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 $1,063 per month in Cartagena vs $1,394 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,611 per month in Cartagena vs $2,551 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,160 per month in Cartagena vs $3,708 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

Cartagena is about 24% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Cartagena sits 20% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 5% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.09 COP 20.9K

$3.40 Rp 60.2K

79.12%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.00 COP 161.1K

$32.38 Rp 573.6K

45.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.47 COP 32.4K

$5.00 Rp 88.6K

89.40%

Cappuccino

$1.64 COP 5,616

$2.82 Rp 50.0K

-41.84%

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

$0.87 COP 2,971

$1.38 Rp 24.4K

-36.96%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 COP 2,249

$0.73 Rp 13.0K

-9.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.25 COP 4,269

$2.98 Rp 52.8K

-58.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.93 COP 10.1K

$3.97 Rp 70.3K

-26.20%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 COP 3,968

$1.79 Rp 31.8K

-35.20%

White Bread (500g)

$1.90 COP 6,511

$2.46 Rp 43.7K

-22.76%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.33 COP 4,563

$1.20 Rp 21.2K

10.83%

Eggs

$2.10 COP 7,206

$2.39 Rp 42.3K

-12.13%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$6.80 COP 23.3K

$14.40 Rp 255.1K

-52.78%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$6.16 COP 21.1K

$4.28 Rp 75.9K

43.93%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.16 COP 28.0K

$11.82 Rp 209.4K

-30.96%

Apples (1kg)

$3.28 COP 11.2K

$3.78 Rp 67.0K

-13.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.99 COP 6,819

$1.63 Rp 28.9K

22.09%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 COP 4,997

$2.80 Rp 49.6K

-47.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 COP 5,665

$2.26 Rp 40.0K

-26.99%

Potato (1kg)

$1.60 COP 5,480

$2.00 Rp 35.3K

-20.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,647

$2.21 Rp 39.2K

-52.04%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.05 COP 3,595

$1.07 Rp 18.9K

-1.87%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 COP 1,988

$0.76 Rp 13.5K

-23.68%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.35 COP 8,045

$3.13 Rp 55.4K

-24.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.92 COP 64.8K

$23.81 Rp 421.9K

-20.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.00 COP 3,422

$2.84 Rp 50.3K

-64.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.99 COP 3,385

$2.78 Rp 49.2K

-64.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.02 COP 3,508

$0.27 Rp 4,726

277.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.14 COP 99.9K

$8.37 Rp 148.2K

248.15%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$2.47 COP 8,451

$0.45 Rp 8,034

448.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.35 COP 8,049

$0.43 Rp 7,578

446.51%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.96 COP 17.0K

$5.98 Rp 105.9K

-17.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.96 COP 3,298

$0.80 Rp 14.2K

20.00%

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

$20.8K COP 71.3M

$25.8K Rp 457.2M

-19.34%

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

$23.6K COP 80.8M

$31.8K Rp 563.4M

-25.87%

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

$140 COP 478.8K

$80.7 Rp 1.4M

73.02%

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

$10.70 COP 36.7K

$4.14 Rp 73.3K

158.45%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.03 COP 85.8K

$24.12 Rp 427.2K

3.77%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.17 COP 120.5K

$97.8 Rp 1.7M

-64.02%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.48 COP 29.1K

$6.64 Rp 117.7K

27.71%

Cinema Ticket

$2.93 COP 10.1K

$4.04 Rp 71.5K

-27.48%

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

$144 COP 492.3K

$297 Rp 5.3M

-51.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,840 COP 20.0M

$6,590 Rp 116.7M

-11.38%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$48.52 COP 166.3K

$55.1 Rp 976.8K

-12.01%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.07 COP 133.9K

$38.51 Rp 682.1K

1.45%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$124 COP 425.6K

$86.1 Rp 1.5M

44.15%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$112 COP 385.1K

$78.0 Rp 1.4M

44.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.5M

$985 Rp 17.5M

-27.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$335 COP 1.1M

$665 Rp 11.8M

-49.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,270 COP 4.4M

$3,446 Rp 61.0M

-63.14%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.6M

$2,042 Rp 36.2M

-76.76%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,197 COP 11.0M

$2,829 Rp 50.1M

13.02%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$871 COP 3.0M

$2,282 Rp 40.4M

-61.84%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$422 COP 1.4M

$169 Rp 3.0M

149.47%

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: June 16, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $716 in Cartagena versus $985 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 149% 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 – $225 in Cartagena vs $299 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 31% 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 $1,594 per month in Cartagena and $2,091 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 $1,063, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,394. 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 $1,063 versus $1,394 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.