No matter where you travel, costs are relative to your location. Still, it’s only natural to compare what you would pay for a product or service in your home country to what it costs somewhere new – especially while living as an Expat.

Perhaps this reflection is prompted by the rising costs we are experiencing today, but it is incredible to look back on what everyday expenses cost me while living in Indonesia about 10 years ago. As an Expat, I was fortunate to experience a fair bit of travel throughout the vast country, and while some prices varied by location, the comparisons to costs in the U.S. were remarkable.

Once I had acclimated to my surroundings, I set off to explore. In downtown Jakarta, I visited the national monument, known as MONAS. For about $0.50, I could enter the structure and view a detailed diorama of Indonesian history.

During a long weekend in the city of Bandung, some co-workers and I treated ourselves to an afternoon at the spa connected to our small hotel. Since we were over two hours outside Jakarta, prices for many aspects of life dropped significantly. I enjoyed a cream bath (a deep hair conditioning treatment) plus a manicure and pedicure, all for about $11.00! In town, you could grab a “hotdog” for just under $1.00.

On the island of Lombok (next to the overcrowded island of Bali) I could enjoy an amazing homestay, tucked away from the main road, including breakfast for about $20 a night.

A six-hour train journey cost around $30.00, a one-day motorcycle rental cost about $5.00, and a snack of fried bananas for breakfast on the way to work cost only $0.20.

Yes, costs always depend on where you travel, and while these prices are now somewhat outdated, it’s still astonishing to reflect on how affordable and simple life could be in another part of the world.