Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bečej Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Bečej

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,003 in Medellin versus $904 in Bečej.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,573 in Medellin versus $1,391 in Bečej.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,143 in Medellin versus $1,877 in Bečej.

Living in Medellin is roughly 11% more expensive than in Bečej, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin 25% lower, Bečej 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.6K

$6.86 RSD 697

-13.85%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 103.8K

$34.49 RSD 3,508

-4.44%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.4K

$9.63 RSD 980

-22.85%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,207

$1.21 RSD 123

36.36%

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

$1.10 COP 3,468

$1.46 RSD 148

-24.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,458

$0.76 RSD 77.0

2.63%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,412

$1.52 RSD 154

13.16%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.0K

$1.95 RSD 198

63.08%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,474

$0.98 RSD 99.3

12.24%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 3,962

$0.87 RSD 88.0

44.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,349

$1.49 RSD 152

-7.38%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,858

$2.10 RSD 214

3.81%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.1K

$9.32 RSD 948

-51.82%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.2K

$6.95 RSD 706

-16.69%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.2K

$7.43 RSD 756

20.73%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,308

$1.00 RSD 102

132.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,352

$1.88 RSD 191

-43.62%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,774

$1.60 RSD 163

-5.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,270

$2.03 RSD 206

-33.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,552

$0.72 RSD 73.2

56.94%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,689

$0.37 RSD 37.25

216.22%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,838

$0.70 RSD 71.6

28.57%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,823

$0.58 RSD 59.0

55.17%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,034

$3.91 RSD 398

-42.97%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.2K

$3.89 RSD 396

211.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,743

$0.68 RSD 68.9

75.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,815

$0.98 RSD 99.5

153.06%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,687

$0.91 RSD 92.4

-6.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 131.0K

$28.24 RSD 2,873

47.38%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,459

$2.01 RSD 204

-29.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,141

$0.70 RSD 71.1

178.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 24.8K

$9.90 RSD 1,007

-20.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,118

$1.87 RSD 190

-47.06%

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

$17.6K COP 55.4M

$30.1K RSD 3.1M

-41.57%

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

$26.8K COP 84.4M

$26.7K RSD 2.7M

0.20%

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

$83.0 COP 261.4K

$64.1 RSD 6,514

29.60%

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

$9.70 COP 30.5K

$10.07 RSD 1,024

-3.67%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 74.1K

$23.97 RSD 2,438

-1.88%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 79.5K

$30.76 RSD 3,129

-17.88%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.1K

$16.66 RSD 1,694

14.65%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.4K

$7.99 RSD 813

-50.56%

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

$316 COP 994.2K

$443 RSD 45.0K

-28.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 18.8M

$5,159 RSD 524.8K

15.80%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 188.9K

$101 RSD 10.2K

-40.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 100.2K

$43.01 RSD 4,375

-26.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 320.1K

$64.9 RSD 6,600

56.68%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 338.3K

$116 RSD 11.8K

-7.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$381 RSD 38.8K

24.54%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$296 RSD 30.1K

26.44%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$559 RSD 56.9K

51.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$408 RSD 41.5K

76.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.3M

$1,943 RSD 197.6K

68.08%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.5M

$1,587 RSD 161.4K

-9.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$541 RSD 55.0K

15.39%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

5.59

140.25%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Bečej: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $475 in Medellin and $381 in Bečej. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Medellin pays 15% 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: $33.00 in Medellin vs $34.00 in Bečej. Groceries flip the comparison at $193 vs $176, with Bečej cheaper for home cooking.

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

Medellin vs Bečej: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bečej is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Getting Around. The 11% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 15% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $475 in Medellin versus $381 in Bečej. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $1,003 per month in Medellin versus $904 in Bečej – a 11% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bečej runs roughly 47% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $904 in Bečej versus $1,003 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Bečej but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Bečej the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Bečej 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.

Safety-wise, Medellin and Bečej are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bečej gentler on the wallet – expenses run 11% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.