😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,681 in Medellin versus $925 in Kicevo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,445 in Medellin versus $1,347 in Kicevo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,210 in Medellin versus $1,770 in Kicevo.
🌍Living in Medellin is roughly 82% more expensive than in Kicevo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Medellin is 23% above, Kicevo is 32% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Kicevo
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.02COP 25.4K
$4.06MKD 217
97.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$47.87COP 152.0K
$18.46MKD 988
159.32%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.89COP 31.4K
$4.63MKD 248
113.61%
Cappuccino
$3.13COP 9,937
$1.18MKD 63.1
165.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.91COP 6,058
$1.37MKD 73.2
39.42%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.51COP 4,794
$0.73MKD 39.10
106.85%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.12COP 9,917
$2.40MKD 128
30.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.75COP 18.3K
$2.29MKD 122
151.09%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Kicevo
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,587
$1.27MKD 68.1
13.39%
White Bread(500g)
$2.49COP 7,894
$0.57MKD 30.75
336.84%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.77COP 5,631
$1.90MKD 102
-6.84%
Eggs
$2.96COP 9,396
$2.43MKD 130
21.81%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.07COP 32.0K
$7.29MKD 390
38.13%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$10.12COP 32.1K
$7.56MKD 404
33.86%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.30COP 45.4K
$15.22MKD 815
-6.04%
Apples(1kg)
$4.14COP 13.1K
$1.44MKD 77.1
187.50%
Banana(1kg)
$1.61COP 5,106
$1.45MKD 77.6
11.03%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,129
$1.40MKD 74.9
60.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.25COP 7,150
$2.01MKD 108
11.94%
Potato(1kg)
$2.04COP 6,486
$0.89MKD 47.66
129.21%
Onion(1kg)
$1.54COP 4,873
$0.87MKD 46.58
77.01%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.17COP 3,715
$0.64MKD 34.49
82.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.31COP 4,148
$0.36MKD 19.37
263.89%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.90COP 12.4K
$2.96MKD 159
31.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 44.5K
$5.72MKD 306
144.93%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.74COP 5,534
$1.09MKD 58.2
59.63%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.87COP 9,112
$1.53MKD 81.7
87.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Kicevo
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
$20.60MKD 1,103
290.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,155
$1.10MKD 59.1
19.09%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.19COP 6,944
$0.58MKD 31.23
277.59%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.71COP 27.7K
$7.87MKD 421
10.67%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.37COP 4,334
$1.43MKD 76.7
-4.20%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.8KCOP 88.4M
$36.4KMKD 1.9M
-23.57%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.8KCOP 113.6M
$28.3KMKD 1.5M
26.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Kicevo
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$177COP 562.9K
$165MKD 8,805
7.77%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.88COP 44.1K
$18.49MKD 989
-24.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$29.72COP 94.4K
$19.11MKD 1,023
55.52%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Kicevo
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$44.88COP 142.5K
$27.46MKD 1,470
63.44%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.12COP 54.4K
$19.21MKD 1,028
-10.88%
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 21.1K
$7.32MKD 392
-9.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Kicevo
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$813COP 2.6M
$360MKD 19.2K
126.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,187COP 29.2M
$5,727MKD 306.5K
60.40%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Kicevo
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$89.5COP 284.1K
$85.3MKD 4,565
4.92%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.0COP 187.2K
$38.53MKD 2,062
53.05%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$138COP 438.8K
$104MKD 5,548
33.31%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 324.2K
$116MKD 6,206
-11.93%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Kicevo
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,062COP 3.4M
$290MKD 15.5K
266.33%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$663COP 2.1M
$189MKD 10.1K
251.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,888COP 6.0M
$523MKD 28.0K
261.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,027COP 3.3M
$289MKD 15.4K
255.90%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,183COP 13.3M
$1,565MKD 83.8K
167.31%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,675COP 5.3M
$1,168MKD 62.5K
43.34%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Kicevo
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$678COP 2.2M
$584MKD 31.3K
15.96%
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 Kicevo: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,062 in Medellin and $290 in Kicevo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Medellin pays 16% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $48.00 in Medellin vs $18.00 in Kicevo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $305 vs $204 per month, with Kicevo 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 Kicevo: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Medellin and in Kicevo?
Medellin and Kicevo differ by about 82% in total monthly costs ($1,681 vs $925 including rent). Kicevo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Medellin or Kicevo?
Average pay runs 16% higher in Medellin, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Medellin and in Kicevo?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,062 in Medellin versus $290 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 $1,681 per month in Medellin versus $925 in Kicevo – a 82% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Medellin and in Kicevo?
A monthly transit pass in Kicevo runs roughly 291% 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 $925 in Kicevo versus $1,681 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 82% less than in Medellin. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.