Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Ubud, Bali and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,396 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,716 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,334 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,527 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,273 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $3,338 in Medellin, rent included.

Ubud, Bali is about 19% cheaper than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Ubud, Bali and Medellin sit above the global median – Ubud, Bali by 2%, Medellin by 25%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ubud, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.37 Rp 59.5K
$8.03 COP 25.1K
-58.03%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.59 Rp 680.4K
$48.26 COP 150.8K
-20.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.52 Rp 97.3K
$9.77 COP 30.5K
-43.50%
Cappuccino
$2.64 Rp 46.6K
$2.91 COP 9,095
-9.28%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.67 Rp 29.5K
$1.94 COP 6,074
-13.92%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 Rp 13.6K
$1.52 COP 4,754
-49.34%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.63 Rp 46.4K
$3.09 COP 9,663
-14.89%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28 Rp 75.5K
$5.74 COP 17.9K
-25.44%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ubud, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.55 Rp 27.3K
$1.36 COP 4,262
13.97%
White Bread (500g)
$2.22 Rp 39.2K
$2.39 COP 7,460
-7.11%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.13 Rp 19.8K
$1.70 COP 5,314
-33.53%
Eggs
$2.09 Rp 36.8K
$2.87 COP 8,967
-27.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$17.39 Rp 306.7K
$9.94 COP 31.1K
74.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.87 Rp 68.2K
$10.78 COP 33.7K
-64.10%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.55 Rp 221.3K
$14.73 COP 46.0K
-14.80%
Apples (1kg)
$3.62 Rp 63.8K
$4.09 COP 12.8K
-11.49%
Banana (1kg)
$1.56 Rp 27.5K
$1.57 COP 4,911
-0.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.35 Rp 41.5K
$2.13 COP 6,642
10.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.06 Rp 36.2K
$2.21 COP 6,917
-6.79%
Potato (1kg)
$1.90 Rp 33.5K
$2.05 COP 6,396
-7.32%
Onion (1kg)
$2.34 Rp 41.2K
$1.50 COP 4,700
56.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.03 Rp 18.2K
$1.19 COP 3,718
-13.45%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 Rp 9,781
$1.16 COP 3,619
-52.59%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 Rp 39.7K
$3.90 COP 12.2K
-42.31%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.81 Rp 419.8K
$14.44 COP 45.1K
64.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.31 Rp 40.8K
$1.58 COP 4,948
46.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.80 Rp 49.4K
$2.83 COP 8,836
-1.06%
🚌 Getting Around
Ubud, Bali
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.27 Rp 4,803
$1.17 COP 3,650
-76.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$8.66 Rp 152.7K
$77.7 COP 242.9K
-88.86%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.48 Rp 8,490
$1.28 COP 4,014
-62.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.45 Rp 7,865
$2.09 COP 6,537
-78.47%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.72 Rp 100.8K
$8.62 COP 26.9K
-33.64%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.76 Rp 13.4K
$1.30 COP 4,056
-41.54%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K Rp 431.7M
$27.7K COP 86.4M
-11.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1K Rp 566.4M
$35.5K COP 110.9M
-9.54%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ubud, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.6 Rp 1.5M
$176 COP 550.1K
-52.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.46 Rp 113.8K
$13.37 COP 41.8K
-51.68%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.99 Rp 334.9K
$29.89 COP 93.4K
-36.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ubud, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.0 Rp 987.0K
$44.76 COP 139.8K
25.04%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.62 Rp 328.3K
$17.06 COP 53.3K
9.14%
Cinema Ticket
$4.28 Rp 75.5K
$6.20 COP 19.4K
-30.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ubud, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$487 Rp 8.6M
$793 COP 2.5M
-38.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,856 Rp 103.3M
$9,019 COP 28.2M
-35.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ubud, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.56 Rp 803.3K
$85.6 COP 267.5K
-46.78%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.38 Rp 641.5K
$58.5 COP 182.7K
-37.78%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.0 Rp 1.4M
$136 COP 425.9K
-39.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.4 Rp 1.4M
$103 COP 322.2K
-22.03%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ubud, Bali
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,117 Rp 19.7M
$1,060 COP 3.3M
5.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$701 Rp 12.4M
$680 COP 2.1M
3.17%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,537 Rp 62.4M
$2,012 COP 6.3M
75.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,762 Rp 31.1M
$1,169 COP 3.7M
50.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,826 Rp 49.8M
$4,111 COP 12.8M
-31.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,292 Rp 40.4M
$1,701 COP 5.3M
34.70%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ubud, Bali
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$170 Rp 3.0M
$665 COP 2.1M
-74.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.78
10.94
25.96%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: August 31, 2026

Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,117 in Ubud, Bali versus $1,060 in Medellin. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 292% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $48.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $293 vs $303 – making Ubud, Bali 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
Ubud, Bali vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Ubud, Bali?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 23%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. 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 $2,095 per month in Ubud, Bali and $2,574 in Medellin. 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 Ubud, Bali, 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 Ubud, Bali or in Medellin?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $39.00 in Ubud, Bali and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Ubud, Bali and in Medellin?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,396 in Ubud, Bali and $1,716 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Ubud, Bali or in Medellin?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Ubud, Bali, where all-in costs run around $1,396, than in Medellin at $1,716. In Ubud, Bali it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Ubud, Bali or Medellin more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Ubud, Bali – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Ubud, Bali or Medellin?
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 Ubud, Bali. 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.

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