Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Denpasar, Bali

For one person, living is cheaper in Denpasar, Bali: $905 a month against $1,639 in Medellin, rent and utilities included – about $8,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Medellin, Colombia
Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,639
/mo nomad
Denpasar, Bali
🇮🇩 Indonesia
$905
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Medellin and in Denpasar, Bali

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Medellin and in Denpasar, Bali actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,639 in Medellin versus $905 in Denpasar, Bali.

  • Medellin $1,639
  • Denpasar, Bali $905

Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,413 in Medellin versus $1,497 in Denpasar, Bali.

  • Medellin $2,413
  • Denpasar, Bali $1,497

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,186 in Medellin versus $2,089 in Denpasar, Bali.

  • Medellin $3,186
  • Denpasar, Bali $2,089

Living in Medellin is roughly 81% more expensive than in Denpasar, Bali, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 20% above, Denpasar, Bali is 34% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.09 COP 25.4K
$2.23 Rp 40.6K
262.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.05 COP 148.0K
$23.40 Rp 425.3K
101.07%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.50 COP 29.9K
$3.84 Rp 69.8K
147.40%
Cappuccino
$3.01 COP 9,485
$1.76 Rp 31.9K
71.02%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.80 COP 5,660
$1.16 Rp 21.1K
55.17%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 COP 4,443
$0.54 Rp 9,778
161.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.18 COP 9,990
$1.80 Rp 32.7K
76.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75 COP 18.1K
$2.84 Rp 51.6K
102.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.51 COP 4,751
$1.22 Rp 22.2K
23.77%
White Bread (500g)
$2.38 COP 7,480
$1.78 Rp 32.3K
33.71%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.77 COP 5,573
$0.98 Rp 17.8K
80.61%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 9,093
$1.72 Rp 31.3K
68.02%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.19 COP 32.1K
$14.45 Rp 262.7K
-29.48%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.87 COP 31.1K
$3.22 Rp 58.5K
206.52%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.99 COP 44.0K
$9.52 Rp 173.0K
46.95%
Apples (1kg)
$3.97 COP 12.5K
$2.92 Rp 53.1K
35.96%
Banana (1kg)
$1.55 COP 4,883
$1.25 Rp 22.7K
24.00%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,867
$1.88 Rp 34.1K
15.96%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.18 COP 6,870
$1.59 Rp 28.9K
37.11%
Potato (1kg)
$1.96 COP 6,174
$1.49 Rp 27.1K
31.54%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 COP 5,000
$1.87 Rp 34.1K
-14.97%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.15 COP 3,604
$0.85 Rp 15.4K
35.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.24 COP 3,911
$0.39 Rp 7,102
217.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.96 COP 12.5K
$1.81 Rp 32.9K
118.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.68 COP 43.0K
$17.97 Rp 326.7K
-23.87%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.66 COP 5,221
$1.91 Rp 34.8K
-13.09%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 COP 7,103
$2.44 Rp 44.4K
-7.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.17 COP 3,674
$0.23 Rp 4,167
408.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.4 COP 243.4K
$7.97 Rp 144.9K
870.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 COP 3,989
$0.42 Rp 7,636
202.38%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.05 COP 6,442
$0.43 Rp 7,760
376.74%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.55 COP 26.9K
$3.07 Rp 55.9K
178.50%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.35 COP 4,237
$0.75 Rp 13.6K
80.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K COP 107.2M
$21.6K Rp 392.4M
57.80%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.7K COP 109.1M
$29.5K Rp 536.6M
17.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$170 COP 533.7K
$73.6 Rp 1.3M
130.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 COP 42.6K
$5.88 Rp 106.8K
130.44%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.07 COP 88.3K
$16.22 Rp 294.8K
73.06%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$43.70 COP 137.5K
$35.04 Rp 636.8K
24.71%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.19 COP 54.1K
$12.85 Rp 233.6K
33.77%
Cinema Ticket
$6.91 COP 21.7K
$3.03 Rp 55.0K
128.05%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$797 COP 2.5M
$378 Rp 6.9M
110.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,112 COP 28.7M
$4,463 Rp 81.1M
104.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$84.7 COP 266.5K
$39.59 Rp 719.6K
113.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$58.0 COP 182.3K
$29.73 Rp 540.3K
94.95%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$135 COP 424.6K
$67.0 Rp 1.2M
101.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.9 COP 307.9K
$66.8 Rp 1.2M
46.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,208 COP 3.8M
$591 Rp 10.7M
104.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$642 COP 2.0M
$360 Rp 6.5M
78.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,028 COP 6.4M
$1,857 Rp 33.8M
9.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,012 COP 3.2M
$889 Rp 16.2M
13.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,170 COP 13.1M
$1,448 Rp 26.3M
188.03%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,910 COP 6.0M
$1,176 Rp 21.4M
62.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Denpasar, Bali
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$657 COP 2.1M
$279 Rp 5.1M
135.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.94
13.78
-20.61%

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

Last update for Medellin: October 25, 2026

Last update for Denpasar, Bali: October 26, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Medellin
$642
Denpasar, Bali
$360 43.9% $281
Groceries & Markets
Medellin
$297
Denpasar, Bali
$233 21.5% $64
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
$211
Denpasar, Bali
$96 54.7% $116
Eating Out
Medellin
$170
Denpasar, Bali
$72 57.6% $98
Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
$169
Denpasar, Bali
$91 45.9% $78
Getting Around
Medellin
$94
Denpasar, Bali
$11 87.8% $82
Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
$58
Denpasar, Bali
$41 28.6% $16

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,208 in Medellin and $591 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays about 2.4 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $47 in Medellin vs $23 in Denpasar, Bali for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $297 vs $233 per month, with Denpasar, Bali cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇴 Medellin
🇮🇩 Denpasar, Bali
🕒 Local time
17:19 5:19 PM
06:19 6:19 AM
13 h ahead of Medellin
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
2,486,723
788,445
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

IDR, USD, EUR to COP – Colombian Peso Converter

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 3,146 COP (10,000 COP = 3.18 USD). 1 EUR = 3,502 COP (10,000 COP = 2.86 EUR).

Indonesian Rupiah exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18,175 IDR (100,000 IDR = 5.5 USD). 1 EUR = 20,233 IDR (100,000 IDR = 4.94 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Medellin Denpasar, Bali 18,790 km ≈ 24 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Medellin
  • Denpasar, Bali

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Denpasar, Bali?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $1,639 in Medellin and $905 in Denpasar, Bali, so Denpasar, Bali is about 45% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Denpasar, Bali?
Average pay in Medellin is about 2.4 times higher, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Denpasar, Bali?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,208 in Medellin versus $591 in Denpasar, Bali. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Denpasar, Bali?
All in, you’ll spend $1,639 per month in Medellin versus $905 in Denpasar, Bali – Denpasar, Bali is about 45% cheaper, which adds up to real savings over time.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Denpasar, Bali?
A monthly transit pass in Denpasar, Bali runs roughly 90% less than in Medellin. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
Which city is more doable on $1,200 per month?
At $905 in Denpasar, Bali versus $1,639 in Medellin, a $1,200 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.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Denpasar, Bali?
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.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Denpasar, Bali?
Expats usually find Denpasar, Bali gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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