🙂A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $1,658 in Belgrade, rent included.
🙂A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $2,486 in Belgrade, rent included.
🙂A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $3,313 in Belgrade, rent included.
🙂Medellin is about 1% cheaper than Belgrade, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Medellin and Belgrade sit above the global median – Medellin by 19%, Belgrade by 20%.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Belgrade
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$13.63RSD 1,374
-41.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$60.1RSD 6,055
-19.62%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$13.01RSD 1,311
-27.59%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$3.18RSD 321
-7.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$2.93RSD 295
-36.52%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$2.49RSD 251
-41.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$3.58RSD 361
-10.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$4.05RSD 408
40.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Belgrade
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$1.49RSD 150
-3.36%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$1.19RSD 120
101.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$2.88RSD 290
-40.97%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$2.84RSD 287
1.76%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$11.88RSD 1,198
-15.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$7.33RSD 739
36.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$16.32RSD 1,645
-12.99%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$1.76RSD 177
126.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$1.86RSD 187
-15.05%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$1.90RSD 192
13.16%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$3.20RSD 322
-28.13%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$0.92RSD 93.2
117.39%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$0.73RSD 73.3
106.85%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$0.82RSD 82.2
46.34%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$0.69RSD 69.2
85.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$4.78RSD 482
-19.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$9.86RSD 994
42.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$0.90RSD 91.1
90.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$1.53RSD 154
79.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Belgrade
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$3.21RSD 323
-59.19%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$1.02RSD 103
112.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$17.77RSD 1,791
-53.35%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$1.99RSD 200
-31.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$31.2KRSD 3.1M
-11.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$25.2KRSD 2.5M
45.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Belgrade
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$223RSD 22.5K
-24.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$26.22RSD 2,642
-48.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$36.14RSD 3,643
-21.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Belgrade
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$42.95RSD 4,329
6.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
$23.54RSD 2,372
-26.85%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$8.77RSD 883
-24.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Belgrade
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$418RSD 42.1K
92.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$11.5KRSD 1.2M
-20.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Belgrade
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$112RSD 11.3K
-21.76%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$48.51RSD 4,889
22.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$120RSD 12.1K
15.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$161RSD 16.3K
-36.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Belgrade
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$876RSD 88.3K
22.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$591RSD 59.6K
10.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$1,603RSD 161.5K
20.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$986RSD 99.4K
6.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$5,708RSD 575.3K
-27.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$3,286RSD 331.2K
-48.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Belgrade
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$1,276RSD 128.6K
-48.66%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.64
135.78%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Belgrade: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $876 in Belgrade. 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 95% higher in Belgrade, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $60.0 in Belgrade. Groceries tell a different story – $300 in Medellin vs $258 in Belgrade – so Belgrade 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
Medellin vs Belgrade: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Belgrade compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,641 in Medellin, $1,658 in Belgrade – roughly 1% apart. Belgrade costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Belgrade?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $2,487 in Belgrade. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Belgrade?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $60.0 in Belgrade. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 17% cheaper in Belgrade – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city is more doable on $2,500 per month?
A $2,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,641, than in Belgrade at $1,658. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Belgrade it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Belgrade?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,641 in Medellin to $1,658 in Belgrade. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Belgrade safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Medellin and Belgrade?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Belgrade makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.