😐A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $778 in Kavadarci, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,203 in Kavadarci, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,628 in Kavadarci, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 33% more than Kavadarci, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both Medellin and Kavadarci are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Kavadarci42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.92COP 21.4K
$5.52MKD 291
7.25%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.75COP 118.2K
$24.91MKD 1,314
31.47%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.20COP 26.0K
$3.54MKD 186
103.39%
Cappuccino
$1.70COP 6,140
$1.48MKD 78.0
14.86%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,966
$1.10MKD 57.9
-
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72COP 2,605
$0.81MKD 42.58
-11.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.67COP 6,022
$1.59MKD 83.7
5.03%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.10COP 11.2K
$2.28MKD 120
35.96%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.06COP 3,809
$1.35MKD 71.3
-21.48%
White Bread(500g)
$1.25COP 4,497
$0.72MKD 37.91
73.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.39COP 5,022
$1.62MKD 85.3
-14.20%
Eggs
$2.26COP 8,168
$2.06MKD 108
9.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.33COP 15.6K
$7.32MKD 386
-40.85%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.84COP 21.1K
$7.36MKD 388
-20.65%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.83COP 31.9K
$10.75MKD 567
-17.86%
Apples(1kg)
$2.24COP 8,099
$0.58MKD 30.82
286.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.08COP 3,882
$1.43MKD 75.4
-24.48%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 5,522
$1.02MKD 53.9
50.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,950
$1.63MKD 86.0
-15.95%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 4,078
$0.97MKD 51.0
16.49%
Onion(1kg)
$1.12COP 4,036
$1.19MKD 62.9
-5.88%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 3,057
$0.58MKD 30.70
46.55%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 3,281
$0.38MKD 20.10
139.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.33COP 8,414
$2.95MKD 156
-21.02%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.13COP 40.2K
$4.31MKD 227
158.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 4,309
$0.94MKD 49.58
26.60%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37COP 8,553
$1.32MKD 69.8
79.55%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,838
$0.87MKD 45.74
-9.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.13COP 148.5K
$20.17MKD 1,064
103.92%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.44COP 5,184
$1.10MKD 58.1
30.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,901
$0.49MKD 25.92
289.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.02COP 28.9K
$3.66MKD 193
119.13%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.94COP 3,385
$1.50MKD 79.0
-37.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.9KCOP 64.7M
$32.3KMKD 1.7M
-44.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 96.7M
$26.0KMKD 1.4M
2.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$84.0COP 303.1K
$87.1MKD 4,590
-3.55%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.60COP 34.7K
$17.59MKD 927
-45.42%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.16COP 87.2K
$15.26MKD 805
58.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.88COP 93.4K
$26.52MKD 1,398
-2.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.04COP 68.7K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.92COP 14.1K
$4.59MKD 242
-14.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$306COP 1.1M
$220MKD 11.6K
39.20%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,919COP 21.4M
$1,188MKD 62.6K
398.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9COP 209.1K
$75.7MKD 3,991
-23.48%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 114.9K
$45.53MKD 2,401
-30.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$99.9COP 360.6K
$75.2MKD 3,964
32.88%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 386.8K
$113MKD 5,946
-4.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$487COP 1.8M
$283MKD 14.9K
72.03%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$368COP 1.3M
$197MKD 10.4K
86.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$826COP 3.0M
$556MKD 29.3K
48.46%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$305MKD 16.1K
134.41%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,925COP 10.6M
$1,572MKD 82.9K
86.11%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,407COP 5.1M
$1,188MKD 62.6K
18.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$546COP 2.0M
$625MKD 33.0K
-12.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
7.1
89.15%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026
Last update for Kavadarci: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $283 in Kavadarci. 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 15% higher in Kavadarci, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Kavadarci. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $178 – making Kavadarci the more affordable choice for daily food spending.
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 Kavadarci: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kavadarci cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,167 in Kavadarci. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Kavadarci, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Kavadarci?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,034 in Medellin and $778 in Kavadarci. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 104% less in Kavadarci. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Kavadarci?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kavadarci, where all-in costs run around $778, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Kavadarci it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Kavadarci more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Kavadarci – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Kavadarci?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Kavadarci. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.