😐A single person spends $1,031 per month in Medellin vs $887 in Maglaj, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,599 per month in Medellin vs $1,395 in Maglaj, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,167 per month in Medellin vs $1,903 in Maglaj, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 16% more than Maglaj, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.
📊Both Medellin and Maglaj are more affordable than the global median – Medellin23% lower, Maglaj34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.16COP 20.1K
$7.10BAM 12.16
-13.24%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.60COP 106.1K
$35.89BAM 61.5
-9.17%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.34COP 23.9K
$5.65BAM 9.67
29.91%
Cappuccino
$1.72COP 5,599
$1.74BAM 2.98
-1.15%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.05COP 3,420
$1.80BAM 3.08
-41.67%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77COP 2,515
$1.16BAM 1.99
-33.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.69COP 5,487
$2.37BAM 4.07
-28.69%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.17COP 10.3K
$2.07BAM 3.55
53.14%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.05COP 3,423
$1.42BAM 2.44
-26.06%
White Bread(500g)
$1.30COP 4,236
$1.03BAM 1.76
26.21%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40COP 4,544
$1.80BAM 3.09
-22.22%
Eggs
$2.16COP 7,046
$2.87BAM 4.91
-24.74%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.39COP 14.3K
$7.53BAM 12.89
-41.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.88COP 19.1K
$7.28BAM 12.48
-19.23%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.64COP 28.1K
$9.87BAM 16.90
-12.46%
Apples(1kg)
$2.28COP 7,425
$1.15BAM 1.96
98.26%
Banana(1kg)
$1.11COP 3,603
$1.61BAM 2.76
-31.06%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53COP 4,982
$1.78BAM 3.06
-14.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.35COP 4,410
$1.72BAM 2.95
-21.51%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,674
$1.20BAM 2.06
-5.83%
Onion(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,692
$1.21BAM 2.07
-6.61%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.85COP 2,753
$1.00BAM 1.70
-15.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.91COP 2,975
$0.89BAM 1.53
2.25%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34COP 7,629
$3.48BAM 5.96
-32.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.37COP 40.3K
$6.92BAM 11.85
78.76%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.20COP 3,909
$1.20BAM 2.05
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.49COP 8,104
$1.15BAM 1.98
116.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.84COP 2,727
$1.77BAM 3.03
-52.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$40.57COP 132.1K
$35.07BAM 60.1
15.68%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,623
$1.81BAM 3.10
-21.55%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.92COP 6,235
$1.15BAM 1.98
66.96%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.66COP 24.9K
$10.64BAM 18.22
-28.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,223
$1.49BAM 2.55
-33.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.0KCOP 58.7M
$24.0KBAM 41.2K
-25.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.6KCOP 86.7M
$26.2KBAM 44.9K
1.64%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$80.8COP 263.1K
$124BAM 213
-34.97%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.95COP 32.4K
$19.33BAM 33.11
-48.53%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.18COP 78.7K
$28.62BAM 49.02
-15.51%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.08COP 81.6K
$30.00BAM 51.4
-16.40%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.15COP 62.3K
$10.77BAM 18.44
77.81%
Cinema Ticket
$3.98COP 13.0K
$4.66BAM 7.98
-14.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$305COP 993.4K
$152BAM 260
101.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,059COP 19.7M
$3,266BAM 5,593
85.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.1COP 189.2K
$70.5BAM 121
-17.57%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.20COP 104.8K
$34.38BAM 58.9
-6.34%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$101COP 327.9K
$97.6BAM 167
3.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108COP 350.8K
$119BAM 204
-9.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$477COP 1.6M
$257BAM 441
85.29%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$376COP 1.2M
$171BAM 293
120.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$845COP 2.7M
$368BAM 631
129.32%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$730COP 2.4M
$316BAM 540
131.49%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,215COP 10.5M
$2,540BAM 4,350
26.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,372COP 4.5M
$1,805BAM 3,092
-23.99%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Maglaj
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$617COP 2.0M
$772BAM 1,323
-20.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.43
4.14
224.40%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: July 12, 2026
Last update for Maglaj: July 14, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $477 in Medellin versus $257 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 25% 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $36.00 in Maglaj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $206 – making Medellin 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: $1,031 in Medellin, $887 in Maglaj – roughly 16% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Monthly Utilities & Internet showing the biggest gap.
What salary covers living expenses in Medellin compared to Maglaj?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,546 per month in Medellin and $1,330 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 grocery shopping?
Interestingly, groceries are about 7% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $36.00 in Maglaj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
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 $887, than in Medellin at $1,031. 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 $887 in Maglaj to $1,031 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.