😐A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $797 in Kavadarci, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,205 in Kavadarci, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $1,614 in Kavadarci, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 111% more than Kavadarci, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Kavadarci is 42% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$5.64MKD 302
42.20%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$27.80MKD 1,488
72.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$3.64MKD 195
171.70%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$1.43MKD 76.5
118.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$1.14MKD 61.3
67.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$0.79MKD 42.48
91.14%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
$1.71MKD 91.7
82.46%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$2.28MKD 122
152.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$1.26MKD 67.6
14.29%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$0.75MKD 40.00
232.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$1.51MKD 80.6
17.22%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$2.53MKD 135
17.00%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$7.21MKD 386
39.67%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$6.57MKD 351
54.03%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$10.81MKD 579
32.28%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$0.63MKD 33.56
557.14%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$1.47MKD 78.5
9.52%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$1.16MKD 62.2
93.97%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$2.08MKD 111
8.17%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$0.83MKD 44.50
145.78%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$0.88MKD 46.91
75.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$0.64MKD 34.05
82.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$0.47MKD 25.34
178.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$3.40MKD 182
14.71%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$3.77MKD 202
271.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
$0.90MKD 48.17
93.33%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
$1.38MKD 73.7
107.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.22COP 3,858
$0.73MKD 38.82
67.12%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$80.5COP 255.5K
$30.91MKD 1,654
160.37%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$1.11MKD 59.6
18.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$0.64MKD 34.17
242.19%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$3.65MKD 195
138.63%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$1.53MKD 81.7
-10.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$34.2KMKD 1.8M
-18.67%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$25.1KMKD 1.3M
42.32%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$87.9MKD 4,703
101.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$9.65MKD 516
43.83%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$18.86MKD 1,010
57.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$22.58MKD 1,208
98.76%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$5.21MKD 279
27.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$367MKD 19.6K
121.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$5,658MKD 302.8K
62.35%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$75.0MKD 4,015
19.29%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$38.24MKD 2,047
54.21%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$89.9MKD 4,814
53.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$118MKD 6,324
-13.56%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$223MKD 11.9K
375.71%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$190MKD 10.2K
248.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$379MKD 20.3K
398.75%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$280MKD 15.0K
266.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
$1,277MKD 68.3K
227.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$1,096MKD 58.7K
52.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
$600MKD 32.1K
12.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.23
158.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026
Last update for Kavadarci: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $223 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 13% higher in Medellin, 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 $28.00 in Kavadarci. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $177 – 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 111%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,196 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 and in Kavadarci?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,681 in Medellin and $797 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 160% less in Kavadarci. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Kavadarci?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kavadarci, where all-in costs run around $797, than in Medellin at $1,681. 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.