😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,014 in Medellin versus $895 in Kicevo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,596 in Medellin versus $1,315 in Kicevo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,178 in Medellin versus $1,735 in Kicevo.
😐Living in Medellin is roughly 13% more expensive than Kicevo, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Medellin25% lower, Kicevo34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kicevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.14COP 22.2K
$4.11MKD 215
49.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.05COP 119.3K
$18.61MKD 973
77.59%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.32COP 26.4K
$4.62MKD 242
58.44%
Cappuccino
$1.66COP 5,987
$1.15MKD 60.2
44.35%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,987
$1.34MKD 70.1
-17.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,822
$0.54MKD 28.24
44.44%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.71COP 6,188
$1.83MKD 95.8
-6.56%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 11.5K
$2.75MKD 144
15.27%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kicevo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11COP 4,012
$1.29MKD 67.5
-13.95%
White Bread(500g)
$1.31COP 4,719
$0.83MKD 43.40
57.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,980
$1.70MKD 88.7
-18.82%
Eggs
$2.22COP 8,009
$2.24MKD 117
-0.89%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.34COP 15.7K
$9.15MKD 478
-52.57%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.80COP 20.9K
$8.17MKD 427
-29.01%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.98COP 32.4K
$13.82MKD 723
-35.02%
Apples(1kg)
$2.26COP 8,164
$1.06MKD 55.7
113.21%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 4,023
$1.42MKD 74.5
-21.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46COP 5,284
$1.36MKD 71.1
7.35%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.37COP 4,929
$2.09MKD 109
-34.45%
Potato(1kg)
$1.11COP 4,009
$0.81MKD 42.32
37.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16COP 4,199
$0.94MKD 49.09
23.40%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89COP 3,211
$0.69MKD 35.85
28.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.87COP 3,124
$0.56MKD 29.08
55.36%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.35COP 8,495
$3.23MKD 169
-27.24%
Wine(Bottle)
$10.86COP 39.2K
$5.55MKD 290
95.68%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 4,330
$1.10MKD 57.7
9.09%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 8,946
$1.51MKD 79.2
64.24%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kicevo
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.79COP 2,842
$0.64MKD 33.29
23.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.77COP 147.2K
$20.07MKD 1,050
103.14%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 5,137
$0.98MKD 51.2
44.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.91COP 6,900
$0.53MKD 27.49
260.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.65COP 27.6K
$7.54MKD 395
1.46%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.97COP 3,490
$1.53MKD 79.9
-36.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KCOP 65.3M
$34.4KMKD 1.8M
-47.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3KCOP 95.0M
$29.4KMKD 1.5M
-10.40%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kicevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$81.3COP 293.5K
$163MKD 8,502
-49.98%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.63COP 34.8K
$18.17MKD 950
-47.00%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.36COP 88.0K
$19.69MKD 1,030
23.72%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kicevo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.02COP 93.9K
$26.69MKD 1,396
-2.51%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$18.92COP 68.3K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$3.89COP 14.0K
$6.64MKD 347
-41.42%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kicevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304COP 1.1M
$320MKD 16.8K
-5.04%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,902COP 21.3M
$1,196MKD 62.6K
393.39%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kicevo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.7COP 211.8K
$77.4MKD 4,045
-24.14%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.48COP 117.2K
$40.42MKD 2,114
-19.64%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 367.3K
$98.6MKD 5,154
3.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 390.4K
$111MKD 5,792
-2.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kicevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$474COP 1.7M
$285MKD 14.9K
66.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$371COP 1.3M
$196MKD 10.3K
89.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$848COP 3.1M
$555MKD 29.0K
52.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$716COP 2.6M
$307MKD 16.0K
133.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,871COP 10.4M
$1,606MKD 84.0K
78.74%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,375COP 5.0M
$1,192MKD 62.3K
15.38%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kicevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$542COP 2.0M
$610MKD 31.9K
-11.21%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.54
195.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: April 13, 2026
Last update for Kicevo: April 11, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $474 in Medellin and $285 in Kicevo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kicevo pays 13% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $33 in Medellin vs $19 in Kicevo. Groceries flip the comparison at $190 vs $210, with Medellin cheaper for home cooking.
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 Kicevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and Kicevo?
Medellin and Kicevo differ by about 13% in total monthly costs ($1,014 vs $895 including rent). Kicevo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Kicevo earns 13% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and Kicevo?
Rent for a central apartment: $474 in Medellin versus $285 in Kicevo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Medellin or Kicevo?
All in, you'll spend $1,014 per month in Medellin versus $895 in Kicevo – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and Kicevo?
A monthly transit pass in Kicevo runs roughly 103% less than in Medellin. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $895 in Kicevo versus $1,014 in Medellin, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kicevo but tight or insufficient in Medellin. The gap between the two cities makes Kicevo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Kicevo?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Medellin or Kicevo safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Medellin and Kicevo are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Medellin or Kicevo?
Expats usually find Kicevo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.