Viral Video: Americans are Shocked to Discover How Low Indonesia’s Minimum Wage is

Share:

A video of Americans being shocked when they discovered that the minimum wage in Indonesia was going viral on social media, and various reactions were shown; they even looked worried about Indonesians having to live with such a low salary.

The viral video uploaded by Indonesian digital creator, @stevenapriliano, through his TikTok account, shows how Americans look confused and surprised at how Indonesians can survive and buy their daily necessities with such a small wage.

In the viral video, Tepen interviews Americans about the estimated monthly salary of Indonesians.

Viral Video: Americans are Shocked to Discover How Low Indonesia’s Minimum Wage is
Source Tiktok

The Americans then estimated that the salaries received by Indonesians each month reached tens of millions of rupiah at a minimum.

The first person Tepen interviewed was an American woman; when asked, she thought Indonesians were paid USD 5,000, or around IDR 75 million per month.

@stevenapriliano Berapa ya kira2 pendapatan orang di Indonesia menurut orang Amerika ? 🇲🇨🇺🇸 Jumlah penghasilan diambil dari rata2 UMR pekerja tetap / pekerja biasa di Indonesia ya #kerjadiamerika #hidupdiamerika #fyp #fypシ ♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys – Kevin MacLeod & Kevin The Monkey

Tepen immediately refuted the woman’s guess about the minimum wage in Indonesia.

The second person interviewed by Tepen said Indonesians earn salaries of USD 2,000, or around IDR 30 million per month. But the second person’s guess was also wrong.

Finally, Tepen told those Americans that the average salary that Indonesians receive per month is around USD 300, or around IDR 4.5 million.

All those Americans that Tepen interviewed seemed genuinely shocked at how low the minimum wage in Indonesia is.

“What? That’s insane,” said the woman who Tepen interviewed.

It continued; Tepen asked other Americans about the monthly salary Indonesians receive.

This time he interviewed an American man as the third respondent in the video.

The man answered that the salary of Indonesians is estimated at USD 3,000 a month, or around IDR 45 million.

However, when told that the average Indonesian receives a salary of USD 300 a month or around IDR 4.5 million, the man looked baffled.

He couldn’t believe how low the wages of Indonesian citizens were and, at first, thought that Tepen was lying to him.

On average, all the Americans interviewed by Tepen said they were surprised by the monthly income of Indonesians. They admitted they were baffled about how Indonesians could survive with such a low wage.

Interested in this topic? Check out our other articles from Social Expat: 

Share:

Content Writer

Being in love with writing at a young age, Anasya is eager to play with words and touch hearts. She’s been a content writer for a little over four years and officially be part of Social Expat in March 2023. Her perfectionism drives her to give her best on every project she handles.

Related News

The Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services (Imipas), through the Directorate General of Immigration, has launched the Global Citizenship of Indonesia (GCI), a residency scheme aimed at resolving long-standing dual citizenship issues. Imipas Minister Agus Andrianto said the GCI provides an indefinite permanent residence permit for foreign nationals who have blood, kinship, historical, or other […]

Canggu is one of the most popular, exciting and lively area in Bali, featuring breathtakingly beautiful beaches, surf culture, and a perfect local bar for a night out. Your Guide to Canggu, Bali 2025: Best Beaches, Things to Do, and Top Experiences in Canggu, Bali, Indonesia If you are looking for adventure, wanting to chill, […]

In a move that has both intrigued and confused the public, Indonesia’s Dewan Perwakilan Daerah (Regional Representative Council, or DPD RI) has unveiled “Sena,” a virtual news presenter designed to deliver updates about the council’s activities on its official YouTube channel. Sena, who describes herself as a “digital civil servant” (ASN Digital) rather than an […]

Indonesia is one of Southeast Asia’s more affordable destinations for medical care, but quality, cost, and access can vary greatly depending on your location. In 2025, the country faces a medical inflation rate of 19.4%, one of the highest in the region. A major driver is the ongoing investment by private healthcare providers, who are […]

Expat Property

Indonesia Visas

Expat Event

Business Networking
150,000
Jaba Lounge at Fairfield by Marriott Bali Kuta Sunset Road
Social Networking Event
150,000
Copper.30
Business Networking
150,000
Casa Cuomo Ristorante & Lounge

Indonesia Guide

Just For Fun

Write For Us

Exclusive Promotions

Event Gallery