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Jakarta vs Medan cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ฎ๐ฉ Jakarta
๐ฎ๐ฉ Medan
At a glance
- Where Medan is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (64%โ), Half-day tour (44%โ), Restaurant dinner (33%โ)
- Where Jakarta is clearly cheaper: Street food (30%โ), Transit (30%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Jakarta is easier to travel (2.8 vs 3.0). Biggest gap: language โ Jakarta 3 vs Medan 4. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Jakarta | Medan | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | Rp 30,000$1.84 | Rp 30,000$1.84 | similar |
| Street food1 item | Rp 14,000$0.86 | Rp 20,000$1.23 | Jakarta โ30% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | Rp 180,000$11 | Rp 120,000$7.36 | Medan โ33% |
| Coffeeone cup | Rp 38,000$2.33 | Rp 35,000$2.15 | Medan โ8% |
| Beerone bottle | Rp 45,000$2.76 | Rp 45,000$2.76 | similar |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | Rp 130,000$7.98 | Rp 100,000$6.13 | Medan โ23% |
| Bottled water | Rp 4,500$0.28 | Rp 4,000$0.25 | Medan โ11% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | Rp 6,000$0.37 | Rp 7,000$0.43 | Jakarta โ14% |
| Taxi5 km in town | Rp 42,000$2.58 | Rp 35,000$2.15 | Medan โ17% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | Rp 15,000$0.92 | Rp 15,000$0.92 | similar |
| Transitone ride | Rp 3,500$0.21 | Rp 5,000$0.31 | Jakarta โ30% |
| Scooter rentalper day | Rp 100,000$6.13 | Rp 80,000$4.91 | Medan โ20% |
| Hotel night3-star | Rp 650,000$39.9 | Rp 550,000$33.7 | Medan โ15% |
| Studio rent (month) | Rp 5,000,000$307 | Rp 3,500,000$215 | Medan โ30% |
| Laundry | Rp 12,000$0.74 | Rp 8,000$0.49 | Medan โ33% |
| SIM card1 week data | Rp 97,000$5.95 | Rp 100,000$6.13 | similar |
| Haircutcut | Rp 50,000$3.07 | Rp 40,000$2.45 | Medan โ20% |
| Massage1 hour | Rp 170,000$10.4 | Rp 120,000$7.36 | Medan โ29% |
| Half-day tourper person | Rp 450,000$27.6 | Rp 250,000$15.3 | Medan โ44% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | Rp 97,000$5.95 | Rp 35,000$2.15 | Medan โ64% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Jakarta or Medan?
Medan is 20% cheaper than Jakarta. Daily budget $69.7 vs $57.3; a month $1,138 vs $874.
Which is easier to travel, Jakarta or Medan?
Jakarta is easier: Jakarta 2.8/5 vs Medan 3.0/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Jakarta and Medan?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Jakarta is about $1,138 and Medan about $874 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.