Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kavadarci Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Kavadarci

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $781 in Kavadarci, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,213 in Kavadarci, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,644 in Kavadarci, rent included.

Medellin costs about 28% more than Kavadarci, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Kavadarci are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Kavadarci 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$5.48 MKD 293
7.85%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
$24.86 MKD 1,329
32.58%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$3.51 MKD 188
111.68%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
$1.43 MKD 76.4
15.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
$1.11 MKD 59.5
-0.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
$0.75 MKD 40.08
4.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
$1.63 MKD 87.3
5.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$2.32 MKD 124
37.07%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$1.40 MKD 74.8
-21.43%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$0.72 MKD 38.55
75.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$1.62 MKD 86.5
-14.81%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$2.08 MKD 111
4.81%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$7.41 MKD 396
-39.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$7.08 MKD 379
-18.22%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$10.71 MKD 572
-16.25%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$0.62 MKD 33.32
274.19%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$1.42 MKD 75.9
-25.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$0.99 MKD 52.8
53.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$1.57 MKD 83.9
-13.38%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$0.98 MKD 52.4
15.31%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$1.25 MKD 67.1
-6.40%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
$0.57 MKD 30.70
57.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$0.38 MKD 20.42
136.84%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
$2.98 MKD 159
-25.17%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
$4.21 MKD 225
187.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
$0.95 MKD 50.9
25.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
$1.34 MKD 71.8
85.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
$0.84 MKD 44.70
1.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
$20.40 MKD 1,090
104.02%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
$1.14 MKD 61.1
24.56%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
$0.52 MKD 27.83
275.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
$3.78 MKD 202
108.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
$1.48 MKD 79.2
-33.11%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
$31.8K MKD 1.7M
-44.63%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
$25.2K MKD 1.3M
6.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
$89.3 MKD 4,771
-7.01%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
$17.71 MKD 947
-45.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$15.31 MKD 818
53.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
$26.69 MKD 1,426
-5.36%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$4.59 MKD 245
-13.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
$216 MKD 11.6K
45.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$1,185 MKD 63.3K
404.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
$76.3 MKD 4,078
-21.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
$45.87 MKD 2,451
-30.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
$74.9 MKD 4,002
35.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
$115 MKD 6,131
-6.35%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$281 MKD 15.0K
69.20%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$196 MKD 10.4K
91.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$554 MKD 29.6K
53.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$306 MKD 16.4K
135.15%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
$1,606 MKD 85.8K
103.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
$1,237 MKD 66.1K
16.44%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kavadarci
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$590 MKD 31.5K
5.87%
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: July 27, 2026

Last update for Kavadarci: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $281 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 6% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $25.00 in Kavadarci. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 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 28%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,172 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 $1,003 in Medellin and $781 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 living in Medellin or in Kavadarci?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Kavadarci, where all-in costs run around $781, than in Medellin at $1,003. 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.

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