Jobs in Bandung

Introduction

Bandung is the capital city of West Java province and Indonesia’s fourth most populous city. Situated on a river basin and surrounded by volcanic mountains, it has a cooler temperature compared to other Indonesian cities. It is also known as Kota Kembang, which literally means “the flower city” since it used to have a lot of flowers. The Dutch used to call Bandung as Parijs van Java (Paris of Java) because of its resemblance to Paris, and it had the atmosphere of European cities. Today, the city is well-known for its delightful food, fashionable clothing, top universities, creative arts as well as its captivating nature. Bandung is a vibrant and modern city wrapped up in a natural atmosphere. It is a popular weekend gateway for Jakarta’s citizens. Although the expat community here is not as big as other large cities such as Jakarta and Bali, the city still attracts expats from all over the world for its nature, weather, and lively vibe.

Tourism, creative industry, business, retail services, financial services, educational institutions, and food production are the driving force of Bandung’s economy. The city is the hub for entrepreneurship and creativity. The creative industry is one of the main sectors of the city’s economy. In fact, Bandung is part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and more than half of the city’s economic activities circle around digital media as well as fashion and graphic design. Expats usually opt for foreign language teaching. However, there are many other job opportunities in Bandung.   

Popular Areas in Bandung

Expats can be found throughout Bandung, but most of them live in North Bandung. 

• Dago is located in a mountainous area that offers refreshing weather and lush green landscape. It is a hangout hotspot both for locals and expats. You will find many clothing stores, a wide range of restaurants, and luxurious hotels such as the Jayakarta and Sheraton. The upper Dago, widely known as Dago Atas is home to art galleries, a forest park, and high-end housing.

• Setiabudi is a popular area for expats living in Bandung who wish to live close to ‘westernized’ amenities. Here you will find Setiabudi Market that sells a wide range of imported products that you might not find in other local supermarkets. There’s also a Periplus, a bookstore that sells imported books, inside the supermarket building. The area is a lot like Dago. It has its fair share of clothing stores, restaurants, and bars.

• Ciumbeuleuit is home to one of Bandung’s famous university, Catholic University of Parahyangan. The area is filled with student facilities and cheap eating places. But further upwards, the road is quieter. Along the tree-lined street, you will find many luxurious villas and hotels. The area is mostly inhabited by upper-class locals and expatriates.

• Braga is the place if you want to see the remnants of Bandung’s colonial past. Here you will find the city’s oldest bakery, coffee shops, a shopping mall, and antique shops. At night, the street comes alive as the nightlife scene take over.

• Kota Baru Parahyangan is the place for anyone looking for a luxurious house and well-maintained neighborhood. The area is located in the outskirts of the city far from downtown Bandung.

 Other areas such as Setrasari, Setra Duta, Sarijadi, Buah Batu, and Kopo are also popular.

Weather and Climate in Bandung

Thanks to its location and topography, Bandung has mild and pleasant weather. The climate in the city is highly influenced by the cold mountain climate with an average temperature of around 23 °C. The weather can be unpredictable. The rainy season usually starts in October and lasts to March, but it can come as early as September and ends as late as April. Expect to see a lot of heavy rains during February as it is the wettest month in Bandung. The dry season tends to be colder, especially during the evening and early morning with the temperature dropping as low as 16 °C. This cold weather is caused by the Australian winter.   

Getting Around in Bandung

Husein Sastranegara International Airport is the main airport in Bandung. It mainly serves domestic flights, but there are some international flights to Malaysia and Singapore. There are many budget airlines that operate flights from this airport, such as Lion Air, AirAsia, and Citillink. Bandung also has a new airport called Kertajati International airport that serves domestic flights to Medan, Surabaya, Balikpapan, Bandar Lampung, and Jakarta and the new airport also serves seasonal flights to Medina.

Angkutan Kota (Angkot), city buses, taxi, ojek, private car, and motorbike are the most common mode of transport in Bandung. Angkot is one of the most affordable options, it usually cost Rp3.000 to Rp5.000 for short distance trips. Figuring out the routes can be quite confusing, the origin-destination route is written in the front and the back of the car. Most locals memorize the routes based on the car’s color. City buses (DAMRI and TMB) are cheap, but the route is very limited. The fare is around Rp3.000 to Rp5.000.

Taxis are available, but they don’t commonly wait on roadsides. Always use licensed taxis such as Blue Bird and Gemah Ripah. The drivers are usually very polite. You can order one by phone or by the Blue Bird App. Officially, the taxis are metered. It is advised to avoid taxis that offers a fixed fare. Go-Jek and Grab (similar to Uber) are widely available around the city.

Work Visas in Bandung

To obtain a work visa, a foreigner needs sponsorship from an Indonesian company. The limited stay visa is known as VITAS. The validity will adjust to the maximum duration of stay granted for your position. Obtaining a VITAS does not mean you can work in Bandung. To work in the city, you need to have ITAS KERJA which is your stay permit for working in the country. The permit allows you to work for as long as your employment contract with a maximum of two years.

Additional Information

1. West Java’s economy has been growing rapidly in the last five years, and Bandung as the capital city has a huge contribution. Indonesia’s economy is also doing well; it is the 16th largest economy in the world.
2. US$1 is equivalent to Rp14,247. Although the rupiah fell to its weakest position in 2018, it has made a stable performance in 2019.
3. The official language is Bahasa Indonesia. Sundanese is widely spoken in Bandung. Many people, especially the younger generations, can speak fluent English. Most of the population is bilingual or trilingual. 
4. Every Wednesday, most workers must wear Sundanese traditional costumes (Baju Pangsi for men and Kebaya for a woman) to their office. Bandung follows Indonesian national and major religious holidays such as Independence Day, Eid Mubarak, Christmas, Vesak, Nyepi, and Lunar New Year.