Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Budva and Medellin

For one person, living costs are similar in Budva and in Medellin: $1,611 and $1,614 a month, rent and utilities included.

Budva
🇲🇪 Montenegro
$1,611
/mo nomad
Medellin
🇨🇴 Colombia
$1,614
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Budva and in Medellin

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Budva and in Medellin actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,611 per month in Budva vs $1,614 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Budva $1,611
  • Medellin $1,614

A couple spends around $2,529 per month in Budva vs $2,402 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Budva $2,529
  • Medellin $2,402

A family of three spends $3,447 per month in Budva vs $3,190 in Medellin, rent included.

  • Budva $3,447
  • Medellin $3,190

Budva and Medellin have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Budva and Medellin sit above the global median – Budva by 19%, Medellin by 20%.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Budva
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$14.76 €13.13
$7.93 COP 25.2K
86.13%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.5 €59.1
$46.13 COP 146.3K
44.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$13.27 €11.80
$9.50 COP 30.1K
39.68%
Cappuccino
$3.39 €3.02
$3.11 COP 9,866
9.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.21 €1.96
$1.83 COP 5,800
20.77%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.52 €1.35
$1.38 COP 4,360
10.14%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.69 €4.17
$3.05 COP 9,672
53.77%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.27 €3.80
$5.50 COP 17.4K
-22.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Budva
Medellin
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.25 €1.11
$1.45 COP 4,600
-13.79%
White Bread (500g)
$1.06 €0.95
$2.36 COP 7,496
-55.08%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.21 €1.97
$1.68 COP 5,328
31.55%
Eggs
$3.07 €2.73
$2.86 COP 9,077
7.34%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.50 €7.56
$10.19 COP 32.3K
-16.58%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.08 €8.08
$9.53 COP 30.2K
-4.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$12.17 €10.83
$14.04 COP 44.5K
-13.32%
Apples (1kg)
$1.28 €1.14
$4.07 COP 12.9K
-68.55%
Banana (1kg)
$1.75 €1.56
$1.50 COP 4,742
16.67%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 €1.35
$2.17 COP 6,891
-29.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.78 €2.47
$2.31 COP 7,310
20.35%
Potato (1kg)
$0.85 €0.76
$1.93 COP 6,113
-55.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 €0.95
$1.64 COP 5,196
-34.76%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.67 €1.48
$1.13 COP 3,571
47.79%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.94 €0.84
$1.25 COP 3,954
-24.80%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.42 €3.93
$3.99 COP 12.6K
10.78%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.67 €6.82
$13.35 COP 42.3K
-42.55%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 €0.94
$1.70 COP 5,384
-37.65%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 €1.55
$2.37 COP 7,525
-26.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Budva
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.84 €2.53
$1.21 COP 3,827
134.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.74 €35.34
$76.5 COP 242.5K
-48.05%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.11 €0.98
$1.32 COP 4,179
-15.91%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.09 €0.97
$2.14 COP 6,774
-49.07%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$16.85 €14.99
$8.47 COP 26.8K
98.94%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.70 €1.51
$1.30 COP 4,114
30.77%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.5K €25.4K
$28.0K COP 88.7M
1.89%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K €22.9K
$35.4K COP 112.3M
-27.20%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budva
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$158 €140
$172 COP 545.6K
-8.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.92 €13.27
$13.37 COP 42.4K
11.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$33.61 €29.90
$28.73 COP 91.1K
16.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Budva
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$57.1 €50.8
$45.24 COP 143.5K
26.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.24 €18.89
$17.04 COP 54.0K
24.65%
Cinema Ticket
$6.19 €5.50
$6.28 COP 19.9K
-1.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Budva
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$407 €362
$770 COP 2.4M
-47.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,855 €8,766
$9,011 COP 28.6M
9.36%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Budva
Medellin
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$105 €93.3
$86.4 COP 274.0K
21.37%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.04 €39.17
$57.1 COP 181.1K
-22.91%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$96.8 €86.1
$137 COP 432.9K
-29.07%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$178 €159
$97.9 COP 310.4K
82.27%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Budva
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$846 €752
$1,055 COP 3.3M
-19.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$606 €539
$616 COP 2.0M
-1.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,499 €1,333
$1,892 COP 6.0M
-20.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,149 €1,022
$1,023 COP 3.2M
12.34%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,046 €3,599
$4,059 COP 12.9M
-0.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,920 €2,597
$1,678 COP 5.3M
73.96%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Budva
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,028 €915
$652 COP 2.1M
57.63%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.95
10.94
-45.61%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Budva: October 12, 2026

Last update for Medellin: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Budva
$606
Medellin
$616 1.6% $9.6
Eating Out
Budva
$246
Medellin
$168 31.4% $77
Groceries & Markets
Budva
$235
Medellin
$295 25.2% $59
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Budva
$206
Medellin
$214 3.8% $7.9
Clothing & Footwear
Budva
$191
Medellin
$170 10.9% $21
Sport & Entertainment
Budva
$69
Medellin
$58 16.8% $12
Getting Around
Budva
$58
Medellin
$93 61.9% $36

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $846 in Budva versus $1,055 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 58% higher in Budva. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $66.0 in Budva versus $46.00 in Medellin. Groceries tell a different story – $235 in Budva vs $295 in Medellin – so Budva wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇲🇪 Budva
🇨🇴 Medellin
🕒 Local time
18:40 6:40 PM
11:40 11:40 AM
7 h behind Budva
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
13,338
2,486,723
💱 Currency
Euro EUR €
Exchange rates and currency converter

COP, USD to EUR – Euro Converter

Euro exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 0.889 EUR (1 EUR = 1.12 USD).

Colombian Peso exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 3,171 COP (10,000 COP = 3.15 USD). 1 EUR = 3,565 COP (10,000 COP = 2.81 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Budva Medellin 9,900 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Budva
  • Medellin

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Budva vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What salary covers living expenses in Budva compared to Medellin?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,417 per month in Budva and $2,421 in Medellin. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Budva and Medellin?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Budva, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 25% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Budva and Medellin?
Kindergarten costs $407 per month in Budva and $770 in Medellin. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Which city is more doable on $3,000 per month?
A $3,000 monthly budget goes further in Budva, where all-in costs run around $1,611, than in Medellin at $1,614. In Budva it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Budva and Medellin?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,611 in Budva to $1,614 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Budva 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 Budva and Medellin?
If budget matters most, go with Budva. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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