Jakarta

Jakarta is not where most nomads picture themselves, but it rewards those who come for work rather than scenery. It is the country's commercial centre and home to its startup, media and corporate worlds, so it suits founders, consultants and anyone who needs meetings, networking or reliable infrastructure. Malls, rooftop bars and some of the best eating in Southeast Asia make up for the lack of beaches.

South Jakarta is where most foreigners live. SCBD and Senopati put you close to offices, restaurants and nightlife; Kuningan has good-value serviced apartments; Kemang is leafier and long popular with expats; and Menteng in the centre offers older, quieter streets. GoWork has more than twenty locations across the city with flexible desks from about IDR 1.1 million a month, and WeWork runs several buildings around SCBD and South Jakarta.

The MRT, LRT and Transjakarta buses have improved things a great deal, and ride-hailing bikes beat the traffic, but car journeys can still take an hour for a few kilometres. Internet is the best in Indonesia, with fixed-line medians in the city above the national figure and MyRepublic and Biznet offering fast fibre in many apartment blocks. The wet season from November to April brings flooding in low-lying areas. A comfortable month in a South Jakarta studio or one-bed, with coworking and regular meals out, comes to about US$1,700; many landlords ask for several months up front, so serviced apartments are easier for short stays.

Air pollution is a serious concern, particularly in the dry months, and heat and humidity rarely let up. The city is huge and car-centric, and walking between areas is often impractical. There is no tourist core, so English is mainly found in business districts and malls, and the nomad scene is smaller than the city's size suggests. Petty theft is a risk in crowds, though violent crime against foreigners is rare.