Cost of Living Comparison Between Medan and Nanchang Cost of Living Comparison Between Medan and Nanchang

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $607 in Medan versus $655 in Nanchang.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $933 in Medan versus $1,046 in Nanchang.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,260 in Medan versus $1,436 in Nanchang.

Living in Medan costs roughly 7% less than in Nanchang, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medan 56% lower, Nanchang 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 Rp 30.6K

$2.23 ¥14.99

-22.87%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.73 Rp 155.1K

$18.16 ¥122

-51.93%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.96 Rp 52.5K

$5.02 ¥33.71

-41.04%

Cappuccino

$1.55 Rp 27.6K

$2.61 ¥17.53

-40.61%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 Rp 6,114

$0.47 ¥3.16

-27.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 Rp 4,458

$0.27 ¥1.81

-7.41%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 Rp 30.7K

$1.36 ¥9.11

27.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 Rp 63.6K

$1.95 ¥13.06

83.59%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 Rp 19.1K

$1.94 ¥13.04

-44.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 Rp 20.2K

$2.31 ¥15.51

-50.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 Rp 14.8K

$0.84 ¥5.67

-1.19%

Eggs

$1.33 Rp 23.6K

$1.72 ¥11.57

-22.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.91 Rp 140.5K

$12.68 ¥85.1

-37.62%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 Rp 62.7K

$4.10 ¥27.50

-13.90%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.44 Rp 114.4K

$11.46 ¥76.9

-43.80%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 Rp 43.2K

$2.05 ¥13.76

18.54%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 Rp 18.7K

$1.06 ¥7.13

-0.94%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 Rp 26.4K

$1.89 ¥12.66

-21.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.96 Rp 17.0K

$1.88 ¥12.59

-48.94%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$0.84 ¥5.67

3.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 Rp 30.9K

$1.11 ¥7.44

56.76%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 Rp 7,334

$0.65 ¥4.34

-36.92%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 Rp 7,756

$0.43 ¥2.91

2.33%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 Rp 53.7K

$2.94 ¥19.75

2.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.41 Rp 291.5K

$12.59 ¥84.5

30.34%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 Rp 34.2K

$0.72 ¥4.85

166.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 Rp 54.0K

$1.51 ¥10.10

101.32%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,759

$0.24 ¥1.61

12.50%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.07 Rp 107.9K

$15.04 ¥101

-59.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.53 Rp 9,394

$1.21 ¥8.13

-56.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 Rp 3,602

$0.29 ¥1.93

-31.03%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.53 ¥50.5

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$1.27 ¥8.49

-39.37%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$24.9K Rp 443.1M

$19.1K ¥128.4K

30.38%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$31.6K Rp 561.0M

$17.2K ¥115.7K

83.16%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$86.5 Rp 1.5M

$34.31 ¥230

152.00%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$3.29 Rp 58.5K

$8.89 ¥59.7

-62.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.34 Rp 414.6K

$13.29 ¥89.2

75.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.06 Rp 303.1K

$42.72 ¥287

-60.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.69 Rp 154.3K

$19.70 ¥132

-55.89%

Cinema Ticket

$3.43 Rp 61.0K

$6.44 ¥43.21

-46.74%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$114 Rp 2.0M

$321 ¥2,151

-64.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,720 Rp 30.6M

$16.9K ¥113.5K

-89.83%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 Rp 1.0M

$36.84 ¥247

53.20%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.16 Rp 695.6K

$22.06 ¥148

77.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 Rp 1.9M

$86.3 ¥579

22.02%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 Rp 2.0M

$59.9 ¥402

91.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 Rp 3.1M

$222 ¥1,487

-20.01%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.9 Rp 1.6M

$118 ¥795

-24.98%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 Rp 8.8M

$455 ¥3,050

9.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$211 Rp 3.8M

$249 ¥1,673

-15.25%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,148 Rp 20.4M

$2,022 ¥13.6K

-43.24%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$571 Rp 10.1M

$1,574 ¥10.6K

-63.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$214 Rp 3.8M

$746 ¥5,008

-71.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.25

3.46

167.34%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medan: August 31, 2026

Last update for Nanchang: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $177 in Medan and $222 in Nanchang. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Nanchang pays 249% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $9.00 in Medan vs $18.00 in Nanchang for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $224 per month, with Medan cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Medan vs Nanchang: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Medan is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 8% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 249% lower in Nanchang. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $177 in Medan versus $222 in Nanchang. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Medan runs roughly 148% less than in Nanchang. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $114 in Medan versus $321 in Nanchang. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Medan gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Expats usually find Medan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 8% less than in Nanchang. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.