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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $942 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,031 in Medellin.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,637 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,599 in Medellin.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,331 in Denpasar, Bali versus $2,167 in Medellin.

Living in Denpasar, Bali costs roughly 9% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Denpasar, Bali 29% lower, Medellin 23% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.38 Rp 42.8K
$6.16 COP 20.1K
-61.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$21.21 Rp 380.5K
$32.60 COP 106.1K
-34.94%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.39 Rp 60.9K
$7.34 COP 23.9K
-53.81%
Cappuccino
$1.87 Rp 33.6K
$1.72 COP 5,600
8.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86 Rp 15.4K
$1.05 COP 3,420
-18.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 Rp 8,810
$0.77 COP 2,515
-36.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.02 Rp 36.2K
$1.69 COP 5,488
19.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 Rp 45.6K
$3.17 COP 10.3K
-19.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.42 Rp 25.4K
$1.05 COP 3,423
35.24%
White Bread (500g)
$2.07 Rp 37.1K
$1.30 COP 4,236
59.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.99 Rp 17.8K
$1.40 COP 4,544
-29.29%
Eggs
$1.96 Rp 35.2K
$2.16 COP 7,047
-9.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.90 Rp 213.4K
$4.39 COP 14.3K
171.07%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.50 Rp 62.8K
$5.88 COP 19.1K
-40.48%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.90 Rp 177.6K
$8.64 COP 28.1K
14.58%
Apples (1kg)
$3.12 Rp 56.0K
$2.28 COP 7,426
36.84%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 Rp 23.2K
$1.11 COP 3,604
16.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.28 Rp 41.0K
$1.53 COP 4,983
49.02%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.83 Rp 32.9K
$1.35 COP 4,410
35.56%
Potato (1kg)
$1.55 Rp 27.9K
$1.13 COP 3,674
37.17%
Onion (1kg)
$1.85 Rp 33.1K
$1.13 COP 3,692
63.72%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.82 Rp 14.6K
$0.85 COP 2,753
-3.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 Rp 11.2K
$0.91 COP 2,975
-31.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.65 Rp 47.5K
$2.34 COP 7,630
13.25%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.39 Rp 330.0K
$12.37 COP 40.3K
48.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 Rp 42.2K
$1.20 COP 3,909
95.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 Rp 40.2K
$2.49 COP 8,104
-10.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.26 Rp 4,695
$0.84 COP 2,728
-69.05%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$7.41 Rp 133.0K
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-81.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.44 Rp 7,857
$1.42 COP 4,623
-69.01%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 Rp 6,851
$1.92 COP 6,235
-80.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.43 Rp 97.4K
$7.66 COP 24.9K
-29.11%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.72 Rp 12.9K
$0.99 COP 3,223
-27.27%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K Rp 413.5M
$18.0K COP 58.7M
27.86%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.6K Rp 512.5M
$26.6K COP 86.7M
7.28%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$72.9 Rp 1.3M
$80.8 COP 263.1K
-9.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$3.72 Rp 66.8K
$9.95 COP 32.4K
-62.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.15 Rp 379.4K
$24.18 COP 78.7K
-12.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$68.2 Rp 1.2M
$25.08 COP 81.7K
171.73%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$4.71 Rp 84.4K
$19.15 COP 62.3K
-75.40%
Cinema Ticket
$2.81 Rp 50.5K
$3.98 COP 13.0K
-29.40%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$233 Rp 4.2M
$305 COP 993.5K
-23.60%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,136 Rp 92.1M
$6,059 COP 19.7M
-15.23%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.35 Rp 831.4K
$58.1 COP 189.2K
-20.26%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.50 Rp 583.0K
$32.20 COP 104.8K
0.93%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.6 Rp 1.4M
$101 COP 327.9K
-24.95%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.5 Rp 1.2M
$108 COP 350.8K
-39.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$528 Rp 9.5M
$477 COP 1.6M
10.76%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$356 Rp 6.4M
$376 COP 1.2M
-5.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,791 Rp 32.1M
$845 COP 2.7M
112.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,090 Rp 19.5M
$730 COP 2.4M
49.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,415 Rp 25.4M
$3,215 COP 10.5M
-56.00%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,164 Rp 20.9M
$1,372 COP 4.5M
-15.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Denpasar, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$278 Rp 5.0M
$617 COP 2.0M
-55.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.28
13.43
-1.12%

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

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: July 13, 2026

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $528 in Denpasar, Bali and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 122% 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 $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries flip the comparison at $243 vs $193, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.

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 9% in total monthly costs ($942 vs $1,031 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 122% 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: $528 in Denpasar, Bali versus $477 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 $942 per month in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,031 in Medellin – a 9% 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 448% 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 $942 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,031 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 9% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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