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: $942 in Denpasar, Bali versus $640 in Medan.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,637 in Denpasar, Bali versus $988 in Medan.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,331 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,336 in Medan.

Living in Denpasar, Bali is roughly 47% more expensive than in Medan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 29% lower, Medan 52% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.38 Rp 42.7K

$1.88 Rp 33.6K

26.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.21 Rp 379.4K

$10.72 Rp 191.8K

97.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.39 Rp 60.7K

$3.28 Rp 58.7K

3.35%

Cappuccino

$1.87 Rp 33.5K

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

3.89%

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

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

$0.39 Rp 7,031

120.51%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,786

$0.27 Rp 4,855

81.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.02 Rp 36.1K

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

30.32%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.54 Rp 45.5K

$5.24 Rp 93.8K

-51.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.42 Rp 25.3K

$1.18 Rp 21.1K

20.34%

White Bread (500g)

$2.07 Rp 37.0K

$1.18 Rp 21.1K

75.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.99 Rp 17.8K

$0.83 Rp 14.9K

19.28%

Eggs

$1.96 Rp 35.1K

$1.53 Rp 27.3K

28.10%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.90 Rp 212.8K

$9.39 Rp 168.1K

26.73%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.50 Rp 62.6K

$3.71 Rp 66.4K

-5.66%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.90 Rp 177.1K

$6.83 Rp 122.2K

44.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.12 Rp 55.8K

$2.32 Rp 41.6K

34.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.29 Rp 23.2K

$1.00 Rp 17.8K

29.00%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

$1.53 Rp 27.4K

49.02%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.83 Rp 32.8K

$0.88 Rp 15.8K

107.95%

Potato (1kg)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

106.67%

Onion (1kg)

$1.85 Rp 33.1K

$1.27 Rp 22.7K

45.67%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.82 Rp 14.6K

$0.45 Rp 8,138

82.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

$0.49 Rp 8,778

26.53%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.65 Rp 47.4K

$2.48 Rp 44.3K

6.85%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.39 Rp 329.1K

$15.90 Rp 284.5K

15.66%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.35 Rp 42.1K

$1.36 Rp 24.3K

72.79%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.24 Rp 40.0K

$3.17 Rp 56.7K

-29.34%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.26 Rp 4,682

$0.32 Rp 5,810

-18.75%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$7.41 Rp 132.6K

$9.59 Rp 171.5K

-22.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.44 Rp 7,836

$0.58 Rp 10.3K

-24.14%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.38 Rp 6,832

$0.22 Rp 3,944

72.73%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.43 Rp 97.1K

$6.17 Rp 110.5K

-11.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.72 Rp 12.8K

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

-12.20%

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

$23.1K Rp 412.4M

$28.0K Rp 501.3M

-17.73%

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

$28.6K Rp 511.1M

$33.9K Rp 606.5M

-15.73%

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

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

$83.7 Rp 1.5M

-12.88%

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

$3.72 Rp 66.6K

$3.67 Rp 65.7K

1.36%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.15 Rp 378.3K

$34.25 Rp 612.7K

-38.25%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.2 Rp 1.2M

$23.20 Rp 415.1K

193.75%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.71 Rp 84.2K

$7.12 Rp 127.4K

-33.85%

Cinema Ticket

$2.81 Rp 50.4K

$3.49 Rp 62.5K

-19.48%

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

$233 Rp 4.2M

$123 Rp 2.2M

90.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,136 Rp 91.9M

$10.6K Rp 189.5M

-51.51%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$46.35 Rp 829.1K

$66.4 Rp 1.2M

-30.24%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.50 Rp 581.4K

$42.18 Rp 754.5K

-22.95%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 Rp 1.4M

$115 Rp 2.1M

-34.41%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.5 Rp 1.2M

0.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$528 Rp 9.4M

$196 Rp 3.5M

169.36%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$356 Rp 6.4M

$100 Rp 1.8M

255.53%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,791 Rp 32.0M

$530 Rp 9.5M

237.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 Rp 19.5M

$232 Rp 4.2M

368.81%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,415 Rp 25.3M

$1,110 Rp 19.8M

27.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,164 Rp 20.8M

$550 Rp 9.8M

111.71%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$278 Rp 5.0M

$213 Rp 3.8M

30.15%

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: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medan: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $528 in Denpasar, Bali and $196 in Medan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 30% 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: $21.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $11.00 in Medan for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $243 vs $186 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 47% in total monthly costs ($942 vs $640 including rent). Medan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 30% 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: $528 in Denpasar, Bali versus $196 in Medan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $942 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $640 in Medan – a 47% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Medan runs roughly 29% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Medan gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

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 47% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.