Budiman, Lebak, Banten – Rising food prices are increasingly being felt by households across Indonesia, particularly by mothers responsible for managing family budgets and preparing daily meals.
Amid economic pressures and weakening consumer purchasing power, Rp 50,000 ($2.81) – once enough to cover a day's basic kitchen needs for many low-income families – is no longer considered sufficient, especially for households with irregular incomes.
For Suedah, a 52-year-old resident of Lebak Regency in Banten Province, the challenge has become a daily reality.
"Now Rp 50,000 only buys a few things and may not even be enough if I also have to buy rice," Suedah said while shopping at a traditional market on Wednesday. "Luckily, I still have rice at home. If I needed rice today, this money definitely wouldn't be enough."
That day, she spent Rp 58,000 on basic necessities: half a liter of cooking oil for Rp 10,000, a quarter kilogram of shallots for Rp 10,000, chili peppers and tomatoes for Rp 5,000, tempeh for Rp 5,000, a quarter kilogram of eggs for Rp 8,000, salted fish for Rp 10,000, and vegetables costing around Rp 10,000.
With much of her budget consumed by staple items, foods with higher nutritional value such as fresh fish and meat have become increasingly difficult to afford.
Holding up her groceries, Suedah carefully calculated her purchases.
"The salted fish costs Rp 10,000, the shallots Rp 10,000, chili peppers and tomatoes Rp 5,000, and tempeh Rp 5,000," she said. "That's already Rp 30,000 before buying anything else. Fresh fish is simply out of reach."
The increase in food prices has forced her family to adjust its eating habits and stretch every purchase as far as possible.
"We split the tempeh into two meals. The salted fish is for breakfast and dinner. Even chili peppers are expensive now, and what I buy isn't enough for one batch of sambal," she said, referring to Indonesia's popular chili-based condiment.
Suedah said the burden is particularly heavy for people working in the informal sector, where incomes are uncertain and often fail to keep pace with inflation.
"Even people with fixed salaries are complaining," she said. "Imagine someone like me who doesn't have a regular income. I only do odd jobs when work is available."
Informal workers are among the groups most vulnerable to rising food costs because their earnings often remain stagnant while living expenses continue to increase. Meanwhile, millions of Indonesian families live on less than Rp 50,000 a day.
Suedah's story illustrates how broader economic pressures are felt far beyond official statistics. The effects of inflation and declining purchasing power are increasingly visible in traditional markets, household kitchens, and family dining tables across Indonesia.