Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Belgrade Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Belgrade

Monthly Cost of Living

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
$8.04 COP 24.8K
$13.63 RSD 1,374
-41.01%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29 COP 148.6K
$60.1 RSD 6,055
-19.62%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.42 COP 29.0K
$13.01 RSD 1,311
-27.59%
Cappuccino
$2.94 COP 9,040
$3.18 RSD 321
-7.55%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86 COP 5,735
$2.93 RSD 295
-36.52%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46 COP 4,479
$2.49 RSD 251
-41.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.21 COP 9,882
$3.58 RSD 361
-10.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71 COP 17.6K
$4.05 RSD 408
40.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Belgrade
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.44 COP 4,428
$1.49 RSD 150
-3.36%
White Bread (500g)
$2.40 COP 7,389
$1.19 RSD 120
101.68%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.70 COP 5,228
$2.88 RSD 290
-40.97%
Eggs
$2.89 COP 8,896
$2.84 RSD 287
1.76%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.06 COP 30.9K
$11.88 RSD 1,198
-15.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.97 COP 30.7K
$7.33 RSD 739
36.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.20 COP 43.7K
$16.32 RSD 1,645
-12.99%
Apples (1kg)
$3.98 COP 12.3K
$1.76 RSD 177
126.14%
Banana (1kg)
$1.58 COP 4,878
$1.86 RSD 187
-15.05%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.15 COP 6,624
$1.90 RSD 192
13.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.30 COP 7,078
$3.20 RSD 322
-28.13%
Potato (1kg)
$2.00 COP 6,169
$0.92 RSD 93.2
117.39%
Onion (1kg)
$1.51 COP 4,646
$0.73 RSD 73.3
106.85%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.20 COP 3,701
$0.82 RSD 82.2
46.34%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28 COP 3,946
$0.69 RSD 69.2
85.51%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84 COP 11.8K
$4.78 RSD 482
-19.67%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.01 COP 43.1K
$9.86 RSD 994
42.09%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 COP 5,256
$0.90 RSD 91.1
90.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74 COP 8,440
$1.53 RSD 154
79.08%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Belgrade
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 COP 3,834
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$77.9 COP 239.7K
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.31 COP 4,016
$3.21 RSD 323
-59.19%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$2.17 COP 6,680
$1.02 RSD 103
112.75%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.29 COP 25.5K
$17.77 RSD 1,791
-53.35%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.36 COP 4,172
$1.99 RSD 200
-31.66%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5K COP 84.5M
$31.2K RSD 3.1M
-11.98%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5K COP 112.4M
$25.2K RSD 2.5M
45.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Belgrade
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$169 COP 519.2K
$223 RSD 22.5K
-24.34%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57 COP 41.8K
$26.22 RSD 2,642
-48.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32 COP 87.2K
$36.14 RSD 3,643
-21.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Belgrade
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.71 COP 140.7K
$42.95 RSD 4,329
6.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22 COP 53.0K
$23.54 RSD 2,372
-26.85%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65 COP 20.5K
$8.77 RSD 883
-24.17%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Belgrade
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$803 COP 2.5M
$418 RSD 42.1K
92.18%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,190 COP 28.3M
$11.5K RSD 1.2M
-20.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Belgrade
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4 COP 268.8K
$112 RSD 11.3K
-21.76%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4 COP 182.7K
$48.51 RSD 4,889
22.39%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$139 COP 427.5K
$120 RSD 12.1K
15.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102 COP 314.0K
$161 RSD 16.3K
-36.80%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Belgrade
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,071 COP 3.3M
$876 RSD 88.3K
22.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$653 COP 2.0M
$591 RSD 59.6K
10.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,925 COP 5.9M
$1,603 RSD 161.5K
20.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,048 COP 3.2M
$986 RSD 99.4K
6.26%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,123 COP 12.7M
$5,708 RSD 575.3K
-27.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,697 COP 5.2M
$3,286 RSD 331.2K
-48.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Belgrade
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$655 COP 2.0M
$1,276 RSD 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.

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