Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Menurut saya, biaya itu terlalu mahal. - In my opinion, that fee is too expensive.

menurut saya = “in my opinion/according to me.” Neutral–polite, common in speech and writing, slightly distancing/softer.
saya pikir = “I think (after reasoning).” A bit more assertive.
saya rasa = “I feel/I think (subjective sense).” Very common and natural.
saya kira = “I suppose/I presume.” Can sound tentative or like a prior assumption.
sepertinya = “it seems/it looks like.” Impersonal hedge.
kayaknya = Colloquial of sepertinya, casual. All of these can introduce the same opinion; choose based on tone and formality.

Is the comma after Menurut saya required?

It’s optional. A comma after an initial adverbial like Menurut saya is common and helps readability: Menurut saya, … Without the comma is also fine: Menurut saya biaya itu terlalu mahal.

Is biaya itu the most natural phrasing, or would biayanya or harganya sound better?

biaya itu = “that cost/fee (previously mentioned).” Fine if you’re pointing to a specific, known fee.
biayanya = “the/its cost.” Very common and often more natural in speech.
harganya = “the price (of a product/service).” Use when talking about the sticker price rather than an ongoing/associated cost. In everyday talk, many would say: Menurut saya, biayanya terlalu mahal or, if it’s a product price, Menurut saya, harganya terlalu mahal.

What’s the difference between biaya and harga?

harga = price of an item or service (the amount you pay to buy it). Example: harga buku, harga kamar.
biaya = cost/fee/charge associated with something (often services, processes, extras). Example: biaya kirim (shipping cost), biaya admin, biaya kuliah (tuition). Related words you may hear:
ongkos (fare/charge, e.g., transport, labor), tarif (rate).

Why is itu placed after the noun (biaya itu) instead of before it?

Indonesian demonstratives typically follow the noun:

biaya itu = “that cost/the cost (in question)” Putting itu first creates a different structure:
Itu biaya = “That is the cost” (a full clause), or topicalized “That cost …” for emphasis. For a simple noun phrase, use post-nominal itu.

Does terlalu really mean “too (much)”? Could it be taken as just “very”?

terlalu literally means “too/excessively,” i.e., beyond an acceptable level. It’s stronger than “very.”

terlalu mahal = “too expensive (overpriced/excessive)” For “very,” use sangat (before the adjective) or sekali (after it): sangat mahal / mahal sekali.

How can I say this more politely or softly in real-life situations?

Consider softeners and alternatives:

Menurut saya, agak mahal. (a bit expensive)
Sepertinya agak mahal.
Harganya lebih tinggi dari yang saya harapkan.
Bisa kurang? / Ada diskon? / Harganya bisa nego? Adding a small apology/disclaimer also helps: Maaf, menurut saya…

Can I say mahal sekali instead of terlalu mahal?

Yes, but the meaning changes:

terlalu mahal = too expensive (implies it should be cheaper)
mahal sekali = very expensive (strong, but not necessarily “too much”) Choose based on whether you want to signal “excessive/unacceptable” versus “very.”

Is tinggi a good alternative to mahal with biaya?

Often, yes. Collocations like biaya (yang) terlalu tinggi sound very natural, especially in formal contexts. With harga, both terlalu mahal and terlalu tinggi are used; mahal feels more colloquial/plain, tinggi slightly more formal/technical.

Why is there no word for “is”? Could I use adalah?

Indonesian doesn’t need a copula before adjectives. biaya itu (subject) + terlalu mahal (predicate adjective) is complete. Avoid adalah with adjectives; adalah typically links a subject to a noun phrase (e.g., Dia adalah dokter).

What’s the difference between terlalu mahal and kemahalan?

terlalu mahal = “too expensive” (adverb + adjective).
kemahalan (ke- -an) = “overpriced/too expensive” as a predicate or nouny state. Examples:
Harganya kemahalan. (The price is too high/overpriced.)
Kemahalan! (Too expensive!) Very colloquial and blunt. Use terlalu mahal in more neutral/complete sentences; kemahalan is concise and colloquial.

Can I drop itu and just say Menurut saya, biaya terlalu mahal?

You can, but it becomes more generic (“costs are too expensive” in general). If you mean a specific, known cost, prefer biayanya or biaya itu to mark definiteness.

How does formality change if I use menurutku or menurut gue?

menurut saya = neutral–polite (safe default).
menurutku = casual/informal (with friends/peers, regions where aku is common).
menurut gue = very casual Jakarta slang. Match the pronoun to the relationship and setting.

Any pronunciation tips for the sentence?

Menurut: me-NU-rut (light stress on NU). The e in me- is a schwa (uh).
saya: SA-ya (y as in “yes”).
biaya: bi-A-ya (three syllables; don’t merge i+a into “byah”).
itu: I-tu (clear vowels).
terlalu: ter-LA-lu (schwa in ter-).
mahal: MA-hal (pronounce the h). Indonesian stress is light, typically on the second-to-last syllable.

Can I say Menurut saya bahwa…?

It’s better to avoid bahwa after menurut. Use either:

Menurut saya, biaya itu terlalu mahal.
Or with bahwa after verbs like saya pikir/saya rasa: Saya pikir bahwa biaya itu terlalu mahal.

Is Menurut pendapat saya okay, or redundant?

It’s acceptable (especially in formal writing), but a bit tautological (“according to my opinion”). In everyday use, Menurut saya or Saya rasa/saya pikir is cleaner.

Would biaya tersebut work here?

Yes. biaya tersebut = “the said cost/the aforementioned cost.” It’s more formal than biaya itu and common in written or formal spoken contexts when referring back to something already mentioned.