Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cartago and Ubud, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Cartago: $1,281 a month against $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent and utilities included – about $1,000 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Ubud, Bali outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Cartago
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,281
/mo nomad
Ubud, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$1,368
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cartago and in Ubud, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Cartago and in Ubud, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,281 per month in Cartago vs $1,368 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Cartago $1,281
  • Ubud, Bali $1,368

A couple spends around $1,972 per month in Cartago vs $2,314 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Cartago $1,972
  • Ubud, Bali $2,314

A family of three spends $2,663 per month in Cartago vs $3,260 in Ubud, Bali, rent included.

  • Cartago $2,663
  • Ubud, Bali $3,260

Cartago is about 6% cheaper than Ubud, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in clothing.

Cartago sits 5% below the global median, while Ubud, Bali is 1% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cartago
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.58 COP 24.0K
$3.33 Rp 59.9K
127.63%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.20 COP 118.0K
$35.18 Rp 633.2K
5.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.47 COP 26.8K
$5.80 Rp 104.5K
46.03%
Cappuccino
$1.54 COP 4,868
$2.73 Rp 49.1K
-43.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 4,050
$1.64 Rp 29.5K
-21.95%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.83 COP 2,626
$0.83 Rp 15.0K
-
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.10 COP 9,838
$2.70 Rp 48.6K
14.81%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 COP 11.6K
$4.30 Rp 77.4K
-14.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cartago
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.60 COP 5,072
$1.50 Rp 27.1K
6.67%
White Bread (500g)
$1.88 COP 5,954
$2.30 Rp 41.4K
-18.26%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.49 COP 4,737
$1.18 Rp 21.2K
26.27%
Eggs
$2.93 COP 9,305
$2.14 Rp 38.6K
36.92%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.58 COP 20.9K
$17.48 Rp 314.6K
-62.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.11 COP 22.5K
$4.03 Rp 72.5K
76.43%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.93 COP 31.5K
$12.23 Rp 220.1K
-18.81%
Apples (1kg)
$3.57 COP 11.3K
$3.55 Rp 63.9K
0.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.32 COP 4,187
$1.57 Rp 28.3K
-15.92%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.74 COP 5,513
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
-22.32%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.63 COP 5,168
$1.93 Rp 34.7K
-15.54%
Potato (1kg)
$1.42 COP 4,508
$1.88 Rp 33.9K
-24.47%
Onion (1kg)
$1.50 COP 4,743
$2.29 Rp 41.3K
-34.50%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 COP 3,432
$0.99 Rp 17.9K
9.09%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.03 COP 3,250
$0.53 Rp 9,475
94.34%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.69 COP 11.7K
$2.28 Rp 41.1K
61.84%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.12 COP 41.6K
$23.01 Rp 414.2K
-42.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.50 COP 4,741
$2.34 Rp 42.2K
-35.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 COP 7,770
$2.91 Rp 52.4K
-15.81%
🚌 Getting Around
Cartago
Ubud, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.02 COP 3,234
$0.24 Rp 4,315
325.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$8.82 Rp 158.7K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.79 COP 2,516
$0.48 Rp 8,684
64.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.27 COP 7,207
$0.46 Rp 8,233
393.48%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.40 COP 26.6K
$5.45 Rp 98.2K
54.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.32 COP 4,198
$0.88 Rp 15.9K
50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.0K COP 88.9M
$24.6K Rp 442.2M
14.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K COP 109.9M
$31.2K Rp 561.4M
11.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cartago
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 COP 348.3K
$83.0 Rp 1.5M
32.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.23 COP 42.0K
$6.45 Rp 116.0K
105.12%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.26 COP 95.9K
$18.57 Rp 334.2K
62.95%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cartago
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$42.32 COP 134.2K
$55.8 Rp 1.0M
-24.18%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$18.11 Rp 326.0K
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.24 COP 26.1K
$4.38 Rp 78.9K
88.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cartago
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$701 COP 2.2M
$493 Rp 8.9M
42.09%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,430 COP 20.4M
$5,754 Rp 103.6M
11.76%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cartago
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$77.8 COP 246.6K
$46.19 Rp 831.4K
68.35%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.1 COP 174.8K
$35.33 Rp 636.0K
56.07%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$127 COP 401.8K
$79.1 Rp 1.4M
60.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$111 COP 350.6K
$78.4 Rp 1.4M
41.06%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cartago
Ubud, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$645 COP 2.0M
$1,142 Rp 20.6M
-43.57%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$509 COP 1.6M
$676 Rp 12.2M
-24.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,041 COP 3.3M
$3,503 Rp 63.1M
-70.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$970 COP 3.1M
$1,700 Rp 30.6M
-42.94%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,999 COP 6.3M
$2,784 Rp 50.1M
-28.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,803 COP 5.7M
$2,241 Rp 40.3M
-19.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cartago
Ubud, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$165 Rp 3.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.58
13.78
-15.97%

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

Last update for Cartago: October 11, 2026

Last update for Ubud, Bali: October 11, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Cartago
$509
Ubud, Bali
$676 32.8% $167
Groceries & Markets
Cartago
$241
Ubud, Bali
$290 20.5% $49
Clothing & Footwear
Cartago
$167
Ubud, Bali
$108 35.4% $59
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cartago
$153
Ubud, Bali
$108 29.5% $45
Eating Out
Cartago
$136
Ubud, Bali
$109 19.8% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Cartago
$59
Ubud, Bali
$65 9.8% $5.8
Getting Around
Cartago
$16 *
Ubud, Bali
$13 22.7% $3.7

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $645 in Cartago versus $1,142 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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Cartago versus $35.00 in Ubud, Bali. Groceries tell a different story – $241 in Cartago vs $290 in Ubud, Bali – so Cartago wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Cartago
🇮🇩 Ubud, Bali
🕒 Local time
06:36 6:36 AM
19:36 7:36 PM
13 h ahead of Cartago
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
135,365
74,800
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 18,000 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.56 USD). 1 EUR = 20,236 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cartago Ubud, Bali 18,710 km ≈ 24 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cartago
  • Ubud, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Cartago vs Ubud, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ubud, Bali cheaper than Cartago?
Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 7%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in clothing.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,921 per month in Cartago and $2,051 in Ubud, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Cartago, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Cartago and in Ubud, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,281 in Cartago and $1,368 in Ubud, Bali. That's a gap of about 7%.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $701 per month in Cartago and $493 in Ubud, Bali. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Cartago or in Ubud, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cartago, where all-in costs run around $1,281, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,368. In Cartago it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Cartago or Ubud, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Cartago – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Cartago or Ubud, Bali?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Cartago. 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.

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