in-country.
Rentals
Rental properties are the third option, and are more suited to families. Rental properties are generally difficult to find due to the fact that there are no listing agencies. They are found via word of mouth and surveying. Payment is upfront and contracts for less than six months are often difficult to secure.
A house can range from Rp. 7 million a year for a basic dwelling in the outskirts, to Rp. 40,000,000+ a semester for a large, strategically located house close to university.