Medan vs Kediri: Which City Wins for Expats in 2026?
The two cities are closely matched — lifestyle preference and visa options are likely the deciding factors. Use our tool below to personalize the estimate based on your income and lifestyle.
Medan is approximately 56% less expensive than Kediri based on cost of living including rent. This makes Medan a more budget-friendly option for expats considering a move.
Medan has a FIRE Score of 77/100, indicating its suitability for financial independence and early retirement. The city's safety index is 55, suggesting moderate safety levels.
Recommended profile: Medan is ideal for GeoArbitragers and remote workers looking to maximize savings.
About Medan
Medan is a brutally cheap place to live, with a 1-bedroom outside the center at $89/mo and a monthly public transport pass at $6/mo, but the average local net salary of $216/mo means most expats are living on foreign income, not local wages. The catch is that both the Indonesia Retirement Visa (KITAS) and the Indonesia Remote Worker Visa (E33G) demand a minimum monthly income of $2,000/mo, which is nearly ten times what a local earns. Add limited English, a small expat community, fair healthcare, and a hot, humid climate with rain year-round, and Medan suits self-sufficient remote workers who want maximum savings over comfort. The FIRE score of 77/100 is the real draw here; the retiree score of 51/100 tells you this is not a soft landing.
About Indonesia
Skip this if you need English-speaking doctors or a fast path to citizenship, both weak here. But budget retirees can live well on $429.70/mo excl. rent plus sub-$320 rent, and the $2,000/mo Retirement KITAS is achievable. Best suited for low-cost-focused retirees, not remote workers facing the $387/mo nomad visa threshold.
$2,671/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
About Kediri
Kediri is a cheap place to live, with a one-bedroom outside the center at $248/mo and an inexpensive restaurant meal for $1, but the average local net salary of $112/mo means most expats need outside income to make it work. The Indonesia Remote Worker Visa (E33G) and Indonesia Retirement Visa (KITAS) both require $2,000/mo in income, which is steep for a city with an overall expat score of 51/100 and limited English proficiency. Fast internet at $19/mo and a $13/mo transport pass are real draws, yet the fair healthcare and 30 Mbps average speed keep Kediri a budget base rather than a comfortable long-term home.
About Indonesia
Skip this if you need English-speaking doctors or a fast path to citizenship, both weak here. But budget retirees can live well on $429.70/mo excl. rent plus sub-$320 rent, and the $2,000/mo Retirement KITAS is achievable. Best suited for low-cost-focused retirees, not remote workers facing the $387/mo nomad visa threshold.
$2,490/mo
Cost of Living (Without Rent)
Rent Per Month
Attractiveness
City Details
Which visa fits your move?
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| Metric | Medan | Kediri |
|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (Center) | $230.5 | $360.36 |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside) | $89.41 | $247.75 |
| 3BR Apartment (Center) | $488.94 | N/A |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside) | $209.55 | N/A |
| Safety Index | 55 | 58 |
| Internet Speed | 20Mbps | 29.5Mbps |
| Walkability Score | N/A | N/A |
Monthly cost by categoryOne person, computed from each city's own average prices
| Category | Medan | Kediri |
|---|---|---|
| Total (rent included) | $354/mo | N/A |
| Excluding rent | $265/mo | N/A |
| Rent | $89.00/mo | N/A |
| Groceries | $89.00/mo | N/A |
| Dining out | $17.00/mo | N/A |
| Entertainment & lifestyle | $42.00/mo | N/A |
| Utilities & connectivity | $111/mo | N/A |
| Transport | $6.00/mo | N/A |
Usage-based estimates from this city's own average prices. A row marked N/A means that city is missing data, so no figure is shown instead of a stale one.
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Medan vs Kediri -- Frequently Asked Questions
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