Cost of Living Comparison Between Belgrade and Medellin Cost of Living Comparison Between Belgrade and Medellin

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$12.41 RSD 1,269
$6.16 COP 20.1K
101.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.13 RSD 5,024
$32.60 COP 106.1K
50.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.96 RSD 1,223
$7.34 COP 23.9K
62.94%
Cappuccino
$2.83 RSD 289
$1.72 COP 5,599
64.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.71 RSD 277
$1.05 COP 3,420
158.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17 RSD 222
$0.77 COP 2,515
181.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.36 RSD 344
$1.69 COP 5,487
98.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 RSD 401
$3.17 COP 10.3K
23.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.47 RSD 150
$1.05 COP 3,423
40.00%
White Bread (500g)
$0.94 RSD 96.5
$1.30 COP 4,236
-27.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.05 RSD 312
$1.40 COP 4,544
117.86%
Eggs
$2.87 RSD 294
$2.16 COP 7,046
32.87%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.34 RSD 1,160
$4.39 COP 14.3K
158.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$7.48 RSD 765
$5.88 COP 19.1K
27.21%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.97 RSD 1,326
$8.64 COP 28.1K
50.12%
Apples (1kg)
$1.42 RSD 145
$2.28 COP 7,425
-37.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.90 RSD 194
$1.11 COP 3,603
71.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.96 RSD 200
$1.53 COP 4,982
28.10%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.69 RSD 276
$1.35 COP 4,410
99.26%
Potato (1kg)
$1.03 RSD 105
$1.13 COP 3,674
-8.85%
Onion (1kg)
$0.80 RSD 81.7
$1.13 COP 3,692
-29.20%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 RSD 90.5
$0.85 COP 2,753
4.71%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78 RSD 80.1
$0.91 COP 2,975
-14.29%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.53 RSD 463
$2.34 COP 7,629
93.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.49 RSD 868
$12.37 COP 40.3K
-31.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.88 RSD 89.8
$1.20 COP 3,909
-26.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 RSD 164
$2.49 COP 8,104
-35.74%
🚌 Getting Around
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 RSD 99.1
$0.84 COP 2,727
15.48%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$40.57 COP 132.1K
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.23 RSD 330
$1.42 COP 4,623
127.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.96 RSD 97.9
$1.92 COP 6,235
-50.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.63 RSD 1,803
$7.66 COP 24.9K
130.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.81 RSD 185
$0.99 COP 3,223
82.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.8K RSD 3.2M
$18.0K COP 58.7M
70.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K RSD 2.7M
$26.6K COP 86.7M
-1.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$205 RSD 21.0K
$80.8 COP 263.1K
153.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.48 RSD 2,299
$9.95 COP 32.4K
125.93%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.43 RSD 3,316
$24.18 COP 78.7K
34.12%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.00 RSD 3,987
$25.08 COP 81.6K
55.50%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.19 RSD 2,166
$19.15 COP 62.3K
10.65%
Cinema Ticket
$8.04 RSD 822
$3.98 COP 13.0K
102.01%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$455 RSD 46.5K
$305 COP 993.4K
49.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,282 RSD 949.0K
$6,059 COP 19.7M
53.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$101 RSD 10.3K
$58.1 COP 189.2K
72.89%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.53 RSD 4,349
$32.20 COP 104.8K
32.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$112 RSD 11.5K
$101 COP 327.9K
11.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$120 RSD 12.3K
$108 COP 350.8K
11.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$876 RSD 89.6K
$477 COP 1.6M
83.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$576 RSD 58.9K
$376 COP 1.2M
53.06%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,574 RSD 161.0K
$845 COP 2.7M
86.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$999 RSD 102.1K
$730 COP 2.4M
36.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,543 RSD 566.7K
$3,215 COP 10.5M
72.37%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,206 RSD 327.8K
$1,372 COP 4.5M
133.65%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,214 RSD 124.2K
$617 COP 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.

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