Medellin vs Ubud: cost of living for digital nomads
Medellin, Colombia and Ubud, Indonesia, line by line from the catalogue: what a month costs, rent, food, coworking, safety and internet. Every figure links back to its source on the city page.
The short version
- Ubud is about 7% cheaper than Medellin for a month of nomad living ($1,400 vs $1,500).
- Rent is the biggest gap: $550 in Ubud against $720 in Medellin.
- Ubud scores higher on safety (8/10 vs 6/10).
- Internet is faster in Medellin: 100 Mbps typical against 30 Mbps.
- Both have a tropical climate.
Medellin wins 3 of the measured lines; Ubud wins 4.
Frequently asked questions
Which city is cheaper, Medellin or Ubud?
Ubud is cheaper: about $1,400/month against $1,500/month in Medellin, roughly 7% less for a typical remote worker's budget.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Ubud?
Ubud scores higher on safety: 8/10 against 6/10 for Medellin.
Which has faster internet, Medellin or Ubud?
Medellin has faster typical internet: 100 Mbps against 30 Mbps in Ubud.
| Line | Medellin | Ubud |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly total (USD) | $1,500 | $1,400 |
| Rent | $720 | $550 |
| Food | $380 | $380 |
| Transport | $45 | $60 |
| Coworking | $120 | $110 |
| Safety (out of 10) | 6/10 | 8/10 |
| Internet (Mbps) | 100 | 30 |
| Climate | tropical | tropical |
| City size | metro | small |
| Setting | mountain | inland |
| Nomad score (out of 10) | 10/10 | 9/10 |
Ubud
Bali's wellness-and-yoga nomad hub inland from Canggu — jungle, cafes, strong community.
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Costs are typical monthly figures for one person in USD, from the sources named on each city page; safety and internet are the catalogue's own ratings. Cost figures verified (Eastern Time): Medellin November 8, 2026, Ubud August 30, 2026.