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 $1,295 per month in Cartagena vs $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,130 per month in Cartagena vs $2,348 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,966 per month in Cartagena vs $3,327 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Cartagena is about 5% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Cartagena sits 5% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 0% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.95 COP 15.5K

$3.44 Rp 60.9K

43.90%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$135 COP 422.2K

$36.31 Rp 643.0K

272.60%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$10.19 COP 31.8K

$5.71 Rp 101.0K

78.46%

Cappuccino

$3.61 COP 11.3K

$2.67 Rp 47.3K

35.21%

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

$1.88 COP 5,879

$1.75 Rp 31.0K

7.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.82 COP 5,670

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

109.20%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.06 COP 6,425

$2.95 Rp 52.3K

-30.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.87 COP 15.2K

$4.52 Rp 80.0K

7.74%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 COP 6,144

$1.62 Rp 28.7K

21.60%

White Bread (500g)

$2.99 COP 9,317

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

28.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,703

$1.11 Rp 19.6K

36.04%

Eggs

$5.21 COP 16.2K

$2.20 Rp 39.0K

136.82%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.62 COP 42.5K

$17.69 Rp 313.3K

-23.01%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$17.97 COP 56.1K

$4.10 Rp 72.5K

338.29%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.18 Rp 215.6K

Apples (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 65.6K

Banana (1kg)

$1.59 Rp 28.1K

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.4K

Tomato (1kg)

$1.95 Rp 34.6K

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 33.7K

Onion (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 17.8K

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$2.07 COP 6,464

$0.55 Rp 9,773

276.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 Rp 39.5K

Wine (Bottle)

$14.76 COP 46.1K

$23.07 Rp 408.6K

-36.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.40 COP 4,362

$2.42 Rp 42.8K

-42.15%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 Rp 53.1K

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 COP 4,018

$0.27 Rp 4,814

377.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$59.4 COP 185.2K

$8.98 Rp 159.1K

561.02%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$4.85 COP 15.1K

$0.48 Rp 8,566

910.42%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$3.84 COP 12.0K

$0.43 Rp 7,679

793.02%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.83 COP 30.7K

$5.64 Rp 99.9K

74.29%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,300

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

72.50%

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

$23.9K COP 74.6M

$24.9K Rp 441.7M

-4.10%

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

$34.8K COP 108.7M

$31.7K Rp 561.5M

9.86%

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

$80.9 COP 252.4K

$81.5 Rp 1.4M

-0.69%

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

$6.49 Rp 115.0K

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.77 Rp 332.4K

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$90.5 COP 282.5K

$56.9 Rp 1.0M

59.21%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$18.73 Rp 331.7K

Cinema Ticket

$8.48 COP 26.5K

$4.54 Rp 80.4K

86.78%

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

$651 COP 2.0M

$481 Rp 8.5M

35.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,929 COP 18.5M

$5,711 Rp 101.1M

3.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.52 Rp 806.0K

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.88 Rp 635.4K

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$80.4 Rp 1.4M

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$78.7 Rp 1.4M

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,087 COP 3.4M

$1,115 Rp 19.7M

-2.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$581 COP 1.8M

$698 Rp 12.4M

-16.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,355 COP 7.3M

$3,637 Rp 64.4M

-35.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$978 COP 3.1M

$1,737 Rp 30.8M

-43.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,784 Rp 49.3M

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$968 COP 3.0M

$2,290 Rp 40.5M

-57.72%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$480 COP 1.5M

$168 Rp 3.0M

185.95%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

8.85%

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

Last update for Cartagena: September 14, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,087 in Cartagena versus $1,115 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 186% 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 $135 in Cartagena versus $36.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $268 in Cartagena vs $295 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 6% more than Cartagena, with the gap driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,942 per month in Cartagena and $2,052 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 $651 per month in Cartagena and $481 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% 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 $1,295, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. 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 $1,295 versus $1,368 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.