Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Maglaj Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Maglaj

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,013 per month in Medellin vs $918 in Maglaj, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,417 in Maglaj, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,192 per month in Medellin vs $1,916 in Maglaj, rent included.

Medellin costs about 10% more than Maglaj, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Medellin and Maglaj are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Maglaj 31% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.99 COP 21.4K

$6.94 BAM 11.65

-13.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.86 COP 117.4K

$34.95 BAM 58.7

-5.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.09 COP 25.3K

$5.68 BAM 9.54

24.82%

Cappuccino

$1.71 COP 6,115

$1.74 BAM 2.93

-1.72%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,924

$1.85 BAM 3.11

-40.54%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,781

$1.16 BAM 1.94

-32.76%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.68 COP 5,997

$2.38 BAM 4.00

-29.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.07 COP 11.0K

$2.11 BAM 3.54

45.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.09 COP 3,906

$1.35 BAM 2.27

-19.26%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,508

$1.01 BAM 1.70

24.75%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,922

$1.79 BAM 3.00

-22.91%

Eggs

$2.19 COP 7,827

$2.86 BAM 4.80

-23.43%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.40 COP 15.7K

$7.52 BAM 12.63

-41.49%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.63 COP 20.1K

$7.11 BAM 11.94

-20.82%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.89 COP 31.8K

$9.84 BAM 16.53

-9.65%

Apples (1kg)

$2.34 COP 8,349

$1.20 BAM 2.02

95.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,777

$1.68 BAM 2.83

-36.90%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.50 COP 5,374

$1.75 BAM 2.93

-14.29%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,924

$1.81 BAM 3.04

-23.76%

Potato (1kg)

$1.15 COP 4,111

$1.17 BAM 1.96

-1.71%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 COP 4,155

$1.20 BAM 2.02

-3.33%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,182

$0.98 BAM 1.64

-9.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.84 COP 2,997

$0.90 BAM 1.52

-6.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.28 COP 8,145

$3.44 BAM 5.79

-33.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$10.64 COP 38.0K

$7.24 BAM 12.17

46.96%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.20 COP 4,284

$1.20 BAM 2.02

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 COP 8,824

$1.15 BAM 1.93

114.78%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.86 COP 3,056

$1.85 BAM 3.11

-53.51%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.40 COP 147.9K

$35.43 BAM 59.5

16.85%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.47 COP 5,264

$1.75 BAM 2.95

-16.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.96 COP 7,009

$1.16 BAM 1.95

68.97%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.74 COP 27.6K

$10.81 BAM 18.16

-28.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.95 COP 3,409

$1.49 BAM 2.51

-36.24%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.1K COP 64.7M

$23.9K BAM 40.2K

-24.28%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.5K COP 94.6M

$25.8K BAM 43.4K

2.52%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$82.3 COP 293.7K

$123 BAM 206

-33.06%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.50 COP 33.9K

$18.70 BAM 31.42

-49.20%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.23 COP 86.5K

$28.79 BAM 48.36

-15.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.89 COP 92.4K

$29.57 BAM 49.69

-12.45%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.00 COP 67.9K

$10.82 BAM 18.18

75.60%

Cinema Ticket

$3.93 COP 14.0K

$4.60 BAM 7.73

-14.57%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$309 COP 1.1M

$152 BAM 256

103.28%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,965 COP 21.3M

$3,316 BAM 5,571

79.89%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.7 COP 209.5K

$70.5 BAM 118

-16.76%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.35 COP 115.5K

$35.67 BAM 59.9

-9.31%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$103 COP 366.4K

$99.8 BAM 168

2.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$108 COP 387.2K

$119 BAM 200

-9.00%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 COP 1.7M

$257 BAM 432

85.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.4M

$169 BAM 285

123.49%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 COP 3.0M

$370 BAM 622

126.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$724 COP 2.6M

$314 BAM 527

130.86%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,791 COP 10.0M

$2,591 BAM 4,354

7.68%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,211 COP 4.3M

$1,813 BAM 3,046

-33.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$512 COP 1.8M

$772 BAM 1,297

-33.69%

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: May 31, 2026

Last update for Maglaj: June 2, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $476 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 51% 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 $35.00 in Maglaj. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $205 – 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

Monthly costs with rent: $1,013 in Medellin, $918 in Maglaj – roughly 10% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,519 per month in Medellin and $1,377 in Maglaj. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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.

Interestingly, groceries are about 9% cheaper in Medellin – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $35.00 in Maglaj. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Maglaj, where all-in costs run around $918, than in Medellin at $1,013. In Maglaj it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $918 in Maglaj to $1,013 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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.

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.