In a rapidly expanding megacity, macro-scale mobility data often overlook the everyday experiences of peripheral residents who regularly commute long distances to the city centre. While the peripheral area offers more housing alternatives, the physical and psychological burdens of long commute present significant challenges to commuters wellbeing. This research evaluates these dynamics by investigating how daily commuting behaviours and experiences influence the subjective wellbeing (SWB) of public transport users within Greater Jakarta, Indonesia.

Integrating quantitative survey data with in-depth qualitative insights, this study uncovers a spatial paradox. Quantitatively, a hierarchical OLS regression analysis (N = 424) demonstrates that for public transport users, objective structural factors, such as commuting duration and frequency, show an insignificant correlation with life satisfaction. Instead, emotional attachment to the home municipality emerges as the strongest positive predictor of wellbeing, outweighing the physical exhaustion of long commute and functioning as a "Sanctuary Effect".

Qualitatively, semi-structured interviews and travel diaries further explain these statistical findings by revealing how public transport commuters navigate their journeys, spatially and emotionally. Interviews show that participants willingly accept long commutes as a calculated and rational trade-off due to peripheral housing affordability and family stability. Furthermore, travel diaries capture distinct emotional shifts, where commuters experience peak stress during transit overcrowding, followed by a sense of relief and comfort when approaching their home destination. By focusing on the lived experiences of daily commutes, this study provides a clearer picture of how long commutes from peripheral residential areas shape commuters SWB.