🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $937 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,641 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,548 in Denpasar, Bali versus $2,447 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,159 in Denpasar, Bali versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Denpasar, Bali costs roughly 43% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Denpasar, Bali is 32% below, Medellin is 19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.32Rp 40.9K
$8.04COP 24.8K
-71.14%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.34Rp 428.6K
$48.29COP 148.6K
-49.60%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$3.78Rp 66.5K
$9.42COP 29.0K
-59.87%
Cappuccino
$1.83Rp 32.3K
$2.94COP 9,040
-37.76%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16Rp 20.4K
$1.86COP 5,735
-37.63%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.51Rp 8,928
$1.46COP 4,479
-65.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.03Rp 35.8K
$3.21COP 9,882
-36.76%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98Rp 52.5K
$5.71COP 17.6K
-47.81%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.25Rp 22.0K
$1.44COP 4,428
-13.19%
White Bread(500g)
$1.87Rp 32.8K
$2.40COP 7,389
-22.08%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.90Rp 15.8K
$1.70COP 5,228
-47.06%
Eggs
$1.69Rp 29.7K
$2.89COP 8,896
-41.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.72Rp 259.1K
$10.06COP 30.9K
46.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.29Rp 58.0K
$9.97COP 30.7K
-67.00%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.82Rp 172.9K
$14.20COP 43.7K
-30.85%
Apples(1kg)
$2.99Rp 52.6K
$3.98COP 12.3K
-24.87%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25Rp 22.1K
$1.58COP 4,878
-20.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.86Rp 32.7K
$2.15COP 6,624
-13.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.65Rp 29.0K
$2.30COP 7,078
-28.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.54Rp 27.1K
$2.00COP 6,169
-23.00%
Onion(1kg)
$1.98Rp 34.9K
$1.51COP 4,646
31.13%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.84Rp 14.8K
$1.20COP 3,701
-30.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.41Rp 7,269
$1.28COP 3,946
-67.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.81Rp 31.9K
$3.84COP 11.8K
-52.86%
Wine(Bottle)
$18.84Rp 331.7K
$14.01COP 43.1K
34.48%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.97Rp 34.6K
$1.71COP 5,256
15.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38Rp 41.9K
$2.74COP 8,440
-13.14%
🚌 Getting Around
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.22Rp 3,860
$1.25COP 3,834
-82.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$7.67Rp 135.0K
$77.9COP 239.7K
-90.15%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.43Rp 7,626
$1.31COP 4,016
-67.18%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.43Rp 7,526
$2.17COP 6,680
-80.18%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$3.04Rp 53.5K
$8.29COP 25.5K
-63.33%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.68Rp 11.9K
$1.36COP 4,172
-50.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.8KRp 384.4M
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
-20.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5KRp 502.6M
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-21.88%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$75.7Rp 1.3M
$169COP 519.2K
-55.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$5.84Rp 102.9K
$13.57COP 41.8K
-56.96%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$17.30Rp 304.5K
$28.32COP 87.2K
-38.91%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.41Rp 693.9K
$45.71COP 140.7K
-13.78%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$12.91Rp 227.4K
$17.22COP 53.0K
-25.03%
Cinema Ticket
$3.09Rp 54.4K
$6.65COP 20.5K
-53.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$383Rp 6.7M
$803COP 2.5M
-52.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$4,468Rp 78.7M
$9,190COP 28.3M
-51.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$39.69Rp 698.7K
$87.4COP 268.8K
-54.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.07Rp 547.0K
$59.4COP 182.7K
-47.67%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$69.4Rp 1.2M
$139COP 427.5K
-50.06%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.1Rp 1.2M
$102COP 314.0K
-33.28%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591Rp 10.4M
$1,071COP 3.3M
-44.82%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$361Rp 6.4M
$653COP 2.0M
-44.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,858Rp 32.7M
$1,925COP 5.9M
-3.50%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$906Rp 15.9M
$1,048COP 3.2M
-13.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,463Rp 25.8M
$4,123COP 12.7M
-64.52%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,200Rp 21.1M
$1,697COP 5.2M
-29.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$279Rp 4.9M
$655COP 2.0M
-57.37%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.78
10.94
25.96%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Denpasar, Bali: September 5, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $591 in Denpasar, Bali and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 135% 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: $24.00 in Denpasar, Bali vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $239 vs $300 per month, with Denpasar, Bali 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 Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Denpasar, Bali and in Medellin?
Denpasar, Bali and Medellin differ by about 75% in total monthly costs ($937 vs $1,641 including rent). Denpasar, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 135% lower in Medellin. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Denpasar, Bali and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $591 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Denpasar, Bali or Medellin?
All in, you'll spend $937 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,641 in Medellin – a 75% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Denpasar, Bali and in Medellin?
A monthly transit pass in Denpasar, Bali runs roughly 916% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $937 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Denpasar, Bali but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Denpasar, Bali the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Denpasar, Bali and Medellin?
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.
Is Denpasar, Bali or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Denpasar, Bali and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Denpasar, Bali or Medellin?
Expats usually find Denpasar, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 75% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Denpasar, Bali vs other spots: cost of living compared