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

Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

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

Living in Medellin is roughly 9% more expensive than in Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$6.16 COP 20.1K

$2.38 Rp 42.8K

158.82%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.60 COP 106.1K

$21.21 Rp 381.2K

53.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.34 COP 23.9K

$3.39 Rp 61.0K

116.52%

Cappuccino

$1.72 COP 5,599

$1.87 Rp 33.6K

-8.02%

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

$1.05 COP 3,420

$0.86 Rp 15.5K

22.09%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 COP 2,515

$0.49 Rp 8,825

57.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.69 COP 5,487

$2.02 Rp 36.3K

-16.34%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.17 COP 10.3K

$2.54 Rp 45.7K

24.80%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,423

$1.42 Rp 25.5K

-26.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.30 COP 4,236

$2.07 Rp 37.2K

-37.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.40 COP 4,544

$0.99 Rp 17.9K

41.41%

Eggs

$2.16 COP 7,046

$1.96 Rp 35.2K

10.20%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.39 COP 14.3K

$11.90 Rp 213.8K

-63.11%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 19.1K

$3.50 Rp 62.9K

68.00%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.64 COP 28.1K

$9.90 Rp 177.9K

-12.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.28 COP 7,425

$3.12 Rp 56.1K

-26.92%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 COP 3,603

$1.29 Rp 23.3K

-13.95%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,982

$2.28 Rp 41.0K

-32.89%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.35 COP 4,410

$1.83 Rp 32.9K

-26.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,674

$1.55 Rp 27.9K

-27.10%

Onion (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,692

$1.85 Rp 33.2K

-38.92%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 2,753

$0.82 Rp 14.7K

3.66%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 2,975

$0.62 Rp 11.2K

46.77%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.34 COP 7,629

$2.65 Rp 47.6K

-11.70%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.37 COP 40.3K

$18.39 Rp 330.6K

-32.74%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 3,909

$2.35 Rp 42.3K

-48.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.49 COP 8,104

$2.24 Rp 40.2K

11.16%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,727

$0.26 Rp 4,703

223.08%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$40.57 COP 132.1K

$7.41 Rp 133.2K

447.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,623

$0.44 Rp 7,871

222.73%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.92 COP 6,235

$0.38 Rp 6,863

405.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.66 COP 24.9K

$5.43 Rp 97.6K

41.07%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,223

$0.72 Rp 12.9K

37.50%

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

$18.0K COP 58.7M

$23.1K Rp 414.3M

-21.79%

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

$26.6K COP 86.7M

$28.6K Rp 513.4M

-6.79%

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

$80.8 COP 263.1K

$72.9 Rp 1.3M

10.88%

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

$9.95 COP 32.4K

$3.72 Rp 66.9K

167.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.18 COP 78.7K

$21.15 Rp 380.1K

14.33%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.08 COP 81.6K

$68.2 Rp 1.2M

-63.20%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.15 COP 62.3K

$4.71 Rp 84.6K

306.58%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 COP 13.0K

$2.81 Rp 50.6K

41.64%

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

$305 COP 993.4K

$233 Rp 4.2M

30.89%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,059 COP 19.7M

$5,136 Rp 92.3M

17.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.1 COP 189.2K

$46.35 Rp 832.9K

25.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.20 COP 104.8K

$32.50 Rp 584.0K

-0.92%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$101 COP 327.9K

$75.6 Rp 1.4M

33.24%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 350.8K

$65.5 Rp 1.2M

64.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$477 COP 1.6M

$528 Rp 9.5M

-9.72%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 COP 1.2M

$356 Rp 6.4M

5.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$845 COP 2.7M

$1,791 Rp 32.2M

-52.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$730 COP 2.4M

$1,090 Rp 19.6M

-32.96%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,215 COP 10.5M

$1,415 Rp 25.4M

127.30%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,372 COP 4.5M

$1,164 Rp 20.9M

17.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$617 COP 2.0M

$278 Rp 5.0M

122.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

13.28

1.13%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $477 in Medellin and $528 in Denpasar, Bali. 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $21.00 in Denpasar, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $243, 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

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

Medellin and Denpasar, Bali differ by about 9% in total monthly costs ($1,031 vs $942 including rent). Denpasar, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 122% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $477 in Medellin 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 $1,031 per month in Medellin versus $942 in Denpasar, Bali – a 9% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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.

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.

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, Medellin 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 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.