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: $651 in Medan versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $982 in Medan versus $1,660 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,313 in Medan versus $2,360 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 51% lower, Denpasar, Bali 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.83 Rp 32.6K

$2.41 Rp 43.0K

-24.07%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$10.63 Rp 189.9K

$21.74 Rp 388.3K

-51.10%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.22 Rp 57.4K

$3.26 Rp 58.2K

-1.23%

Cappuccino

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

$1.89 Rp 33.8K

-4.76%

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

$0.40 Rp 7,122

$0.92 Rp 16.5K

-56.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 Rp 4,419

$0.47 Rp 8,368

-46.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.58 Rp 28.1K

$1.92 Rp 34.3K

-17.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.13 Rp 91.7K

$2.56 Rp 45.7K

100.39%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.18 Rp 21.0K

$1.44 Rp 25.7K

-18.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.17 Rp 20.9K

$2.04 Rp 36.5K

-42.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.87 Rp 15.6K

$0.92 Rp 16.5K

-5.43%

Eggs

$1.58 Rp 28.2K

$1.91 Rp 34.2K

-17.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.78 Rp 174.6K

$11.89 Rp 212.4K

-17.75%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.88 Rp 69.3K

$3.41 Rp 61.0K

13.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.86 Rp 122.5K

$9.95 Rp 177.7K

-31.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.29 Rp 41.0K

$3.09 Rp 55.2K

-25.89%

Banana (1kg)

$1.00 Rp 17.8K

$1.26 Rp 22.6K

-20.63%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 Rp 26.3K

$2.22 Rp 39.6K

-33.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.94 Rp 16.8K

$1.81 Rp 32.4K

-48.07%

Potato (1kg)

$0.74 Rp 13.2K

$1.61 Rp 28.8K

-54.04%

Onion (1kg)

$1.29 Rp 23.1K

$1.80 Rp 32.1K

-28.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.46 Rp 8,163

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

-46.51%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.46 Rp 8,201

$0.57 Rp 10.2K

-19.30%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.48 Rp 44.2K

$2.64 Rp 47.1K

-6.06%

Wine (Bottle)

$15.75 Rp 281.3K

$19.27 Rp 344.2K

-18.27%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.35 Rp 24.1K

$2.25 Rp 40.2K

-40.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 Rp 56.6K

$2.23 Rp 39.8K

42.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.30 Rp 5,318

$0.24 Rp 4,257

25.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$9.86 Rp 176.1K

$7.34 Rp 131.0K

34.33%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.52 Rp 9,345

$0.44 Rp 7,813

18.18%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 Rp 3,931

$0.39 Rp 6,914

-43.59%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.27 Rp 111.9K

$5.45 Rp 97.2K

15.05%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

$0.74 Rp 13.1K

10.81%

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

$28.1K Rp 501.4M

$23.5K Rp 420.5M

19.23%

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

$33.8K Rp 604.3M

$29.1K Rp 520.1M

16.20%

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

$83.4 Rp 1.5M

$70.5 Rp 1.3M

18.37%

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

$3.64 Rp 65.1K

$3.67 Rp 65.5K

-0.82%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$33.53 Rp 598.8K

$21.23 Rp 379.1K

57.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$23.40 Rp 417.8K

$69.5 Rp 1.2M

-66.33%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.27 Rp 129.8K

$4.45 Rp 79.5K

63.37%

Cinema Ticket

$3.58 Rp 63.9K

$2.91 Rp 52.0K

23.02%

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

$126 Rp 2.3M

$227 Rp 4.1M

-44.39%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$10.6K Rp 188.8M

$5,191 Rp 92.7M

103.65%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.3 Rp 1.2M

$47.61 Rp 850.2K

39.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.49 Rp 758.9K

$32.45 Rp 579.4K

30.94%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$116 Rp 2.1M

$76.3 Rp 1.4M

51.38%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.6 Rp 1.2M

$66.7 Rp 1.2M

-1.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$191 Rp 3.4M

$528 Rp 9.4M

-63.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$98.6 Rp 1.8M

$344 Rp 6.1M

-71.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$544 Rp 9.7M

$1,801 Rp 32.2M

-69.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$231 Rp 4.1M

$1,065 Rp 19.0M

-78.36%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,176 Rp 21.0M

$1,476 Rp 26.4M

-20.32%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$567 Rp 10.1M

$1,184 Rp 21.2M

-52.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$215 Rp 3.8M

$335 Rp 6.0M

-35.89%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $191 in Medan and $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 56% 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 $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $187 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 48% in total monthly costs ($651 vs $961 including rent). Medan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, Denpasar, Bali earns 56% less. 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: $191 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 $651 per month in Medan versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali – a 48% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Medan runs roughly 34% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $651 in Medan versus $961 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, 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 48% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.