😐A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $990 in Maglaj, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $1,502 in Maglaj, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $2,014 in Maglaj, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 66% more than Maglaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Maglaj is 28% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.9K
$7.16BAM 12.03
12.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 149.7K
$39.10BAM 65.7
23.50%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.2K
$7.23BAM 12.14
30.29%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,105
$1.69BAM 2.83
73.96%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,776
$1.91BAM 3.21
-2.62%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,511
$1.25BAM 2.10
16.80%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,953
$2.32BAM 3.90
38.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.7K
$2.33BAM 3.91
145.06%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,460
$1.44BAM 2.42
-
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,442
$1.00BAM 1.67
140.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,265
$1.76BAM 2.96
-3.41%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,960
$2.89BAM 4.85
-
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 31.2K
$7.55BAM 12.68
33.25%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.9K
$7.30BAM 12.25
36.58%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 44.0K
$10.02BAM 16.82
41.72%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$1.21BAM 2.03
228.93%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,913
$1.74BAM 2.93
-9.20%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,671
$1.82BAM 3.05
18.13%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,129
$1.74BAM 2.93
32.18%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,213
$1.17BAM 1.97
70.94%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,679
$1.17BAM 1.96
29.06%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,727
$0.92BAM 1.55
30.43%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,974
$0.90BAM 1.52
42.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.9K
$3.60BAM 6.04
6.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.4K
$7.25BAM 12.17
93.24%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,294
$1.22BAM 2.05
40.16%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,500
$1.16BAM 1.95
136.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,861
$1.37BAM 2.30
-8.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 241.5K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,045
$1.83BAM 3.08
-28.42%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,728
$1.05BAM 1.76
106.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.7K
$10.57BAM 17.76
-21.57%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,202
$1.47BAM 2.47
-7.48%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 85.2M
$31.8KBAM 53.4K
-13.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 113.2M
$22.5KBAM 37.8K
62.39%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 523.0K
$121BAM 203
39.50%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 42.1K
$18.90BAM 31.74
-28.20%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.8K
$28.81BAM 48.39
-1.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 141.7K
$33.96BAM 57.0
34.60%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.4K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.6K
$4.69BAM 7.88
41.79%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$153BAM 257
425.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.5M
$3,940BAM 6,617
133.27%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 270.8K
$114BAM 191
-23.30%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 184.0K
$35.89BAM 60.3
65.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 430.5K
$100BAM 168
38.69%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 316.3K
$118BAM 198
-13.64%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$358BAM 601
199.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$259BAM 434
152.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 6.0M
$531BAM 892
262.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$382BAM 642
173.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.8M
$2,506BAM 4,208
64.54%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.3M
$1,807BAM 3,035
-6.05%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$780BAM 1,310
-16.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4.3
154.42%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Maglaj: September 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $358 in Maglaj. 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 19% higher in Maglaj, 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 $48.00 in Medellin versus $39.00 in Maglaj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $208 – making Maglaj 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 Maglaj: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Medellin and in Maglaj compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,641 in Medellin, $990 in Maglaj – roughly 66% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Maglaj?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,462 per month in Medellin and $1,485 in Maglaj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Medellin and Maglaj?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Maglaj, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $39.00 in Maglaj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Groceries cost about 44% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Maglaj, where all-in costs run around $990, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Maglaj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Medellin and Maglaj?
It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $990 in Maglaj to $1,641 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Is Medellin or Maglaj safer for residents?
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.
How do I decide between Medellin and Maglaj?
If budget matters most, go with Maglaj. 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.