Living in Medan
Indonesia · temperate
Medan is a big city of roughly 2,500,000 people right by the sea in Indonesia. The climate is temperate. It keeps a balanced mix of locals and visitors and is considered very safe. A typical month of living costs around $950. Healthcare is reasonable, and the internet is generally reliable. People come here for hiking, swimming, gardening and rural life.
Private healthcare (4/5) is clearly better than the public system (1/5): budget for insurance.
Medan at a glance: cost, climate, safety
Who tends to love living in Medan
- Making a budget stretch further
- Feeling safe day to day
- Getting around on foot
- Raising a family
- Anyone into hiking
- Anyone into swimming
All parameters
💉 Childhood vaccines: Compulsory by law
Health ministry regulation 12 of 2017 calls basic immunisation compulsory, and the state has chosen persuasion over enforcement.
If you skip them: Little in practice: the regulation carries no real penalty.
Exemptions: Medical, and in practice a refusal is accepted.
Source: Permenkes 12/2017, plus Georgetown AMP EID, survey of national legislation, 2024
📈 Popularity & prices: Growing
Accommodation prices have moved about +24% in the last 5 years.
Estimates, for orientation only.
🔭 Where this place is heading
Today’s data. Tap a year to see where it is heading.
What to know before moving to Medan
- • Natural risks worth checking: earthquakes, volcanic activity.
⚠️ The downsides of living in Medan
- •Malaria is present, mostly in rural areas and the wet season.
- •Rabies risk from stray dogs, think twice before petting animals.
- •Tap water isn't reliably drinkable, budget for filtered or bottled.
- •Air quality: PM2.5 averages ~30 µg/m³ (WHO guideline is 5).
- •Natural hazards to check locally: earthquakes, volcanic activity.
Health, air (WHO PM2.5), water & crime figures are rough country-level estimates, verify for your case.
Where is Medan?
₿ Spend Bitcoin around Medan
Open the Bitcoin merchant maps for this area, cafés, shops and ATMs that accept Bitcoin.
Merchants: BTC Map, from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Events and meetups: Club Orange.
Questions, answered
How much does it cost to live in Medan, Indonesia?
A typical month in Medan costs around $950, covering rent and everyday expenses for one person. It is an estimate meant for comparing places, not for budgeting exactly.
Is Medan, Indonesia safe?
Arcadia rates personal safety in Medan at 4 out of 5, which is good. Natural risks worth checking: earthquakes, volcanic activity.
What is the internet like in Medan?
Internet in Medan is rated 3 out of 5 for remote work, which is reasonable. Starlink is available in this country.
What is the weather like in Medan?
Medan has a temperate climate. It is on the coast.
Is healthcare good in Medan?
Healthcare in Medan is rated 3 out of 5 overall, which is reasonable. Public healthcare is 1/5 and private healthcare 4/5.
How easy is it to move to Indonesia?
Arcadia rates the ease of getting residency in Indonesia at 3 out of 5, which is reasonable. The place page lists the visa routes that apply and which depend on your passport.
Is Medan actually right for you?
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