😐A single person spends $1,658 per month in Belgrade vs $1,641 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,486 per month in Belgrade vs $2,447 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,313 per month in Belgrade vs $3,253 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Belgrade costs about 1% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Belgrade and Medellin sit above the global median – Belgrade by 20%, Medellin by 19%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.63RSD 1,374
$8.04COP 24.8K
69.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.1RSD 6,055
$48.29COP 148.6K
24.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$13.01RSD 1,311
$9.42COP 29.0K
38.11%
Cappuccino
$3.18RSD 321
$2.94COP 9,040
8.16%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.93RSD 295
$1.86COP 5,735
57.53%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49RSD 251
$1.46COP 4,479
70.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.58RSD 361
$3.21COP 9,882
11.53%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.05RSD 408
$5.71COP 17.6K
-29.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.49RSD 150
$1.44COP 4,428
3.47%
White Bread(500g)
$1.19RSD 120
$2.40COP 7,389
-50.42%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.88RSD 290
$1.70COP 5,228
69.41%
Eggs
$2.84RSD 287
$2.89COP 8,896
-1.73%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.88RSD 1,198
$10.06COP 30.9K
18.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.33RSD 739
$9.97COP 30.7K
-26.48%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$16.32RSD 1,645
$14.20COP 43.7K
14.93%
Apples(1kg)
$1.76RSD 177
$3.98COP 12.3K
-55.78%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86RSD 187
$1.58COP 4,878
17.72%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.90RSD 192
$2.15COP 6,624
-11.63%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.20RSD 322
$2.30COP 7,078
39.13%
Potato(1kg)
$0.92RSD 93.2
$2.00COP 6,169
-54.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.73RSD 73.3
$1.51COP 4,646
-51.66%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.82RSD 82.2
$1.20COP 3,701
-31.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.69RSD 69.2
$1.28COP 3,946
-46.09%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.78RSD 482
$3.84COP 11.8K
24.48%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.86RSD 994
$14.01COP 43.1K
-29.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.90RSD 91.1
$1.71COP 5,256
-47.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53RSD 154
$2.74COP 8,440
-44.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
-
$1.25COP 3,834
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.21RSD 323
$1.31COP 4,016
145.04%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.02RSD 103
$2.17COP 6,680
-53.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.77RSD 1,791
$8.29COP 25.5K
114.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.99RSD 200
$1.36COP 4,172
46.32%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$31.2KRSD 3.1M
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
13.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.2KRSD 2.5M
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-31.12%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$223RSD 22.5K
$169COP 519.2K
32.17%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.22RSD 2,642
$13.57COP 41.8K
93.22%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.14RSD 3,643
$28.32COP 87.2K
27.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$42.95RSD 4,329
$45.71COP 140.7K
-6.04%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$23.54RSD 2,372
$17.22COP 53.0K
36.70%
Cinema Ticket
$8.77RSD 883
$6.65COP 20.5K
31.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$418RSD 42.1K
$803COP 2.5M
-47.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5KRSD 1.2M
$9,190COP 28.3M
25.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$112RSD 11.3K
$87.4COP 268.8K
27.80%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$48.51RSD 4,889
$59.4COP 182.7K
-18.29%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$120RSD 12.1K
$139COP 427.5K
-13.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$161RSD 16.3K
$102COP 314.0K
58.23%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$876RSD 88.3K
$1,071COP 3.3M
-18.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$591RSD 59.6K
$653COP 2.0M
-9.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,603RSD 161.5K
$1,925COP 5.9M
-16.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$986RSD 99.4K
$1,048COP 3.2M
-5.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,708RSD 575.3K
$4,123COP 12.7M
38.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,286RSD 331.2K
$1,697COP 5.2M
93.57%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,276RSD 128.6K
$655COP 2.0M
94.77%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
4.64
10.94
-57.59%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Belgrade: September 6, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $876 in Belgrade versus $1,071 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 95% higher in Belgrade, 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 $60.0 in Belgrade versus $48.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $258 in Belgrade vs $300 in Medellin – so Belgrade 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
Belgrade vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Belgrade and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,658 in Belgrade, $1,641 in Medellin – roughly 1% apart. Belgrade costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Belgrade compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,487 per month in Belgrade and $2,462 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Belgrade and Medellin?
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.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $60.0 in Belgrade and $48.00 in Medellin. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Belgrade – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Belgrade at $1,658. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belgrade it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Belgrade and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,641 in Medellin to $1,658 in Belgrade. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Belgrade or Medellin safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Belgrade and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belgrade makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.