Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Ubud, Bali Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartagena and Ubud, Bali

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,062 per month in Cartagena vs $1,438 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,608 per month in Cartagena vs $2,585 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,153 per month in Cartagena vs $3,732 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Cartagena is about 26% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Cartagena sits 21% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 7% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.17 COP 22.3K

$3.57 Rp 61.9K

72.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.58 COP 171.8K

$32.58 Rp 564.7K

46.04%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.85 COP 35.5K

$5.07 Rp 87.8K

94.28%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,948

$2.83 Rp 49.0K

-41.70%

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

$0.81 COP 2,914

$1.34 Rp 23.2K

-39.55%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.67 COP 2,407

$0.69 Rp 12.0K

-2.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.30 COP 4,682

$2.99 Rp 51.8K

-56.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.95 COP 10.6K

$3.85 Rp 66.7K

-23.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 COP 4,124

$1.74 Rp 30.2K

-34.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1.86 COP 6,715

$2.54 Rp 44.0K

-26.77%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 COP 4,784

$1.19 Rp 20.6K

11.76%

Eggs

$2.11 COP 7,605

$2.43 Rp 42.0K

-13.17%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.07 COP 25.5K

$14.66 Rp 254.1K

-51.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.91 COP 21.3K

$4.18 Rp 72.4K

41.39%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.13 COP 29.4K

$11.94 Rp 206.9K

-31.91%

Apples (1kg)

$3.20 COP 11.6K

$3.69 Rp 63.9K

-13.28%

Banana (1kg)

$1.96 COP 7,059

$1.61 Rp 27.8K

21.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,424

$2.69 Rp 46.5K

-44.24%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.58 COP 5,689

$2.33 Rp 40.4K

-32.19%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 COP 5,588

$1.91 Rp 33.0K

-18.85%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,892

$2.19 Rp 37.9K

-50.68%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.00 COP 3,619

$1.06 Rp 18.3K

-5.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 COP 2,144

$0.72 Rp 12.5K

-18.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.36 COP 8,503

$3.13 Rp 54.3K

-24.60%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.52 COP 66.8K

$23.49 Rp 407.1K

-21.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.93 COP 3,367

$2.74 Rp 47.5K

-66.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.03 COP 3,709

$2.88 Rp 49.9K

-64.24%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 COP 3,805

$0.29 Rp 5,029

262.07%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.08 COP 101.4K

$8.17 Rp 141.6K

243.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.38 COP 8,602

$0.45 Rp 7,863

428.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.37 COP 8,556

$0.42 Rp 7,305

464.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.93 COP 17.8K

$6.16 Rp 106.7K

-19.97%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.03 COP 3,709

$0.84 Rp 14.6K

22.62%

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

$20.9K COP 75.4M

$26.2K Rp 454.9M

-20.46%

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

$23.6K COP 85.3M

$32.5K Rp 562.9M

-27.26%

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

$142 COP 514.1K

$78.4 Rp 1.4M

81.60%

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

$10.96 COP 39.6K

$3.95 Rp 68.5K

177.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.17 COP 90.9K

$24.40 Rp 423.0K

3.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.27 COP 127.3K

$96.5 Rp 1.7M

-63.47%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.84 COP 31.9K

$6.35 Rp 110.0K

39.21%

Cinema Ticket

$2.94 COP 10.6K

$4.04 Rp 70.0K

-27.23%

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

$142 COP 512.4K

$303 Rp 5.2M

-53.10%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,910 COP 21.3M

$6,523 Rp 113.1M

-9.39%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.13 COP 173.8K

$53.8 Rp 933.1K

-10.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.46 COP 142.5K

$37.98 Rp 658.3K

3.90%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$123 COP 445.3K

$86.8 Rp 1.5M

42.16%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 COP 413.6K

$78.9 Rp 1.4M

45.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$741 COP 2.7M

$1,012 Rp 17.5M

-26.80%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$330 COP 1.2M

$674 Rp 11.7M

-51.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,308 COP 4.7M

$3,390 Rp 58.8M

-61.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$479 COP 1.7M

$2,098 Rp 36.4M

-77.18%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,077 COP 11.1M

$2,985 Rp 51.7M

3.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,977 COP 7.1M

$2,339 Rp 40.5M

-15.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$420 COP 1.5M

$173 Rp 3.0M

142.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

12.95%

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

Last update for Cartagena: April 25, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: April 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $741 in Cartagena versus $1,012 in Ubud, Bali. 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 143% higher in Cartagena, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Cartagena versus $33.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $222 in Cartagena vs $298 in Ubud, Bali – so Cartagena wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Cartagena vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ubud, Bali costs about 35% more than Cartagena, with the gap driven mainly by Groceries & Markets. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,593 per month in Cartagena and $2,158 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Cartagena, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $142 per month in Cartagena and $303 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 34% more in Ubud, Bali, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Cartagena, where all-in costs run around $1,062, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,438. In Cartagena it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Cartagena costs $1,062 versus $1,438 in Ubud, Bali. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Cartagena. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.