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