🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,282 in Herceg Novi versus $1,716 in Medellin.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,079 in Herceg Novi versus $2,527 in Medellin.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,876 in Herceg Novi versus $3,338 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Herceg Novi costs roughly 25% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Herceg Novi is 7% below, Medellin is 25% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.40€9.80
$8.03COP 25.2K
41.97%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.04€32.71
$48.26COP 151.7K
-21.18%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.14€7.86
$9.77COP 30.7K
-6.45%
Cappuccino
$2.61€2.24
$2.91COP 9,149
-10.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.56€2.20
$1.94COP 6,110
31.96%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.64€1.41
$1.52COP 4,783
7.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.92€2.51
$3.09COP 9,721
-5.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.53€3.03
$5.74COP 18.1K
-38.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.20€1.03
$1.36COP 4,287
-11.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.00€0.86
$2.39COP 7,505
-58.16%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.94€2.53
$1.70COP 5,346
72.94%
Eggs
$3.10€2.66
$2.87COP 9,021
8.01%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$9.19€7.90
$9.94COP 31.2K
-7.55%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.43€6.39
$10.78COP 33.9K
-31.08%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$13.00€11.18
$14.73COP 46.3K
-11.74%
Apples(1kg)
$1.34€1.15
$4.09COP 12.8K
-67.24%
Banana(1kg)
$1.57€1.35
$1.57COP 4,940
-
Oranges(1kg)
$1.67€1.44
$2.13COP 6,682
-21.60%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.99€2.57
$2.21COP 6,959
35.29%
Potato(1kg)
$0.91€0.78
$2.05COP 6,435
-55.61%
Onion(1kg)
$1.36€1.17
$1.50COP 4,728
-9.33%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.50€1.29
$1.19COP 3,740
26.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.99€0.85
$1.16COP 3,640
-14.66%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.00€3.44
$3.90COP 12.2K
2.56%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.53€3.90
$14.44COP 45.4K
-68.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.32€1.14
$1.58COP 4,978
-16.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.84€1.59
$2.83COP 8,889
-34.98%
🚌 Getting Around
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.79€1.54
$1.17COP 3,672
52.99%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$47.38€40.73
$77.7COP 244.3K
-39.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.10€2.66
$1.28COP 4,038
142.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.18€1.02
$2.09COP 6,576
-43.54%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.63€15.15
$8.62COP 27.1K
104.52%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.80€1.55
$1.30COP 4,080
38.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.8K€29.0K
$27.7KCOP 86.9M
22.07%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.8K€18.8K
$35.5KCOP 111.6M
-38.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$137€118
$176COP 553.4K
-22.05%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.28€11.42
$13.37COP 42.0K
-0.67%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$35.68€30.67
$29.89COP 94.0K
19.37%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$57.8€49.67
$44.76COP 140.7K
29.09%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.71€10.07
$17.06COP 53.6K
-31.36%
Cinema Ticket
$8.31€7.14
$6.20COP 19.5K
34.03%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$466€400
$793COP 2.5M
-41.31%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,235€6,220
$9,019COP 28.4M
-19.78%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$85.9€73.9
$85.6COP 269.1K
0.34%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.37€30.41
$58.5COP 183.8K
-39.51%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$74.6€64.2
$136COP 428.4K
-45.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$97.7€84.0
$103COP 324.1K
-5.25%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$682€587
$1,060COP 3.3M
-35.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$415€357
$680COP 2.1M
-38.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,303€1,120
$2,012COP 6.3M
-35.25%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$927€797
$1,169COP 3.7M
-20.65%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,887€3,342
$4,111COP 12.9M
-5.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,457€2,112
$1,701COP 5.3M
44.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,069€919
$665COP 2.1M
60.68%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
10.94
-54.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Herceg Novi: August 31, 2026
Last update for Medellin: August 30, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $682 in Herceg Novi and $1,060 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Herceg Novi pays 61% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $38.00 in Herceg Novi vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $230 vs $303 per month, with Herceg Novi cheaper across the board.
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
Herceg Novi vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Herceg Novi and in Medellin?
Herceg Novi and Medellin differ by about 34% in total monthly costs ($1,282 vs $1,716 including rent). Herceg Novi is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Herceg Novi or Medellin?
Average pay runs 61% higher in Herceg Novi, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Herceg Novi and in Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $682 in Herceg Novi versus $1,060 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 32% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Herceg Novi – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $48.00 in Medellin. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,282 in Herceg Novi versus $1,716 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Herceg Novi but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Herceg Novi the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Herceg Novi and Medellin?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Herceg Novi or Medellin safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Herceg Novi and Medellin are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Herceg Novi or Medellin?
Expats usually find Herceg Novi gentler on the wallet – expenses run 34% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Herceg Novi vs other spots: cost of living compared