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: $904 in Denpasar, Bali versus $607 in Medan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,545 in Denpasar, Bali versus $933 in Medan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,186 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,260 in Medan.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 49% more expensive than in Medan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 34% lower, Medan 56% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

$1.72 Rp 30.6K

35.47%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.80 Rp 458.3K

$8.73 Rp 155.1K

195.53%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.76 Rp 66.8K

$2.96 Rp 52.5K

27.03%

Cappuccino

$1.83 Rp 32.5K

$1.55 Rp 27.6K

18.06%

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

$1.14 Rp 20.3K

$0.34 Rp 6,114

235.29%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.54 Rp 9,661

$0.25 Rp 4,458

116.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.83 Rp 32.5K

$1.73 Rp 30.7K

5.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.80 Rp 49.8K

$3.58 Rp 63.6K

-21.79%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.29 Rp 23.0K

$1.08 Rp 19.1K

19.44%

White Bread (500g)

$1.86 Rp 33.0K

$1.14 Rp 20.2K

63.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.95 Rp 16.8K

$0.83 Rp 14.8K

14.46%

Eggs

$1.71 Rp 30.5K

$1.33 Rp 23.6K

28.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.24 Rp 252.9K

$7.91 Rp 140.5K

80.03%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.16 Rp 56.1K

$3.53 Rp 62.7K

-10.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.16 Rp 180.5K

$6.44 Rp 114.4K

57.76%

Apples (1kg)

$2.91 Rp 51.7K

$2.43 Rp 43.2K

19.75%

Banana (1kg)

$1.30 Rp 23.1K

$1.05 Rp 18.7K

23.81%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.87 Rp 33.2K

$1.48 Rp 26.4K

26.35%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.65 Rp 29.3K

$0.96 Rp 17.0K

71.88%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 Rp 26.1K

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

68.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.98 Rp 35.2K

$1.74 Rp 30.9K

13.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.81 Rp 14.3K

$0.41 Rp 7,334

97.56%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.42 Rp 7,393

$0.44 Rp 7,756

-4.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.83 Rp 32.4K

$3.02 Rp 53.7K

-39.40%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.06 Rp 338.6K

$16.41 Rp 291.5K

16.15%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.86 Rp 33.1K

$1.92 Rp 34.2K

-3.12%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.31 Rp 41.0K

$3.04 Rp 54.0K

-24.01%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.22 Rp 3,904

$0.27 Rp 4,759

-18.52%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.39 Rp 131.3K

$6.07 Rp 107.9K

21.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.43 Rp 7,649

$0.53 Rp 9,394

-18.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.43 Rp 7,595

$0.20 Rp 3,602

115.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 Rp 56.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.69 Rp 12.3K

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

-10.39%

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

$22.5K Rp 400.3M

$24.9K Rp 443.1M

-9.67%

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

$28.5K Rp 506.7M

$31.6K Rp 561.0M

-9.69%

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

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

$86.5 Rp 1.5M

-15.68%

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

$5.79 Rp 102.8K

$3.29 Rp 58.5K

75.99%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$16.73 Rp 297.2K

$23.34 Rp 414.6K

-28.32%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.09 Rp 712.3K

$17.06 Rp 303.1K

134.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.87 Rp 228.6K

$8.69 Rp 154.3K

48.10%

Cinema Ticket

$3.19 Rp 56.6K

$3.43 Rp 61.0K

-7.00%

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

$382 Rp 6.8M

$114 Rp 2.0M

234.11%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,414 Rp 78.4M

$1,720 Rp 30.6M

156.56%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.21 Rp 696.5K

$56.4 Rp 1.0M

-30.53%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.71 Rp 545.5K

$39.16 Rp 695.6K

-21.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$69.1 Rp 1.2M

$105 Rp 1.9M

-34.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.0 Rp 1.2M

$115 Rp 2.0M

-40.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$602 Rp 10.7M

$177 Rp 3.1M

239.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$358 Rp 6.4M

$88.9 Rp 1.6M

303.17%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,879 Rp 33.4M

$497 Rp 8.8M

278.34%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$893 Rp 15.9M

$211 Rp 3.8M

322.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,433 Rp 25.5M

$1,148 Rp 20.4M

24.83%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,191 Rp 21.2M

$571 Rp 10.1M

108.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$285 Rp 5.1M

$214 Rp 3.8M

33.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.78

9.25

48.97%

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

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: August 30, 2026

Last update for Medan: August 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $602 in Denpasar, Bali and $177 in Medan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 33% 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: $26.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $9.00 in Medan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $238 vs $182 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 49% in total monthly costs ($904 vs $607 including rent). Medan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 33% higher in Denpasar, Bali, 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: $602 in Denpasar, Bali versus $177 in Medan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $904 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $607 in Medan – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Medan runs roughly 22% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $607 in Medan versus $904 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 49% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.