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: $607 in Medan versus $904 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $933 in Medan versus $1,545 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,260 in Medan versus $2,186 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Medan costs roughly 33% less than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medan 56% lower, Denpasar, Bali 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$1.72 Rp 30.6K

$2.33 Rp 41.3K

-26.18%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$8.73 Rp 155.1K

$25.80 Rp 458.3K

-66.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.96 Rp 52.5K

$3.76 Rp 66.8K

-21.28%

Cappuccino

$1.55 Rp 27.6K

$1.83 Rp 32.5K

-15.30%

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

$0.34 Rp 6,114

$1.14 Rp 20.3K

-70.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.25 Rp 4,458

$0.54 Rp 9,661

-53.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.73 Rp 30.7K

$1.83 Rp 32.5K

-5.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.58 Rp 63.6K

$2.80 Rp 49.8K

27.86%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.08 Rp 19.1K

$1.29 Rp 23.0K

-16.28%

White Bread (500g)

$1.14 Rp 20.2K

$1.86 Rp 33.0K

-38.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.83 Rp 14.8K

$0.95 Rp 16.8K

-12.63%

Eggs

$1.33 Rp 23.6K

$1.71 Rp 30.5K

-22.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.91 Rp 140.5K

$14.24 Rp 252.9K

-44.45%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.53 Rp 62.7K

$3.16 Rp 56.1K

11.71%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.44 Rp 114.4K

$10.16 Rp 180.5K

-36.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.43 Rp 43.2K

$2.91 Rp 51.7K

-16.49%

Banana (1kg)

$1.05 Rp 18.7K

$1.30 Rp 23.1K

-19.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.48 Rp 26.4K

$1.87 Rp 33.2K

-20.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.96 Rp 17.0K

$1.65 Rp 29.3K

-41.82%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 Rp 15.4K

$1.47 Rp 26.1K

-40.82%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 Rp 30.9K

$1.98 Rp 35.2K

-12.12%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.41 Rp 7,334

$0.81 Rp 14.3K

-49.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.44 Rp 7,756

$0.42 Rp 7,393

4.76%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.02 Rp 53.7K

$1.83 Rp 32.4K

65.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.41 Rp 291.5K

$19.06 Rp 338.6K

-13.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.92 Rp 34.2K

$1.86 Rp 33.1K

3.23%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 Rp 54.0K

$2.31 Rp 41.0K

31.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,759

$0.22 Rp 3,904

22.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$6.07 Rp 107.9K

$7.39 Rp 131.3K

-17.86%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.53 Rp 9,394

$0.43 Rp 7,649

23.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.20 Rp 3,602

$0.43 Rp 7,595

-53.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.20 Rp 56.8K

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 Rp 13.6K

$0.69 Rp 12.3K

11.59%

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

$24.9K Rp 443.1M

$22.5K Rp 400.3M

10.71%

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

$31.6K Rp 561.0M

$28.5K Rp 506.7M

10.73%

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

$86.5 Rp 1.5M

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

18.60%

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

$3.29 Rp 58.5K

$5.79 Rp 102.8K

-43.18%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.34 Rp 414.6K

$16.73 Rp 297.2K

39.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.06 Rp 303.1K

$40.09 Rp 712.3K

-57.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$8.69 Rp 154.3K

$12.87 Rp 228.6K

-32.48%

Cinema Ticket

$3.43 Rp 61.0K

$3.19 Rp 56.6K

7.52%

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

$114 Rp 2.0M

$382 Rp 6.8M

-70.07%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$1,720 Rp 30.6M

$4,414 Rp 78.4M

-61.02%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$56.4 Rp 1.0M

$39.21 Rp 696.5K

43.94%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$39.16 Rp 695.6K

$30.71 Rp 545.5K

27.52%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$105 Rp 1.9M

$69.1 Rp 1.2M

52.39%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$115 Rp 2.0M

$68.0 Rp 1.2M

69.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$177 Rp 3.1M

$602 Rp 10.7M

-70.57%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$88.9 Rp 1.6M

$358 Rp 6.4M

-75.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$497 Rp 8.8M

$1,879 Rp 33.4M

-73.57%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$211 Rp 3.8M

$893 Rp 15.9M

-76.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,148 Rp 20.4M

$1,433 Rp 25.5M

-19.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$571 Rp 10.1M

$1,191 Rp 21.2M

-52.05%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$214 Rp 3.8M

$285 Rp 5.1M

-24.97%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

9.25

13.78

-32.87%

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

Last update for Medan: August 31, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $177 in Medan and $602 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Denpasar, Bali pays 33% 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: $9.00 in Medan vs $26.00 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $182 vs $238 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 49% in total monthly costs ($607 vs $904 including rent). Medan is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 33% 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: $177 in Medan versus $602 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $607 per month in Medan versus $904 in Denpasar, Bali – a 49% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Medan runs roughly 22% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $607 in Medan versus $904 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 49% less than in Denpasar, Bali. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.