🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,631 in Makarska versus $1,641 in Medellin.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,548 in Makarska versus $2,447 in Medellin.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,465 in Makarska versus $3,253 in Medellin.
🌍Living in Makarska costs roughly 1% less than in Medellin, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities are pricier than the global median: Makarska18% above, Medellin19% above.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Makarska
Medellin
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.72€15.28
$8.04COP 24.8K
120.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1€69.9
$48.29COP 148.6K
68.01%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.31€7.16
$9.42COP 29.0K
-11.78%
Cappuccino
$3.39€2.92
$2.94COP 9,040
15.31%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.21€3.63
$1.86COP 5,735
126.34%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17€2.73
$1.46COP 4,479
117.12%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$5.85€5.04
$3.21COP 9,882
82.24%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.77€4.11
$5.71COP 17.6K
-16.46%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Makarska
Medellin
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.18€1.01
$1.44COP 4,428
-18.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.69€1.46
$2.40COP 7,389
-29.58%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$3.22€2.78
$1.70COP 5,228
89.41%
Eggs
$5.10€4.39
$2.89COP 8,896
76.47%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$15.90€13.71
$10.06COP 30.9K
58.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.25€8.83
$9.97COP 30.7K
2.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$12.31€10.61
$14.20COP 43.7K
-13.31%
Apples(1kg)
$2.05€1.77
$3.98COP 12.3K
-48.49%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58€1.36
$1.58COP 4,878
-
Oranges(1kg)
$2.16€1.86
$2.15COP 6,624
0.47%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.87€2.48
$2.30COP 7,078
24.78%
Potato(1kg)
$2.30€1.98
$2.00COP 6,169
15.00%
Onion(1kg)
$2.15€1.85
$1.51COP 4,646
42.38%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.66€1.43
$1.20COP 3,701
38.33%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72€1.48
$1.28COP 3,946
34.37%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$5.95€5.13
$3.84COP 11.8K
54.95%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.23€7.09
$14.01COP 43.1K
-41.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42€1.22
$1.71COP 5,256
-16.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.53€1.32
$2.74COP 8,440
-44.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Makarska
Medellin
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.53€1.32
$1.25COP 3,834
22.40%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.25€34.69
$77.9COP 239.7K
-48.33%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.53€3.04
$1.31COP 4,016
169.47%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.52€1.31
$2.17COP 6,680
-29.95%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$19.23€16.58
$8.29COP 25.5K
131.97%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.69€1.46
$1.36COP 4,172
24.26%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.2K€23.5K
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
-0.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.4K€22.7K
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
-27.86%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Makarska
Medellin
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$184€159
$169COP 519.2K
9.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.88€24.90
$13.57COP 41.8K
112.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$44.69€38.52
$28.32COP 87.2K
57.80%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Makarska
Medellin
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$54.1€46.67
$45.71COP 140.7K
18.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.93€13.73
$17.22COP 53.0K
-7.49%
Cinema Ticket
$9.24€7.96
$6.65COP 20.5K
38.95%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Makarska
Medellin
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$430€370
$803COP 2.5M
-46.54%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,955€5,995
$9,190COP 28.3M
-24.32%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Makarska
Medellin
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$94.5€81.5
$87.4COP 268.8K
8.16%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.65€40.21
$59.4COP 182.7K
-21.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$106€91.4
$139COP 427.5K
-23.71%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$82.0€70.7
$102COP 314.0K
-19.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Makarska
Medellin
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$706€609
$1,071COP 3.3M
-34.04%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$546€471
$653COP 2.0M
-16.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,246€1,074
$1,925COP 5.9M
-35.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$853€736
$1,048COP 3.2M
-18.55%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,267€3,679
$4,123COP 12.7M
3.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,941€2,535
$1,697COP 5.2M
73.24%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Makarska
Medellin
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$655COP 2.0M
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.72
10.94
-66.00%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Makarska: September 7, 2026
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $706 in Makarska and $1,071 in Medellin. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $81.0 in Makarska vs $48.00 in Medellin for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $306 vs $300 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
Makarska vs Medellin: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Medellin cheaper than Makarska?
Makarska is cheaper overall, especially in Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 1% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,447 in Makarska and $2,462 in Medellin to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Makarska and Medellin?
Rent for a central apartment: $706 in Makarska versus $1,071 in Medellin. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $430 in Makarska versus $803 in Medellin. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Makarska and in Medellin?
Shoppers in Medellin pay roughly 2% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Is $2,500 a realistic budget for living in Makarska or in Medellin?
At $1,631 in Makarska versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $2,500 budget is realistic in Makarska but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Makarska the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Makarska or Medellin more family-friendly?
For families, Makarska is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Medellin, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Makarska or Medellin?
Safety-wise, Makarska 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Makarska gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.