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 $1,419 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,540 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,660 per month in Ubud, Bali vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.

Ubud, Bali costs about 40% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Ubud, Bali sits 6% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.56 Rp 64.3K

$5.99 COP 21.3K

-40.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.73 Rp 590.3K

$32.86 COP 116.9K

-0.40%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 Rp 89.2K

$7.09 COP 25.2K

-30.18%

Cappuccino

$2.71 Rp 48.9K

$1.71 COP 6,093

58.48%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.34 Rp 24.2K

$1.10 COP 3,910

21.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.70 Rp 12.6K

$0.78 COP 2,771

-10.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.92 Rp 52.7K

$1.68 COP 5,976

73.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.96 Rp 71.4K

$3.07 COP 10.9K

28.99%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.81 Rp 32.6K

$1.09 COP 3,892

66.06%

White Bread (500g)

$2.52 Rp 45.4K

$1.26 COP 4,492

100.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.16 Rp 20.9K

$1.38 COP 4,905

-15.94%

Eggs

$2.46 Rp 44.4K

$2.19 COP 7,799

12.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.71 Rp 265.3K

$4.40 COP 15.7K

234.32%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.32 Rp 77.9K

$5.63 COP 20.0K

-23.27%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$12.14 Rp 218.9K

$8.89 COP 31.6K

36.56%

Apples (1kg)

$3.84 Rp 69.3K

$2.34 COP 8,319

64.10%

Banana (1kg)

$1.56 Rp 28.1K

$1.06 COP 3,764

47.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.83 Rp 51.1K

$1.50 COP 5,355

88.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.33 Rp 41.9K

$1.38 COP 4,906

68.84%

Potato (1kg)

$1.91 Rp 34.5K

$1.15 COP 4,097

66.09%

Onion (1kg)

$2.20 Rp 39.7K

$1.16 COP 4,141

89.66%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.01 Rp 18.3K

$0.89 COP 3,170

13.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 Rp 14.0K

$0.84 COP 2,986

-7.14%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.32 Rp 59.8K

$2.28 COP 8,116

45.61%

Wine (Bottle)

$23.74 Rp 428.0K

$10.64 COP 37.9K

123.12%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.79 Rp 50.3K

$1.20 COP 4,268

132.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.86 Rp 51.6K

$2.47 COP 8,793

15.79%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.27 Rp 4,848

$0.86 COP 3,045

-68.60%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$8.03 Rp 144.8K

$41.40 COP 147.3K

-80.60%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.46 Rp 8,230

$1.47 COP 5,245

-68.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.45 Rp 8,116

$1.96 COP 6,984

-77.04%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.10 Rp 109.9K

$7.74 COP 27.5K

-21.19%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 Rp 14.3K

$0.95 COP 3,397

-16.84%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$26.1K Rp 471.6M

$18.1K COP 64.5M

44.23%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.1K Rp 579.2M

$26.5K COP 94.2M

21.27%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$79.9 Rp 1.4M

$82.3 COP 292.7K

-2.81%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$4.06 Rp 73.3K

$9.50 COP 33.8K

-57.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 Rp 424.1K

$24.23 COP 86.2K

-2.93%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$98.7 Rp 1.8M

$25.89 COP 92.1K

281.23%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.63 Rp 119.6K

$19.00 COP 67.6K

-65.11%

Cinema Ticket

$4.15 Rp 74.8K

$3.93 COP 14.0K

5.60%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$304 Rp 5.5M

$309 COP 1.1M

-1.76%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,613 Rp 119.3M

$5,965 COP 21.2M

10.86%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.5 Rp 1.0M

$58.7 COP 208.7K

-5.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.31 Rp 690.9K

$32.35 COP 115.1K

18.42%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$88.6 Rp 1.6M

$103 COP 365.1K

-13.65%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$77.9 Rp 1.4M

$108 COP 385.8K

-28.18%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 Rp 18.1M

$476 COP 1.7M

111.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$675 Rp 12.2M

$379 COP 1.3M

78.29%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$3,442 Rp 62.1M

$838 COP 3.0M

310.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$2,039 Rp 36.8M

$724 COP 2.6M

181.75%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,841 Rp 51.2M

$2,791 COP 9.9M

1.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,264 Rp 40.8M

$1,211 COP 4.3M

86.89%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$165 Rp 3.0M

$512 COP 1.8M

-67.71%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.28

13.43

-1.12%

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

Last update for Ubud, Bali: June 1, 2026

Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Ubud, Bali versus $476 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 210% higher in Medellin, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali versus $33.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $302 in Ubud, Bali vs $188 in Medellin – 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

Ubud, Bali vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Ubud, Bali is pricier by about 40%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,129 per month in Ubud, Bali and $1,519 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Ubud, Bali and $33.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,419 in Ubud, Bali and $1,013 in Medellin. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,013, than in Ubud, Bali at $1,419. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Ubud, Bali it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Ubud, Bali makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.