City in North Sumatra, Indonesia
Cost of living in Medan
How much a month costs in Medan
For one person, including rent. A comfortable month costs about $559–895 (Rp10M–16M).
Prices in Medan
Typical 2026 ranges in IDR, rounded. US$ at the 03 Oct 2026 exchange rate.
| Item | IDR | US$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | ||
| 1-bedroom apartment, center (month) | Rp3M–7M | $168–391 |
| 1-bedroom apartment, outside center (month) | Rp1.8M–4M | $101–224 |
| Hostel dorm bed (night) | Rp80,000–180,000 | $4.5–10.1 |
| Mid-range hotel room (night) | Rp350,000–800,000 | $20–45 |
| Food and drink | ||
| Local meal or street food | Rp20,000–40,000 | $1.1–2.2 |
| Mid-range restaurant, per person | Rp70,000–150,000 | $3.9–8.4 |
| Cappuccino | Rp20,000–45,000 | $1.1–2.5 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l in a bar | Rp35,000–60,000 | $2.0–3.4 |
| Getting around | ||
| Public transport, one ride | Rp4,000–8,000 | $0.22–0.45 |
| Ride-hailing or taxi, about 5 km | Rp15,000–40,000 | $0.8–2.2 |
| Work and life | ||
| Gym membership (month) | Rp200,000–500,000 | $11–28 |
| Mobile data, 20–50 GB (month) | Rp100,000–200,000 | $5.6–11.2 |
Value for money: 88/100
A value score of 88/100 means Medan gives more quality of life per dollar than 87% of the 1,319 places we cover. Quality here scores 46/100. It's the 6th most affordable of 30 places we cover in Indonesia.
| Quality factor | Score |
|---|---|
| Safety | |
| Air quality | |
| Internet | |
| Healthcare | |
| Weather | |
| Friendly locals | |
| English |
Cost of living across Indonesia
One person, comfortable lifestyle, including rent.
| Place | Comfortable month | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Bukit Lawang | $447–671 | 98/100 |
| Lake Toba | $447–727 | 96/100 |
| Mount Bromo | $503–783 | 96/100 |
| Malang | $503–783 | 97/100 |
| Tana Toraja | $503–783 | 95/100 |
| Medan | $559–895 | 88/100 |
| Yogyakarta | $559–1,010 | 94/100 |
| Bandung | $615–951 | 87/100 |
| Kuta Lombok | $615–951 | 93/100 |
| Amed | $615–951 | 94/100 |
| Batam | $615–951 | 88/100 |
| Surabaya | $615–951 | 89/100 |
| Manado | $615–951 | 94/100 |
| Bintan | $671–1,120 | 84/100 |
| Nusa Lembongan | $727–1,120 | 90/100 |
| Lombok | $727–1,230 | 86/100 |
| Nusa Penida | $783–1,340 | 82/100 |
| Labuan Bajo | $839–1,450 | 76/100 |
| Gili Islands | $895–1,570 | 73/100 |
| Kuta | $951–1,570 | 64/100 |
| Jakarta | $1,010–1,680 | 44/100 |
| Jimbaran | $1,010–1,680 | 69/100 |
| Ubud | $1,120–1,790 | 65/100 |
| Sanur | $1,120–1,790 | 63/100 |
| Uluwatu | $1,340–2,120 | 48/100 |
| Raja Ampat | $1,230–2,240 | 35/100 |
| Nusa Dua | $1,340–2,240 | 59/100 |
| Bali | $1,400–2,240 | 44/100 |
| Canggu | $1,450–2,350 | 44/100 |
| Seminyak | $1,570–2,520 | 36/100 |
Cheaper alternatives to Medan
Similar safety, lower cost, in Southeast Asia.
| Place | Country | Comfortable month |
|---|---|---|
| Vang Vieng | Laos | $404–673 |
Quick answers
How much money do you need per month in Medan?
About $280–419 on a lean budget, $559–895 for a comfortable month and $1,230–2,120 for a luxury one, rent included.
How much is rent in Medan?
A furnished 1-bedroom apartment costs Rp3M–7M ($168–391) a month in the center and Rp1.8M–4M ($101–224) outside it.
How much does food cost in Medan?
A local meal is Rp20,000–40,000 ($1.1–2.2); a mid-range restaurant is Rp70,000–150,000 ($3.9–8.4) per person.
Is Indonesia expensive?
Prices in Indonesia are about 29% of US price levels (World Bank PPP).
More about Medan
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Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- World Bank: PPP conversion factor
- Wonderful Indonesia (Ministry of Tourism)
- KAI Bandara (Kualanamu airport rail)
- Siloam Hospitals
Prices are SoloSquare estimates for 2026, reviewed against official and operator prices where available. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.