Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Bali and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,275 per month in Bali vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,093 per month in Bali vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,912 per month in Bali vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.

Bali is about 22% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Bali sits 8% below the global median, while Medellin is 19% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bali
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.78 Rp 49.0K
$8.04 COP 24.8K
-65.42%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.58 Rp 538.3K
$48.29 COP 148.6K
-36.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.71 Rp 83.0K
$9.42 COP 29.0K
-50.00%
Cappuccino
$2.34 Rp 41.1K
$2.94 COP 9,040
-20.41%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 Rp 26.7K
$1.86 COP 5,735
-18.28%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.67 Rp 11.8K
$1.46 COP 4,479
-54.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.56 Rp 45.1K
$3.21 COP 9,882
-20.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.67 Rp 64.6K
$5.71 COP 17.6K
-35.73%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bali
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.52 Rp 26.7K
$1.44 COP 4,428
5.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.12 Rp 37.3K
$2.40 COP 7,389
-11.67%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.11 Rp 19.6K
$1.70 COP 5,228
-34.71%
Eggs
$2.02 Rp 35.5K
$2.89 COP 8,896
-30.10%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.67 Rp 293.5K
$10.06 COP 30.9K
65.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.75 Rp 66.0K
$9.97 COP 30.7K
-62.39%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.85 Rp 208.7K
$14.20 COP 43.7K
-16.55%
Apples (1kg)
$3.51 Rp 61.9K
$3.98 COP 12.3K
-11.81%
Banana (1kg)
$1.54 Rp 27.1K
$1.58 COP 4,878
-2.53%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 Rp 39.6K
$2.15 COP 6,624
4.65%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.92 Rp 33.7K
$2.30 COP 7,078
-16.52%
Potato (1kg)
$1.73 Rp 30.5K
$2.00 COP 6,169
-13.50%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 Rp 40.5K
$1.51 COP 4,646
52.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.01 Rp 17.7K
$1.20 COP 3,701
-15.83%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.51 Rp 9,046
$1.28 COP 3,946
-60.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.13 Rp 37.4K
$3.84 COP 11.8K
-44.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$21.59 Rp 380.1K
$14.01 COP 43.1K
54.10%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.20 Rp 38.8K
$1.71 COP 5,256
28.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.86 Rp 50.3K
$2.74 COP 8,440
4.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Bali
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.25 Rp 4,377
$1.25 COP 3,834
-80.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.22 Rp 144.6K
$77.9 COP 239.7K
-89.45%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.49 Rp 8,567
$1.31 COP 4,016
-62.60%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.48 Rp 8,392
$2.17 COP 6,680
-77.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.52 Rp 97.1K
$8.29 COP 25.5K
-33.41%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.81 Rp 14.2K
$1.36 COP 4,172
-40.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.7K Rp 435.2M
$27.5K COP 84.5M
-10.02%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.8K Rp 559.5M
$36.5K COP 112.4M
-13.03%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bali
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$82.8 Rp 1.5M
$169 COP 519.2K
-50.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.49 Rp 114.3K
$13.57 COP 41.8K
-52.17%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.04 Rp 335.1K
$28.32 COP 87.2K
-32.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bali
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$47.52 Rp 836.6K
$45.71 COP 140.7K
3.96%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.14 Rp 266.6K
$17.22 COP 53.0K
-12.08%
Cinema Ticket
$3.77 Rp 66.3K
$6.65 COP 20.5K
-43.31%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bali
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$446 Rp 7.9M
$803 COP 2.5M
-44.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,332 Rp 93.9M
$9,190 COP 28.3M
-41.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bali
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.63 Rp 785.8K
$87.4 COP 268.8K
-48.91%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$33.69 Rp 593.1K
$59.4 COP 182.7K
-43.25%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.2 Rp 1.4M
$139 COP 427.5K
-44.42%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.5 Rp 1.4M
$102 COP 314.0K
-24.09%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bali
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,003 Rp 17.7M
$1,071 COP 3.3M
-6.31%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$610 Rp 10.7M
$653 COP 2.0M
-6.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,095 Rp 54.5M
$1,925 COP 5.9M
60.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,500 Rp 26.4M
$1,048 COP 3.2M
43.11%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,478 Rp 43.6M
$4,123 COP 12.7M
-39.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,968 Rp 34.7M
$1,697 COP 5.2M
15.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bali
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$220 Rp 3.9M
$655 COP 2.0M
-66.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
10.94
25.96%

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

Last update for Bali: September 7, 2026

Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,003 in Bali versus $1,071 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 198% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Bali versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $278 vs $300 – making Bali the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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
Bali vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bali or Medellin?
Medellin costs about 29% more than Bali, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Bali and in Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,913 per month in Bali and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Bali or Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Bali, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Bali and in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $31.00 in Bali and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Bali compared to Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,275 in Bali and $1,641 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Bali or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,275, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bali or Medellin?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Bali costs $1,275 versus $1,641 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Bali compared to Medellin?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Bali or to Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Bali. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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