😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,465 in Herceg Novi versus $1,031 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,156 in Herceg Novi versus $1,599 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,848 in Herceg Novi versus $2,167 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Herceg Novi is roughly 42% more expensive than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Herceg Novi is 10% above, Medellin is 23% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.53€10.08
$6.16COP 20.1K
87.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.39€32.72
$32.60COP 106.1K
14.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$10.47€9.16
$7.34COP 23.9K
42.64%
Cappuccino
$2.61€2.29
$1.72COP 5,600
51.74%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.82€2.46
$1.05COP 3,420
168.57%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.94€1.70
$0.77COP 2,515
151.95%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.93€2.57
$1.69COP 5,488
73.37%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98€2.60
$3.17COP 10.3K
-5.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.39€1.21
$1.05COP 3,423
32.38%
White Bread(500g)
$0.93€0.81
$1.30COP 4,236
-28.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$2.53€2.22
$1.40COP 4,544
80.71%
Eggs
$3.18€2.78
$2.16COP 7,047
47.22%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.94€7.82
$4.39COP 14.3K
103.64%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$7.63€6.67
$5.88COP 19.1K
29.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.69€10.22
$8.64COP 28.1K
35.30%
Apples(1kg)
$1.32€1.16
$2.28COP 7,426
-42.11%
Banana(1kg)
$1.69€1.48
$1.11COP 3,604
52.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.63€1.43
$1.53COP 4,983
6.54%
Tomato(1kg)
$3.00€2.62
$1.35COP 4,410
122.22%
Potato(1kg)
$1.09€0.96
$1.13COP 3,674
-3.54%
Onion(1kg)
$1.40€1.23
$1.13COP 3,692
23.89%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.55€1.36
$0.85COP 2,753
82.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.82€0.71
$0.91COP 2,975
-9.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.66€3.21
$2.34COP 7,630
56.41%
Wine(Bottle)
$4.66€4.08
$12.37COP 40.3K
-62.33%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.23€1.08
$1.20COP 3,909
2.50%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77€1.55
$2.49COP 8,104
-28.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.15€1.00
$0.84COP 2,728
36.90%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$58.1€50.8
$40.57COP 132.1K
43.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$2.28€1.99
$1.42COP 4,623
60.56%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74€0.65
$1.92COP 6,235
-61.46%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$17.59€15.39
$7.66COP 24.9K
129.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.79€1.57
$0.99COP 3,223
80.81%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$34.1K€29.8K
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
89.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.1K€19.4K
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
-16.90%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$139€121
$80.8COP 263.1K
71.79%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$16.73€14.63
$9.95COP 32.4K
68.14%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$31.83€27.85
$24.18COP 78.7K
31.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$58.0€50.7
$25.08COP 81.7K
131.06%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$11.58€10.14
$19.15COP 62.3K
-39.53%
Cinema Ticket
$8.24€7.21
$3.98COP 13.0K
107.04%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$521€456
$305COP 993.5K
70.71%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$7,796€6,821
$6,059COP 19.7M
28.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.2€76.3
$58.1COP 189.2K
49.96%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$35.17€30.77
$32.20COP 104.8K
9.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.7€66.2
$101COP 327.9K
-24.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$96.4€84.4
$108COP 350.8K
-10.50%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$741€649
$477COP 1.6M
55.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$564€493
$376COP 1.2M
49.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,392€1,218
$845COP 2.7M
64.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$974€852
$730COP 2.4M
33.37%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,656€3,198
$3,215COP 10.5M
13.69%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,513€2,198
$1,372COP 4.5M
83.10%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Herceg Novi
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,059€927
$617COP 2.0M
71.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5
13.43
-62.77%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Herceg Novi: July 11, 2026
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $741 in Herceg Novi and $477 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Herceg Novi pays 72% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $37.00 in Herceg Novi vs $33.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $225 vs $193 per month, with Medellin 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 42% in total monthly costs ($1,465 vs $1,031 including rent). Medellin 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 72% 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: $741 in Herceg Novi versus $477 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 17% higher in Herceg Novi. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Medellin – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $37.00 in Herceg Novi. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,031 in Medellin versus $1,465 in Herceg Novi, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Medellin but tight or insufficient in Herceg Novi. The gap between the two cities makes Medellin 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 Medellin gentler on the wallet – expenses run 42% less than in Herceg Novi. 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