Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and CacakCost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Cacak
Monthly Cost of Living
😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,641 in Medellin versus $1,095 in Cacak.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,447 in Medellin versus $1,655 in Cacak.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,253 in Medellin versus $2,214 in Cacak.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 50% more expensive than in Cacak, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 19% above, Cacak is 21% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Cacak
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$7.21RSD 727
11.51%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.6K
$38.93RSD 3,924
24.04%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$11.69RSD 1,178
-19.42%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,040
$1.62RSD 163
81.48%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,735
$2.45RSD 247
-24.08%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,479
$1.45RSD 146
0.69%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,882
$2.55RSD 257
25.88%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$2.66RSD 268
114.66%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Cacak
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,428
$1.28RSD 129
12.50%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,389
$0.75RSD 75.7
220.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,228
$2.78RSD 281
-38.85%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,896
$2.73RSD 275
5.86%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 30.9K
$3.94RSD 397
155.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$7.56RSD 762
31.88%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$14.93RSD 1,505
-4.89%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$1.32RSD 133
201.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,878
$2.01RSD 202
-21.39%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,624
$1.68RSD 170
27.98%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,078
$2.66RSD 268
-13.53%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,169
$1.04RSD 105
92.31%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,646
$0.70RSD 70.8
115.71%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,701
$1.03RSD 104
16.50%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,946
$0.61RSD 61.5
109.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$4.81RSD 485
-20.17%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$7.25RSD 730
93.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,256
$0.90RSD 91.2
90.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,440
$2.33RSD 235
17.60%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Cacak
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,834
$0.52RSD 51.9
140.38%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.7K
$17.04RSD 1,717
357.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,016
$1.97RSD 198
-33.50%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,680
$0.89RSD 90.0
143.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$10.82RSD 1,091
-23.38%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,172
$1.77RSD 179
-23.16%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.5M
$27.6KRSD 2.8M
-0.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.4M
$26.5KRSD 2.7M
37.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Cacak
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.2K
$150RSD 15.2K
12.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$19.71RSD 1,986
-31.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$19.88RSD 2,004
42.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Cacak
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.7K
$30.82RSD 3,107
48.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
$15.34RSD 1,546
12.26%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$7.23RSD 729
-8.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Cacak
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$380RSD 38.3K
111.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$7,822RSD 788.4K
17.49%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Cacak
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 268.8K
$122RSD 12.3K
-28.41%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.7K
$45.12RSD 4,548
31.58%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.5K
$145RSD 14.7K
-4.44%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.0K
$142RSD 14.3K
-28.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Cacak
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$326RSD 32.8K
228.59%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$298RSD 30.0K
119.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$463RSD 46.6K
316.08%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$385RSD 38.8K
172.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$2,099RSD 211.5K
96.45%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$1,578RSD 159.0K
7.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Cacak
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$765RSD 77.1K
-14.36%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
5.23
109.18%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Cacak: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,071 in Medellin and $326 in Cacak. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Cacak pays 17% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $39.00 in Cacak for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $300 vs $215 per month, with Cacak cheaper across the board.
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 Cacak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cacak cheaper than Medellin?
Cacak is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 50% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Medellin or Cacak?
On paper, salaries run 17% lower in Cacak. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Medellin and Cacak?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,071 in Medellin versus $326 in Cacak. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $803 in Medellin versus $380 in Cacak. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Cacak?
Supermarket bills run roughly 40% higher in Medellin. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Cacak?
At $1,095 in Cacak versus $1,641 in Medellin, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cacak but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Cacak the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Medellin or Cacak more family-friendly?
For families, Cacak 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.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Cacak?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Cacak are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Cacak gentler on the wallet – expenses run 50% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.