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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $729 per month in Manizales vs $765 in Veles, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,080 per month in Manizales vs $1,136 in Veles, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,430 per month in Manizales vs $1,507 in Veles, rent included.

Manizales is about 5% cheaper than Veles, driven mainly by Getting Around.

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

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.58 COP 11.7K

$5.77 MKD 309

-37.95%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.01 COP 55.4K

$18.54 MKD 995

-8.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.97 COP 25.9K

$5.05 MKD 271

57.82%

Cappuccino

$1.36 COP 4,440

$1.53 MKD 82.2

-11.11%

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

$0.75 COP 2,437

$1.33 MKD 71.2

-43.61%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 COP 1,699

$0.85 MKD 45.34

-38.82%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.10 COP 3,584

$1.52 MKD 81.4

-27.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 COP 6,985

$2.77 MKD 148

-22.38%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.96 COP 3,118

$1.09 MKD 58.5

-11.93%

White Bread (500g)

$1.48 COP 4,808

$0.55 MKD 29.48

169.09%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.12 COP 3,646

$1.54 MKD 82.7

-27.27%

Eggs

$1.96 COP 6,395

$2.05 MKD 110

-4.39%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.68 COP 15.2K

$3.04 MKD 163

53.95%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.04 COP 16.4K

$4.07 MKD 218

23.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.32 COP 23.8K

$13.68 MKD 734

-46.49%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 COP 9,600

$1.04 MKD 55.7

183.65%

Banana (1kg)

$0.99 COP 3,229

$1.37 MKD 73.5

-27.74%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,289

$1.26 MKD 67.5

4.76%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.23 COP 4,014

$1.58 MKD 84.8

-22.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,531

$0.98 MKD 52.6

10.20%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 3,656

$1.33 MKD 71.6

-15.79%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.78 COP 2,547

$0.58 MKD 30.99

34.48%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 COP 2,602

$0.54 MKD 28.94

48.15%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.46 COP 7,997

$2.94 MKD 158

-16.33%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.65 COP 34.7K

$6.17 MKD 331

72.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.11 COP 3,599

$1.00 MKD 53.7

11.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.90 COP 6,193

$1.83 MKD 98.0

3.83%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.71 COP 2,315

$0.68 MKD 36.66

4.41%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$26.98 COP 87.8K

$49.96 MKD 2,680

-46.00%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 COP 3,840

$1.16 MKD 62.4

1.72%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.30 COP 4,221

$0.49 MKD 26.40

165.31%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.08 COP 19.8K

$6.43 MKD 345

-5.44%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.00 COP 3,264

$1.45 MKD 77.7

-31.03%

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

$15.5K COP 50.5M

$27.0K MKD 1.4M

-42.47%

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

$24.8K COP 80.7M

$24.6K MKD 1.3M

0.91%

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

$59.0 COP 192.0K

$115 MKD 6,154

-48.60%

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

$8.88 COP 28.9K

$17.17 MKD 921

-48.28%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.66 COP 83.5K

$12.10 MKD 649

112.07%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.82 COP 87.3K

$26.15 MKD 1,403

2.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.49 COP 63.4K

$1.92 MKD 103

915.10%

Cinema Ticket

$3.23 COP 10.5K

$3.35 MKD 180

-3.58%

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

$244 COP 794.5K

$223 MKD 12.0K

9.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,483 COP 27.6M

$1,210 MKD 64.9K

601.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$38.14 COP 124.2K

$22.39 MKD 1,201

70.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.03 COP 101.0K

$19.06 MKD 1,022

62.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.5 COP 209.8K

$75.1 MKD 4,030

-14.22%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$61.1 COP 199.0K

$113 MKD 6,048

-45.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$263 COP 857.7K

$226 MKD 12.1K

16.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$219 COP 712.9K

$174 MKD 9,319

26.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$425 COP 1.4M

$291 MKD 15.6K

45.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$300 COP 975.5K

$242 MKD 13.0K

23.90%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,795 COP 5.8M

$1,201 MKD 64.4K

49.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,593 COP 5.2M

$957 MKD 51.3K

66.46%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$902 COP 2.9M

$603 MKD 32.4K

49.44%

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: July 14, 2026

Last update for Veles: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $263 in Manizales versus $226 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 49% 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 – $179 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: $729 in Manizales, $765 in Veles – roughly 5% apart. Veles costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,094 per month in Manizales and $1,147 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 10% 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 $729 in Manizales and $765 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 $729 in Manizales to $765 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.