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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $640 in Medan versus $942 in Denpasar, Bali.

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

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

Living in Medan costs roughly 32% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.88 Rp 33.6K

$2.38 Rp 42.7K

-21.01%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.72 Rp 191.8K

$21.21 Rp 379.4K

-49.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.28 Rp 58.7K

$3.39 Rp 60.7K

-3.24%

Cappuccino

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

$1.87 Rp 33.5K

-3.74%

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

$0.39 Rp 7,031

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

-54.65%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.27 Rp 4,855

$0.49 Rp 8,786

-44.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

$2.02 Rp 36.1K

-23.27%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.24 Rp 93.8K

$2.54 Rp 45.5K

106.30%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 Rp 21.1K

$1.42 Rp 25.3K

-16.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.18 Rp 21.1K

$2.07 Rp 37.0K

-43.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 Rp 14.9K

$0.99 Rp 17.8K

-16.16%

Eggs

$1.53 Rp 27.3K

$1.96 Rp 35.1K

-21.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.39 Rp 168.1K

$11.90 Rp 212.8K

-21.09%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.71 Rp 66.4K

$3.50 Rp 62.6K

6.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.83 Rp 122.2K

$9.90 Rp 177.1K

-31.01%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 Rp 41.6K

$3.12 Rp 55.8K

-25.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 Rp 17.8K

$1.29 Rp 23.2K

-22.48%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 Rp 27.4K

$2.28 Rp 40.8K

-32.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 Rp 15.8K

$1.83 Rp 32.8K

-51.91%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 Rp 13.4K

$1.55 Rp 27.8K

-51.61%

Onion (1kg)

$1.27 Rp 22.7K

$1.85 Rp 33.1K

-31.35%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.45 Rp 8,138

$0.82 Rp 14.6K

-45.12%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.49 Rp 8,778

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

-20.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.48 Rp 44.3K

$2.65 Rp 47.4K

-6.42%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.90 Rp 284.5K

$18.39 Rp 329.1K

-13.54%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.36 Rp 24.3K

$2.35 Rp 42.1K

-42.13%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 Rp 56.7K

$2.24 Rp 40.0K

41.52%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.32 Rp 5,810

$0.26 Rp 4,682

23.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.59 Rp 171.5K

$7.41 Rp 132.6K

29.42%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.58 Rp 10.3K

$0.44 Rp 7,836

31.82%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 Rp 3,944

$0.38 Rp 6,832

-42.11%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.17 Rp 110.5K

$5.43 Rp 97.1K

13.63%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

$0.72 Rp 12.8K

13.89%

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

$28.0K Rp 501.3M

$23.1K Rp 412.4M

21.55%

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

$33.9K Rp 606.5M

$28.6K Rp 511.1M

18.67%

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

$83.7 Rp 1.5M

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

14.78%

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

$3.67 Rp 65.7K

$3.72 Rp 66.6K

-1.34%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$34.25 Rp 612.7K

$21.15 Rp 378.3K

61.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.20 Rp 415.1K

$68.2 Rp 1.2M

-65.96%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.12 Rp 127.4K

$4.71 Rp 84.2K

51.17%

Cinema Ticket

$3.49 Rp 62.5K

$2.81 Rp 50.4K

24.20%

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

$123 Rp 2.2M

$233 Rp 4.2M

-47.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K Rp 189.5M

$5,136 Rp 91.9M

106.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.4 Rp 1.2M

$46.35 Rp 829.1K

43.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.18 Rp 754.5K

$32.50 Rp 581.4K

29.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$115 Rp 2.1M

$75.6 Rp 1.4M

52.46%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.5 Rp 1.2M

-0.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$196 Rp 3.5M

$528 Rp 9.4M

-62.88%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$100 Rp 1.8M

$356 Rp 6.4M

-71.87%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$530 Rp 9.5M

$1,791 Rp 32.0M

-70.39%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$232 Rp 4.2M

$1,090 Rp 19.5M

-78.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,110 Rp 19.8M

$1,415 Rp 25.3M

-21.57%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$550 Rp 9.8M

$1,164 Rp 20.8M

-52.76%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$213 Rp 3.8M

$278 Rp 5.0M

-23.17%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.25

13.28

-30.35%

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

Last update for Medan: July 12, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $196 in Medan and $528 in Denpasar, Bali. 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: $11.00 in Medan vs $21.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $243 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

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

Medan and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 47% in total monthly costs ($640 vs $942 including rent). Medan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 30% lower in Denpasar, Bali. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $196 in Medan versus $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $640 per month in Medan versus $942 in Denpasar, Bali – 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, Medan and Denpasar, Bali 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.