😐A single person spends $1,517 per month in Belgrade vs $1,013 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,312 per month in Belgrade vs $1,602 in Medellin, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,108 per month in Belgrade vs $2,192 in Medellin, rent included.
😐Belgrade costs about 50% more than Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Belgrade sits 13% above the global median, while Medellin is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$12.19RSD 1,228
$5.99COP 21.3K
103.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$49.60RSD 4,999
$32.86COP 116.9K
50.94%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$11.68RSD 1,177
$7.09COP 25.2K
64.74%
Cappuccino
$2.86RSD 288
$1.71COP 6,093
67.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.70RSD 272
$1.10COP 3,910
145.45%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.17RSD 219
$0.78COP 2,771
178.21%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.55RSD 358
$1.68COP 5,976
111.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.02RSD 405
$3.07COP 10.9K
30.94%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.52RSD 153
$1.09COP 3,892
39.45%
White Bread(500g)
$0.92RSD 92.7
$1.26COP 4,492
-26.98%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.05RSD 308
$1.38COP 4,905
121.01%
Eggs
$2.85RSD 288
$2.19COP 7,799
30.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$11.46RSD 1,155
$4.40COP 15.7K
160.45%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.46RSD 752
$5.63COP 20.0K
32.50%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.96RSD 1,306
$8.89COP 31.6K
45.78%
Apples(1kg)
$1.41RSD 142
$2.34COP 8,319
-39.74%
Banana(1kg)
$1.89RSD 191
$1.06COP 3,764
78.30%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96RSD 198
$1.50COP 5,355
30.67%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.78RSD 280
$1.38COP 4,906
101.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03RSD 104
$1.15COP 4,097
-10.43%
Onion(1kg)
$0.75RSD 76.1
$1.16COP 4,141
-35.34%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89RSD 89.3
$0.89COP 3,170
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78RSD 79.1
$0.84COP 2,986
-7.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.66RSD 470
$2.28COP 8,116
104.39%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.65RSD 972
$10.64COP 37.9K
-9.30%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.87RSD 87.5
$1.20COP 4,268
-27.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51RSD 153
$2.47COP 8,793
-38.87%
🚌 Getting Around
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.98RSD 98.5
$0.86COP 3,045
13.95%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
-
$41.40COP 147.3K
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.09RSD 312
$1.47COP 5,245
110.20%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.90RSD 90.3
$1.96COP 6,984
-54.08%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.87RSD 1,801
$7.74COP 27.5K
130.88%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.83RSD 185
$0.95COP 3,397
92.63%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.9KRSD 3.1M
$18.1KCOP 64.5M
70.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KRSD 2.7M
$26.5KCOP 94.2M
2.16%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$210RSD 21.1K
$82.3COP 292.7K
154.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$22.09RSD 2,226
$9.50COP 33.8K
132.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$32.98RSD 3,324
$24.23COP 86.2K
36.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.57RSD 3,887
$25.89COP 92.1K
48.98%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.97RSD 2,114
$19.00COP 67.6K
10.37%
Cinema Ticket
$7.70RSD 776
$3.93COP 14.0K
95.93%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$449RSD 45.3K
$309COP 1.1M
45.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,106RSD 917.7K
$5,965COP 21.2M
52.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$100RSD 10.1K
$58.7COP 208.7K
70.99%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.41RSD 4,274
$32.35COP 115.1K
31.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113RSD 11.4K
$103COP 365.1K
9.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$118RSD 11.9K
$108COP 385.8K
8.94%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$852RSD 85.9K
$476COP 1.7M
78.89%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$571RSD 57.5K
$379COP 1.3M
50.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,569RSD 158.1K
$838COP 3.0M
87.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,024RSD 103.2K
$724COP 2.6M
41.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$5,218RSD 525.9K
$2,791COP 9.9M
86.98%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$3,155RSD 318.0K
$1,211COP 4.3M
160.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Belgrade
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,234RSD 124.4K
$512COP 1.8M
141.18%
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: May 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $852 in Belgrade 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 141% 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 $50.0 in Belgrade versus $33.00 in Medellin. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $243 vs $188 – 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 Medellin compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,517 in Belgrade, $1,013 in Medellin – roughly 50% 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 $2,275 per month in Belgrade and $1,519 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 $50.0 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 29% 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 $1,013, than in Belgrade at $1,517. 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 $1,013 in Medellin to $1,517 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.