🙂A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,744 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $3,142 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $4,540 in Uluwatu, Bali, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 42% cheaper than Uluwatu, Bali, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 24% below the global median, while Uluwatu, Bali is 30% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95COP 20.8K
$4.17Rp 74.7K
42.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33COP 116.3K
$38.98Rp 698.4K
-14.49%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.23COP 25.2K
$5.93Rp 106.2K
21.92%
Cappuccino
$1.63COP 5,687
$3.29Rp 58.9K
-50.46%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09COP 3,821
$1.66Rp 29.8K
-34.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73COP 2,548
$0.89Rp 16.0K
-17.98%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.74COP 6,065
$3.52Rp 63.0K
-50.57%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23COP 11.3K
$4.61Rp 82.5K
-29.93%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,662
$1.88Rp 33.6K
-44.15%
White Bread(500g)
$1.29COP 4,515
$2.66Rp 47.7K
-51.50%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.32COP 4,617
$1.19Rp 21.4K
10.92%
Eggs
$2.27COP 7,927
$2.47Rp 44.3K
-8.10%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.35COP 15.2K
$15.09Rp 270.3K
-71.17%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 20.5K
$4.40Rp 78.9K
33.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.61COP 30.0K
$12.47Rp 223.5K
-30.95%
Apples(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,844
$3.89Rp 69.7K
-42.16%
Banana(1kg)
$1.07COP 3,733
$1.69Rp 30.2K
-36.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 5,322
$2.81Rp 50.3K
-45.91%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.42COP 4,964
$2.41Rp 43.2K
-41.08%
Potato(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,084
$2.02Rp 36.1K
-42.08%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 4,077
$2.36Rp 42.4K
-50.42%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,096
$1.08Rp 19.3K
-17.59%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 3,146
$0.81Rp 14.5K
11.11%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25COP 7,837
$3.46Rp 62.1K
-34.97%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.04COP 38.5K
$24.07Rp 431.3K
-54.13%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14COP 3,977
$2.97Rp 53.2K
-61.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38COP 8,301
$2.85Rp 51.1K
-16.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,916
$0.33Rp 5,990
154.55%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.95COP 146.4K
$10.26Rp 183.9K
308.87%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.41COP 4,912
$0.61Rp 11.0K
131.15%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.90COP 6,634
$0.53Rp 9,557
258.49%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.75COP 27.0K
$7.86Rp 140.7K
-1.40%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.01COP 3,509
$1.03Rp 18.4K
-1.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 61.4M
$32.7KRp 585.0M
-46.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5KCOP 92.5M
$39.5KRp 708.5M
-33.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.7COP 292.1K
$86.4Rp 1.5M
-3.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45COP 33.0K
$4.38Rp 78.5K
115.75%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11COP 84.1K
$25.99Rp 465.7K
-7.23%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.31COP 88.3K
$113Rp 2.0M
-77.61%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14COP 66.8K
$7.77Rp 139.1K
146.33%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10COP 14.3K
$4.82Rp 86.4K
-14.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$312COP 1.1M
$339Rp 6.1M
-8.00%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,993COP 20.9M
$7,366Rp 132.0M
-18.64%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0COP 202.6K
$58.6Rp 1.0M
-0.87%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56COP 113.6K
$41.81Rp 749.0K
-22.12%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.6COP 347.7K
$95.0Rp 1.7M
4.89%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109COP 378.8K
$86.5Rp 1.6M
25.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Uluwatu, Bali
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$482COP 1.7M
$1,375Rp 24.6M
-64.92%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$379COP 1.3M
$919Rp 16.5M
-58.71%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$837COP 2.9M
$4,635Rp 83.0M
-81.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$723COP 2.5M
$2,804Rp 50.2M
-74.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,840COP 9.9M
$3,664Rp 65.6M
-22.49%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,223COP 4.3M
$3,073Rp 55.1M
-60.20%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Uluwatu, Bali
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 Uluwatu, Bali: June 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $1,375 in Uluwatu, Bali. 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 $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $311 – making Medellin 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 Uluwatu, Bali: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Uluwatu, Bali cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Uluwatu, Bali is pricier by about 72%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $2,615 in Uluwatu, Bali. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Uluwatu, Bali?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $39.00 in Uluwatu, Bali. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Uluwatu, Bali?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $1,744 in Uluwatu, Bali. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Uluwatu, Bali?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Uluwatu, Bali at $1,744. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Uluwatu, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Uluwatu, Bali more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Uluwatu, Bali?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Uluwatu, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.