🇮🇩 Medan,
Indonesia
#2185
Nomad Score
6.3
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3.5894617, 98.6741623
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ESSENTIALS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏙️ City | Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia |
| 👥 Population | 2,500,000 (City), 4,600,000 (Metro) |
| 💻 Internet Speed | Average 35-50 Mbps; Biznet and Indihome are primary fiber providers. |
| 💸 Currency & Banking | Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). 1 USD ≈ 15,700 IDR. 1 EUR ≈ 17,000 IDR. |
| 🚰 Tap Water | Not drinkable. Use bottled water (Aqua) or 19L gallons (approx. 20,000 IDR). |
| 🔌 Power | 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type C and F (European standard) sockets. |
| 📶 SIM Card | Telkomsel (best coverage) or XL Axiata. 25GB data approx. 100,000 IDR ($6.50). |
| 💳 Banking for Expats | BCA, Mandiri, and BNI are reliable. Wise and Revolut work at ATMs. |
| 🛌 Accommodation | Mix of luxury high-rises (Podomoro City) and local guesthouses (Kost). |
| 💳 Cashless Friendly | Partial. Large malls/hotels accept cards; local stalls require QRIS (Gopay/OVO) or cash. |
| 🏠 Short Term Rentals | Airbnb and Traveloka; 1BR apartments range $400-$700/month. |
| 🛏️ Budget Accommodation | KoolKost or RedDoorz nearby Jalan Asia; approx. $150-$250/month. |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists | Kesawan (Heritage area) or near Sun Plaza (Central). |
| 🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads | Kecamatan Medan Baru or Podomoro City Deli Medan for modern infrastructure. |
WORKING AND NETWORKING
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Best Coworking Space | Clapham Collective (Jl. Kapten Pattimura No.423); Daily pass approx. 100,000 IDR. |
| ☕ Best Cafe for Work | The Coffee Crowd (Sun Plaza) or Common Folks (Jl. KH. Zainul Arifin); fast Wi-Fi and ample plugs. |
| 💼 Networking Events | Startup Medan meetups and events hosted at Clapham Collective. |
| 🥂 Social Events for Expats | Medan Community Facebook Group; trivia nights at Prime Bar (JW Marriott). |
TRANSPORTATION
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App | Gojek and Grab (Car and Bike options available). |
| 🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental | Limited commercial rental; usually arranged through guesthouses or local FB groups ($60/month). |
| 🏖️ Best Beach Nearby | Pantai Cermin (approx. 1.5 - 2 hours drive). |
| ✈️ Top Regional Airline | Lion Air and Citilink. |
| ✈️ Top International Airline | AirAsia and Singapore Airlines (SilkAir). |
| 🛣️ Highway Access | Belmera Toll Road connects the city to Belawan Port and Kualanamu Airport. |
| 🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub | Medan Main Station (Stasiun Medan) with Railink service to Kualanamu Airport (70,000 IDR). |
| 🚍 Public Transport Passes | Trans Metro Deli (Buy electronic 'Emoney' cards at Indomaret/Alfamart). |
| ✈️ Regional Travel | Shared minivans (KUPJ) to Lake Toba (Parapat) approx. 100,000 IDR. |
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏥 Best Hospital | Columbia Asia Hospital Medan (Jl. Listrik No.2A) - International standards. |
| 🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers | Zengarden (Jl. S. Parman) for high-end spa and zen wellness; Yoga Leaf Medan. |
| 🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers | Celebrity Fitness (Sun Plaza); Monthly membership approx. 600,000 IDR. |
| 🧺 Laundry Services | Local 'Laundry Kiloan' (per kg) shops; 7,000 - 10,000 IDR per kg for wash/dry/fold. |
FOOD AND DRINK
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📱 Best Food Delivery App | GoFood (Gojek) and GrabFood. |
| 🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try | Bolu Meranti (Cake) and Mie Aceh Titi Bobrok (Jl. Setia Budi). |
| 🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options | Sama Radhi Vegetarian (Jl. Orion) and Socrates Vegan (Jl. Airlangga). |
| 🍫 Best Dessert Spots | Ucok Durian (Jl. K.H. Wahid Hasyim) for world-famous Medan durian. |
| 🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots | Pasar Beruang or Pajak Ikan Lama for textiles and local goods. |
| 🛒 E-commerce/Online Store | Tokopedia, Shopee, and Lazada. |
| 🛒 Grocery Delivery | Sayursbox or GrabMart. |
| 🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area | Jalan Dr. Mansyur and the various bars inside JW Marriott and Grand City Hall. |
| 🍻 Local Brewery | No local craft breweries; Bintang and Heineken are the standard beers. |
| 🍷 Wine Bars | The Vintage Wine Shop & Bar (Grand City Hall). |
| 🍲 Street Food Stalls | Jalan Semarang (Food Street) - opens at night for Chinese-Indonesian street food. |
