Cost of Living Comparison Between Manizales and Veles Cost of Living Comparison Between Manizales and Veles

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $732 per month in Manizales vs $770 in Veles, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,069 per month in Manizales vs $1,144 in Veles, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,407 per month in Manizales vs $1,517 in Veles, rent included.

Manizales is about 5% cheaper than Veles, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Manizales and Veles are more affordable than the global median – Manizales 45% lower, Veles 43% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.59 COP 12.8K

$5.80 MKD 306

-38.10%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$16.72 COP 59.7K

$18.89 MKD 996

-11.49%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.54 COP 26.9K

$5.12 MKD 270

47.27%

Cappuccino

$1.30 COP 4,654

$1.59 MKD 83.6

-18.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,611

$1.32 MKD 69.3

-44.70%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 COP 1,887

$0.84 MKD 44.50

-36.90%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.10 COP 3,934

$1.47 MKD 77.7

-25.17%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.13 COP 7,591

$2.65 MKD 139

-19.62%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.98 COP 3,497

$1.05 MKD 55.2

-6.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.41 COP 5,042

$0.55 MKD 28.91

156.36%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,030

$1.49 MKD 78.3

-24.16%

Eggs

$1.96 COP 7,012

$2.09 MKD 110

-6.22%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.86 COP 17.4K

$3.10 MKD 163

56.77%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.13 COP 18.3K

$4.05 MKD 214

26.67%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.28 COP 26.0K

$13.42 MKD 707

-45.75%

Apples (1kg)

$3.08 COP 11.0K

$1.07 MKD 56.1

187.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.04 COP 3,728

$1.40 MKD 73.7

-25.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,857

$1.25 MKD 65.9

8.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.29 COP 4,621

$1.59 MKD 83.8

-18.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.12 COP 3,987

$0.99 MKD 52.0

13.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.18 COP 4,229

$1.40 MKD 73.8

-15.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 COP 2,579

$0.57 MKD 30.27

26.32%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,779

$0.53 MKD 27.78

47.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.47 COP 8,837

$3.03 MKD 160

-18.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.20 COP 32.8K

$6.48 MKD 342

41.98%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 COP 3,960

$1.02 MKD 53.6

8.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 COP 6,672

$1.86 MKD 98.1

0.54%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.66 COP 2,341

$0.67 MKD 35.52

-1.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.63 COP 95.1K

$50.1 MKD 2,638

-46.80%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 COP 4,222

$1.10 MKD 58.0

7.27%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.25 COP 4,446

$0.49 MKD 25.71

155.10%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.14 COP 21.9K

$6.51 MKD 343

-5.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.02 COP 3,625

$1.43 MKD 75.6

-28.67%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$15.6K COP 55.7M

$27.2K MKD 1.4M

-42.67%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$25.5K COP 91.2M

$24.9K MKD 1.3M

2.72%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$116 MKD 6,111

-49.40%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.30 COP 33.2K

$17.27 MKD 910

-46.15%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.36 COP 90.5K

$12.28 MKD 647

106.51%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$27.23 COP 97.2K

$25.78 MKD 1,359

5.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.07 COP 68.1K

$1.86 MKD 98.2

925.27%

Cinema Ticket

$3.26 COP 11.6K

$3.36 MKD 177

-2.98%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$240 COP 858.5K

$218 MKD 11.5K

10.08%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,608 COP 30.7M

$1,216 MKD 64.1K

608.18%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$37.63 COP 134.4K

$22.63 MKD 1,193

66.28%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.42 COP 108.6K

$19.03 MKD 1,003

59.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$65.7 COP 234.5K

$75.3 MKD 3,968

-12.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.2 COP 215.0K

$113 MKD 5,981

-46.96%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$266 COP 950.2K

$220 MKD 11.6K

21.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$219 COP 783.6K

$175 MKD 9,198

25.73%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$429 COP 1.5M

$293 MKD 15.4K

46.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$296 COP 1.1M

$238 MKD 12.5K

24.44%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,542 COP 5.5M

$1,239 MKD 65.3K

24.40%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,422 COP 5.1M

$952 MKD 50.2K

49.33%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$740 COP 2.6M

$606 MKD 31.9K

22.27%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.1

54.93%

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

Last update for Manizales: May 31, 2026

Last update for Veles: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $266 in Manizales versus $220 in Veles. 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 22% higher in Manizales, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Manizales versus $19.00 in Veles. Groceries tell a different story – $178 in Manizales vs $163 in Veles – so Veles wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Manizales vs Veles: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $732 in Manizales, $770 in Veles – roughly 5% apart. Veles costs more across the board, with Eating Out showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,098 per month in Manizales and $1,156 in Veles. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Manizales, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Veles – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $17.00 in Manizales and $19.00 in Veles. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

$1,200 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $732 in Manizales and $770 in Veles, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

It depends on your priorities. Manizales has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $732 in Manizales to $770 in Veles. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

If budget matters most, go with Manizales. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Veles makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.