Cost of Living Comparison Between Denpasar, Bali and Medan Cost of Living Comparison Between Denpasar, Bali and Medan

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $961 in Denpasar, Bali versus $651 in Medan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,660 in Denpasar, Bali versus $982 in Medan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,360 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,313 in Medan.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 48% more expensive than Medan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 28% lower, Medan 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.41 Rp 43.0K

$1.83 Rp 32.6K

31.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.74 Rp 388.3K

$10.63 Rp 189.9K

104.52%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.26 Rp 58.2K

$3.22 Rp 57.4K

1.24%

Cappuccino

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

5.00%

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

$0.92 Rp 16.5K

$0.40 Rp 7,122

130.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.47 Rp 8,368

$0.25 Rp 4,419

88.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

$1.58 Rp 28.1K

21.52%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.56 Rp 45.7K

$5.13 Rp 91.7K

-50.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 Rp 25.7K

$1.18 Rp 21.0K

22.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.04 Rp 36.5K

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

74.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.92 Rp 16.5K

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

5.75%

Eggs

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

$1.58 Rp 28.2K

20.89%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.89 Rp 212.4K

$9.78 Rp 174.6K

21.57%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.41 Rp 61.0K

$3.88 Rp 69.3K

-12.11%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.95 Rp 177.7K

$6.86 Rp 122.5K

45.04%

Apples (1kg)

$3.09 Rp 55.2K

$2.29 Rp 41.0K

34.93%

Banana (1kg)

$1.26 Rp 22.6K

$1.00 Rp 17.8K

26.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 Rp 39.6K

$1.47 Rp 26.3K

51.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

$0.94 Rp 16.8K

92.55%

Potato (1kg)

$1.61 Rp 28.8K

$0.74 Rp 13.2K

117.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

$1.29 Rp 23.1K

39.53%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

$0.46 Rp 8,163

86.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

$0.46 Rp 8,201

23.91%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 Rp 47.1K

$2.48 Rp 44.2K

6.45%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.27 Rp 344.2K

$15.75 Rp 281.3K

22.35%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.25 Rp 40.2K

$1.35 Rp 24.1K

66.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.23 Rp 39.8K

$3.17 Rp 56.6K

-29.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.24 Rp 4,257

$0.30 Rp 5,318

-20.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.34 Rp 131.0K

$9.86 Rp 176.1K

-25.56%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,813

$0.52 Rp 9,345

-15.38%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.39 Rp 6,914

$0.22 Rp 3,931

77.27%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.45 Rp 97.2K

$6.27 Rp 111.9K

-13.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.74 Rp 13.1K

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

-9.76%

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

$23.5K Rp 420.5M

$28.1K Rp 501.4M

-16.13%

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

$29.1K Rp 520.1M

$33.8K Rp 604.3M

-13.94%

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

$70.5 Rp 1.3M

$83.4 Rp 1.5M

-15.52%

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

$3.67 Rp 65.5K

$3.64 Rp 65.1K

0.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.23 Rp 379.1K

$33.53 Rp 598.8K

-36.68%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$69.5 Rp 1.2M

$23.40 Rp 417.8K

196.97%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.45 Rp 79.5K

$7.27 Rp 129.8K

-38.79%

Cinema Ticket

$2.91 Rp 52.0K

$3.58 Rp 63.9K

-18.72%

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

$227 Rp 4.1M

$126 Rp 2.3M

79.82%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,191 Rp 92.7M

$10.6K Rp 188.8M

-50.90%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.61 Rp 850.2K

$66.3 Rp 1.2M

-28.14%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.45 Rp 579.4K

$42.49 Rp 758.9K

-23.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.3 Rp 1.4M

$116 Rp 2.1M

-33.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$66.7 Rp 1.2M

$65.6 Rp 1.2M

1.74%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$528 Rp 9.4M

$191 Rp 3.4M

175.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$344 Rp 6.1M

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

249.09%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,801 Rp 32.2M

$544 Rp 9.7M

231.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,065 Rp 19.0M

$231 Rp 4.1M

362.16%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,476 Rp 26.4M

$1,176 Rp 21.0M

25.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,184 Rp 21.2M

$567 Rp 10.1M

108.92%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$335 Rp 6.0M

$215 Rp 3.8M

55.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

9.25

43.57%

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

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $528 in Denpasar, Bali and $191 in Medan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 56% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $11.00 in Medan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $187 per month, with Medan cheaper across the board.

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

Denpasar, Bali vs Medan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Denpasar, Bali and Medan differ by about 48% in total monthly costs ($961 vs $651 including rent). Medan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Denpasar, Bali pays 56% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $528 in Denpasar, Bali versus $191 in Medan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $961 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $651 in Medan – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Medan runs roughly 34% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $651 in Medan versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medan but tight or insufficient in Denpasar, Bali. The gap between the two cities makes Medan the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Denpasar, Bali and Medan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Medan gentler on the wallet – expenses run 48% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.