😐A single person spends $1,508 per month in Belgrade vs $1,031 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,303 per month in Belgrade vs $1,599 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,098 per month in Belgrade vs $2,167 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Belgrade costs about 46% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Belgrade sits 13% above the global median, while Medellin is 23% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.41RSD 1,269
$6.16COP 20.1K
101.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.13RSD 5,024
$32.60COP 106.1K
50.71%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.96RSD 1,223
$7.34COP 23.9K
62.94%
Cappuccino
$2.83RSD 289
$1.72COP 5,599
64.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71RSD 277
$1.05COP 3,420
158.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17RSD 222
$0.77COP 2,515
181.82%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.36RSD 344
$1.69COP 5,487
98.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92RSD 401
$3.17COP 10.3K
23.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.47RSD 150
$1.05COP 3,423
40.00%
White Bread(500g)
$0.94RSD 96.5
$1.30COP 4,236
-27.69%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.05RSD 312
$1.40COP 4,544
117.86%
Eggs
$2.87RSD 294
$2.16COP 7,046
32.87%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.34RSD 1,160
$4.39COP 14.3K
158.31%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.48RSD 765
$5.88COP 19.1K
27.21%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.97RSD 1,326
$8.64COP 28.1K
50.12%
Apples(1kg)
$1.42RSD 145
$2.28COP 7,425
-37.72%
Banana(1kg)
$1.90RSD 194
$1.11COP 3,603
71.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96RSD 200
$1.53COP 4,982
28.10%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.69RSD 276
$1.35COP 4,410
99.26%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03RSD 105
$1.13COP 3,674
-8.85%
Onion(1kg)
$0.80RSD 81.7
$1.13COP 3,692
-29.20%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89RSD 90.5
$0.85COP 2,753
4.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78RSD 80.1
$0.91COP 2,975
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53RSD 463
$2.34COP 7,629
93.59%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.49RSD 868
$12.37COP 40.3K
-31.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88RSD 89.8
$1.20COP 3,909
-26.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60RSD 164
$2.49COP 8,104
-35.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.97RSD 99.1
$0.84COP 2,727
15.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$40.57COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.23RSD 330
$1.42COP 4,623
127.46%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.96RSD 97.9
$1.92COP 6,235
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.63RSD 1,803
$7.66COP 24.9K
130.16%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.81RSD 185
$0.99COP 3,223
82.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8KRSD 3.2M
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
70.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2KRSD 2.7M
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-1.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$205RSD 21.0K
$80.8COP 263.1K
153.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.48RSD 2,299
$9.95COP 32.4K
125.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.43RSD 3,316
$24.18COP 78.7K
34.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$39.00RSD 3,987
$25.08COP 81.6K
55.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.19RSD 2,166
$19.15COP 62.3K
10.65%
Cinema Ticket
$8.04RSD 822
$3.98COP 13.0K
102.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$455RSD 46.5K
$305COP 993.4K
49.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,282RSD 949.0K
$6,059COP 19.7M
53.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101RSD 10.3K
$58.1COP 189.2K
72.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.53RSD 4,349
$32.20COP 104.8K
32.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$112RSD 11.5K
$101COP 327.9K
11.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120RSD 12.3K
$108COP 350.8K
11.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$876RSD 89.6K
$477COP 1.6M
83.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$576RSD 58.9K
$376COP 1.2M
53.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,574RSD 161.0K
$845COP 2.7M
86.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$999RSD 102.1K
$730COP 2.4M
36.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,543RSD 566.7K
$3,215COP 10.5M
72.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,206RSD 327.8K
$1,372COP 4.5M
133.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,214RSD 124.2K
$617COP 2.0M
96.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.59
13.43
-58.38%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Belgrade: July 12, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $876 in Belgrade versus $477 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 97% 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 $49.00 in Belgrade versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $240 vs $193 – 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
Belgrade vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Belgrade and in Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,508 in Belgrade, $1,031 in Medellin – roughly 46% apart. Belgrade costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Belgrade compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,262 per month in Belgrade and $1,546 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 $49.00 in Belgrade and $33.00 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?
Groceries cost about 24% more in Belgrade, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,031, than in Belgrade at $1,508. 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 $1,031 in Medellin to $1,508 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.