😐A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $752 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,321 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,889 in Kuta, Lombok, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 35% more than Kuta, Lombok, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both Medellin and Kuta, Lombok are more affordable than the global median – Medellin24% lower, Kuta, Lombok44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COP 20.8K
$1.80Rp 32.3K
230.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COP 116.3K
$16.09Rp 288.2K
107.15%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COP 25.2K
$2.44Rp 43.8K
196.31%
Cappuccino
$1.63COP 5,687
$1.36Rp 24.4K
19.85%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COP 3,821
$0.65Rp 11.6K
67.69%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COP 2,548
$0.37Rp 6,652
97.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COP 6,065
$1.49Rp 26.7K
16.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COP 11.3K
$1.99Rp 35.6K
62.31%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,662
$1.21Rp 21.7K
-13.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COP 4,515
$1.62Rp 29.0K
-20.37%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COP 4,617
$0.80Rp 14.4K
65.00%
Eggs
$2.27COP 7,927
$1.63Rp 29.3K
39.26%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COP 15.2K
$9.52Rp 170.6K
-54.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 20.5K
$2.81Rp 50.3K
109.25%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COP 30.0K
$8.13Rp 145.6K
5.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,844
$2.53Rp 45.4K
-11.07%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COP 3,733
$1.08Rp 19.3K
-0.93%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 5,322
$1.85Rp 33.2K
-17.84%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COP 4,964
$1.57Rp 28.1K
-9.55%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,084
$1.32Rp 23.6K
-11.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,077
$1.52Rp 27.2K
-23.03%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,096
$0.67Rp 12.0K
32.84%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 3,146
$0.51Rp 9,161
76.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COP 7,837
$2.19Rp 39.3K
2.74%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COP 38.5K
$15.17Rp 271.9K
-27.22%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COP 3,977
$1.85Rp 33.1K
-38.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COP 8,301
$1.90Rp 34.0K
25.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,916
$0.20Rp 3,533
320.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COP 146.4K
$5.45Rp 97.7K
669.72%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COP 4,912
$0.30Rp 5,345
370.00%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COP 6,634
$0.28Rp 4,971
578.57%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COP 27.0K
$3.91Rp 70.0K
98.21%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COP 3,509
$0.56Rp 9,963
80.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
$17.2KRp 307.8M
2.34%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
$20.7KRp 371.5M
27.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COP 292.1K
$59.8Rp 1.1M
39.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COP 33.0K
$3.09Rp 55.3K
205.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COP 84.1K
$18.25Rp 327.0K
32.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COP 88.3K
$53.2Rp 953.1K
-52.42%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COP 66.8K
$3.54Rp 63.5K
440.68%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COP 14.3K
$2.23Rp 39.9K
83.86%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COP 1.1M
$192Rp 3.4M
62.44%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COP 20.9M
$4,261Rp 76.3M
40.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COP 202.6K
$41.43Rp 742.3K
40.09%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COP 113.6K
$28.93Rp 518.3K
12.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COP 347.7K
$68.1Rp 1.2M
46.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 378.8K
$59.3Rp 1.1M
83.10%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COP 1.7M
$385Rp 6.9M
25.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.3M
$261Rp 4.7M
45.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COP 2.9M
$1,321Rp 23.7M
-36.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COP 2.5M
$815Rp 14.6M
-11.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COP 9.9M
$1,101Rp 19.7M
157.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COP 4.3M
$866Rp 15.5M
41.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kuta, Lombok
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$541COP 1.9M
-
-
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: June 8, 2026
Last update for Kuta, Lombok: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $385 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $16.00 in Kuta, Lombok. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $199 in Kuta, Lombok – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.
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 35% 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 vs Kuta, Lombok?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,128 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 vs Kuta, Lombok?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $16.00 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 $1,017 in Medellin and $752 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 Kuta, Lombok?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Kuta, Lombok, where all-in costs run around $752, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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 $752 versus $1,017 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 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.