😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $718 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,200 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,682 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 134% more than Kuta, Lombok, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Kuta, Lombok is 48% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$1.74Rp 30.8K
360.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$17.88Rp 317.0K
167.73%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$2.86Rp 50.7K
245.80%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$1.40Rp 24.8K
123.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$0.86Rp 15.2K
122.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$0.40Rp 7,157
277.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
$1.46Rp 25.8K
113.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$2.24Rp 39.7K
156.70%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$1.08Rp 19.2K
33.33%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$1.48Rp 26.2K
68.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$0.79Rp 14.0K
124.05%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$1.41Rp 24.9K
109.93%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$11.57Rp 205.1K
-12.96%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$2.71Rp 48.0K
273.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$8.10Rp 143.7K
76.54%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$2.41Rp 42.7K
71.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$1.04Rp 18.4K
54.81%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$1.59Rp 28.3K
41.51%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$1.35Rp 24.0K
66.67%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$1.24Rp 22.0K
64.52%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$1.58Rp 28.1K
-2.53%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$0.71Rp 12.6K
64.79%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$0.33Rp 5,913
296.97%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$1.49Rp 26.5K
161.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$15.30Rp 271.3K
-8.43%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
$1.61Rp 28.5K
8.07%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
$1.99Rp 35.4K
44.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
$0.16Rp 2,914
662.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
$5.43Rp 96.3K
1382.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$0.30Rp 5,301
336.67%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$0.28Rp 4,889
682.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$3.95Rp 70.1K
120.51%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$0.49Rp 8,665
179.59%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$16.1KRp 285.9M
72.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$20.7KRp 366.9M
72.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$61.7Rp 1.1M
187.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$4.93Rp 87.4K
181.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$14.23Rp 252.5K
108.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$30.47Rp 540.5K
47.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
$10.06Rp 178.5K
70.18%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$2.33Rp 41.4K
185.41%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$315Rp 5.6M
158.29%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$3,686Rp 65.4M
149.25%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$35.93Rp 637.3K
149.07%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$27.41Rp 486.2K
115.14%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$60.6Rp 1.1M
128.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$61.8Rp 1.1M
65.15%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$452Rp 8.0M
135.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$270Rp 4.8M
145.10%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$1,401Rp 24.8M
34.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$671Rp 11.9M
53.16%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
$1,100Rp 19.5M
280.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$915Rp 16.2M
83.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
-
-
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: September 14, 2026
Last update for Kuta, Lombok: September 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $452 in Kuta, Lombok. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $18.00 in Kuta, Lombok. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $195 – making Kuta, Lombok the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Kuta, Lombok: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Medellin or Kuta, Lombok?
Medellin costs about 134% more than Kuta, Lombok, with the gap driven mainly by Eating Out. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Medellin and in Kuta, Lombok?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,077 in Kuta, Lombok. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Medellin or Kuta, Lombok?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kuta, Lombok, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How do dining costs compare in Medellin and in Kuta, Lombok?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $18.00 in Kuta, Lombok. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How much does it cost to live in Medellin compared to Kuta, Lombok?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $718 in Kuta, Lombok. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Medellin or in Kuta, Lombok?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kuta, Lombok, where all-in costs run around $718, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Kuta, Lombok it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Medellin or Kuta, Lombok?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Kuta, Lombok costs $718 versus $1,681 in Medellin. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Medellin compared to Kuta, Lombok?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Should I move to Medellin or to Kuta, Lombok?
If budget matters most, go with Kuta, Lombok. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.