| 🍕 Popular International Cuisine | Nelayan (Dim Sum) and Sushi Tei (Japanese). |
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🎟️ Must-See Landmarks | Maimun Palace (Istana Maimun) and Great Mosque of Medan (Masjid Raya Al-Mashun). |
| 🏛️ Museums & Art Venues | Tjong A Fie Mansion (Jl. Ahmad Yani No.105). |
| 🏰 Historical Sites | Old Post Office (Pos Bloc Medan) in the Kesawan Square area. |
| 🕍 Religious Sites | Graha Maria Annai Velangkanni (Indian-style Catholic church) and Vihara Maitreya. |
| 🎉 Annual Events | Ramadan Bazaars and the Lunar New Year celebrations in the Chinatown district. |
| 🎨 Cultural Districts | Kampung Keling (Little India) for authentic Indian food and culture. |
| 🎭 Theater Venues | Taman Budaya Sumatera Utara (North Sumatra Cultural Park). |
| 🛍️ Local Markets | Pasar Ramai (near Thamrin Plaza) for a local chaotic market experience. |
| 🎼 Music Scene | O'Flahertys (Jl. Komodor Muda Adi Sucipto) for live music and a pub vibe. |
| 🎨 Street Art | Murals along Jalan Ahmad Yani and the Kesawan heritage area. |
| 🧑🍳 Cooking Classes | Occasional workshops at culinary schools like Medan Culinary School. |
| 👩🎨 Art Galleries | Galeri Nasional Indonesia (Exhibitions vary, check local listings). |
| 🕰️ Historic Buildings | London Sumatra (Lonsum) Building with its European architecture. |
| 🏴 Local Heritage | Batik Medan and Ulos (traditional Batak woven cloth). |
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes | Sibolangit Nature Reserve (1.5 hours) for hiking and birdwatching. |
| 🏞️ National Parks Nearby | Gunung Leuser National Park (3.5 hours to Bukit Lawang) for orangutan trekking. |
| 🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths | Lapangan Merdeka (Merdeka Square) is the main hub for walking and Sunday Car Free Day. |
| 🌄 Scenic Viewpoints | Penatapan Berastagi for views of the volcano (2 hours from Medan). |
| 🦉 Birdwatching Locations | Hutan Kota Taman Ahmad Yani. |
| 🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots | Camping grounds in Sibolangit or near Lake Toba. |
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 📦 Parcel Delivery Service | JNE, J&T Express, and Pos Indonesia. |
| 🛠️ Tech Repair Services | Plaza Medan Fair (top floors) for all mobile and laptop repairs. |
| 🏓 Table Tennis Spots | PTM (Persatuan Tenis Meja) clubs scattered in residential areas like Komplek Cemara Asri. |
| 🧑🏫 Language Classes | IALF Medan (Jl. Sei Bahorok) or local tutors via Preply. |
| 📚 Libraries & Study Spots | North Sumatra Provincial Library (Perpustakaan Daerah). |
| 🏘️ Community Centers | Tjong A Fie Mansion hosts occasional community cultural talks. |
| 🕹️ Gaming Lounges | The Prime Esports (Internet Cafe/Gaming Hub). |
| 🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls | Prohibited in Indonesia. |
BUSINESS
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. 20,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 30m² = 600,000,000 IDR / $38,000). |
| 🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. 12,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 30m² = 360,000,000 IDR / $23,000). |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. 18,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 50m² = 900,000,000 IDR / $57,000). |
| 🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. 10,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 50m² = 500,000,000 IDR / $32,000). |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) | Approx. 17,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 80m² = 1,360,000,000 IDR / $86,000). |
| 🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) | Approx. 9,000,000 IDR per m² (e.g., 80m² = 720,000,000 IDR / $45,000). |
| 💼 Corporate Tax | 22% standard rate. |
| 💵 Dividend Withholding Tax | 10% for residents; 20% for non-residents (subject to treaty). |
| 🏦 Tax System | Worldwide income for residents (>183 days in Indonesia). |
| 📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket | 35% (for income above 5 billion IDR). |
| 🧾 VAT | 11%. |
| 🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules | Yes, applicable to 50% or more ownership in foreign entities. |
| 🏠 Property Tax | PBB (Pajak Bumi dan Bangunan), approx 0.1% to 0.2% of property value annually. |
| 🏠 Property Transaction Tax | 5% (BPHTB) paid by buyer; 2.5% (Income Tax) paid by seller. |
| 💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads | The 'KITAS Rumah Kedua' (Second Home Visa) allows 5-10 years stay; tax is only on Indonesia-sourced income for those under specific remote worker circulars (verify with tax professional). |
🧭 CONTINUE EXPLORING MEDAN