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: $1,013 in Medellin versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,602 in Medellin versus $1,660 in Denpasar, Bali.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,192 in Medellin versus $2,360 in Denpasar, Bali.

Living in Medellin is roughly 5% more expensive than Denpasar, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 24% lower, Denpasar, Bali 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$2.41 Rp 43.1K

148.55%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.2K

$21.74 Rp 389.8K

51.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$3.26 Rp 58.4K

117.48%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,105

$1.89 Rp 33.9K

-9.52%

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

$1.10 COP 3,918

$0.92 Rp 16.6K

19.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,776

$0.47 Rp 8,400

65.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,987

$1.92 Rp 34.5K

-12.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 10.9K

$2.56 Rp 45.9K

19.92%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,899

$1.44 Rp 25.8K

-24.31%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,500

$2.04 Rp 36.6K

-38.24%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,914

$0.92 Rp 16.6K

50.00%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,813

$1.91 Rp 34.3K

14.66%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$11.89 Rp 213.2K

-62.99%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$3.41 Rp 61.2K

65.10%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.7K

$9.95 Rp 178.4K

-10.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,334

$3.09 Rp 55.4K

-24.27%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,771

$1.26 Rp 22.6K

-15.87%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,365

$2.22 Rp 39.7K

-32.43%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,915

$1.81 Rp 32.5K

-23.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,104

$1.61 Rp 28.9K

-28.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,148

$1.80 Rp 32.2K

-35.56%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,176

$0.86 Rp 15.4K

3.49%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,992

$0.57 Rp 10.3K

47.37%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,131

$2.64 Rp 47.3K

-13.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 37.9K

$19.27 Rp 345.5K

-44.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,276

$2.25 Rp 40.3K

-46.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,809

$2.23 Rp 40.0K

10.76%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,051

$0.24 Rp 4,273

258.33%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.6K

$7.34 Rp 131.5K

464.03%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,255

$0.44 Rp 7,842

234.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 6,997

$0.39 Rp 6,941

402.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$5.45 Rp 97.6K

42.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,403

$0.74 Rp 13.2K

28.38%

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

$18.1K COP 64.6M

$23.5K Rp 422.1M

-23.00%

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

$26.5K COP 94.4M

$29.1K Rp 522.1M

-9.05%

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

$82.3 COP 293.2K

$70.5 Rp 1.3M

16.73%

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

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$3.67 Rp 65.8K

158.86%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.4K

$21.23 Rp 380.6K

14.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.3K

$69.5 Rp 1.2M

-62.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.7K

$4.45 Rp 79.8K

326.97%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$2.91 Rp 52.2K

35.05%

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

$309 COP 1.1M

$227 Rp 4.1M

36.42%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$5,191 Rp 93.1M

14.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.1K

$47.61 Rp 853.5K

23.21%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.3K

$32.45 Rp 581.7K

-0.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 365.7K

$76.3 Rp 1.4M

34.45%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 386.5K

$66.7 Rp 1.2M

62.56%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$528 Rp 9.5M

-9.75%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$344 Rp 6.2M

10.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$1,801 Rp 32.3M

-53.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$1,065 Rp 19.1M

-32.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 9.9M

$1,476 Rp 26.5M

89.01%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$1,184 Rp 21.2M

2.28%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$335 Rp 6.0M

52.66%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $476 in Medellin and $528 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 53% 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 $22.00 in Denpasar, Bali. Groceries flip the comparison at $188 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 5% in total monthly costs ($1,013 vs $961 including rent). Denpasar, Bali is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Medellin pays 53% more on average, 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: $476 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 $1,013 per month in Medellin versus $961 in Denpasar, Bali – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Denpasar, Bali runs roughly 464% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $961 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,013 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 5% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.