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 $1,086 per month in Cartagena vs $1,392 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,604 per month in Cartagena vs $2,557 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,121 per month in Cartagena vs $3,723 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Cartagena is about 22% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Cartagena sits 18% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.93 COP 18.7K

$3.57 Rp 64.5K

66.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.34 COP 149.1K

$32.32 Rp 583.4K

46.47%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.95 COP 31.3K

$5.01 Rp 90.4K

98.60%

Cappuccino

$1.57 COP 4,950

$2.82 Rp 51.0K

-44.33%

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

$0.82 COP 2,579

$1.35 Rp 24.4K

-39.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.68 COP 2,128

$0.73 Rp 13.2K

-6.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.31 COP 4,111

$2.93 Rp 53.0K

-55.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.89 COP 9,107

$3.94 Rp 71.1K

-26.65%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.14 COP 3,590

$1.78 Rp 32.1K

-35.96%

White Bread (500g)

$1.83 COP 5,777

$2.45 Rp 44.2K

-25.31%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,324

$1.15 Rp 20.7K

19.13%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 6,910

$2.41 Rp 43.6K

-9.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.81 COP 21.5K

$14.33 Rp 258.7K

-52.48%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.22 COP 19.6K

$4.19 Rp 75.6K

48.45%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.77 COP 24.5K

$12.06 Rp 217.7K

-35.57%

Apples (1kg)

$3.26 COP 10.3K

$3.64 Rp 65.7K

-10.44%

Banana (1kg)

$1.91 COP 6,014

$1.57 Rp 28.3K

21.66%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.45 COP 4,556

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

-48.03%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.62 COP 5,101

$2.24 Rp 40.5K

-27.68%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,074

$1.98 Rp 35.7K

-18.69%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,400

$2.28 Rp 41.1K

-52.63%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 COP 3,177

$1.05 Rp 19.0K

-3.81%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.59 COP 1,865

$0.79 Rp 14.2K

-25.32%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 7,403

$3.19 Rp 57.6K

-26.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.80 COP 59.2K

$23.49 Rp 424.1K

-19.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 COP 3,083

$2.90 Rp 52.3K

-66.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.98 COP 3,081

$2.76 Rp 49.7K

-64.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.05 COP 3,311

$0.27 Rp 4,813

288.89%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$28.98 COP 91.2K

$8.37 Rp 151.1K

246.24%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.46 COP 7,753

$0.45 Rp 8,167

446.67%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.37 COP 7,461

$0.46 Rp 8,298

415.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.86 COP 15.3K

$6.07 Rp 109.6K

-19.93%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 COP 3,204

$0.86 Rp 15.6K

18.60%

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

$21.1K COP 66.5M

$26.6K Rp 480.0M

-20.58%

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

$24.0K COP 75.7M

$32.5K Rp 587.6M

-26.12%

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

$143 COP 449.0K

$79.0 Rp 1.4M

80.47%

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

$10.93 COP 34.4K

$4.09 Rp 73.9K

167.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.27 COP 79.6K

$23.85 Rp 430.5K

5.95%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.26 COP 111.0K

$98.8 Rp 1.8M

-64.30%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.60 COP 27.1K

$6.35 Rp 114.7K

35.43%

Cinema Ticket

$2.84 COP 8,948

$4.01 Rp 72.3K

-29.18%

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

$144 COP 453.7K

$297 Rp 5.4M

-51.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,062 COP 19.1M

$6,602 Rp 119.2M

-8.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.97 COP 151.0K

$53.4 Rp 964.5K

-10.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.50 COP 121.2K

$38.11 Rp 688.1K

1.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$125 COP 393.7K

$88.7 Rp 1.6M

41.07%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 COP 351.2K

$76.6 Rp 1.4M

45.60%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$720 COP 2.3M

$1,020 Rp 18.4M

-29.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$333 COP 1.0M

$680 Rp 12.3M

-51.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,292 COP 4.1M

$3,469 Rp 62.6M

-62.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$471 COP 1.5M

$2,090 Rp 37.7M

-77.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,492 COP 11.0M

$2,729 Rp 49.3M

27.95%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$935 COP 2.9M

$2,295 Rp 41.4M

-59.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$467 COP 1.5M

$164 Rp 3.0M

185.52%

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: July 26, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: July 28, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $720 in Cartagena versus $1,020 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 $47.00 in Cartagena versus $32.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $223 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 28% 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 $1,629 per month in Cartagena and $2,088 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 $144 per month in Cartagena and $297 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 33% 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 $1,086, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,392. 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 $1,086 versus $1,392 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.