Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mostar Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Mostar

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,555 per month in Medellin vs $951 in Mostar, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,314 per month in Medellin vs $1,429 in Mostar, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,072 per month in Medellin vs $1,907 in Mostar, rent included.

Medellin costs about 64% more than Mostar, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 15% above the global median, while Mostar is 30% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.59 COP 24.7K

$7.03 BAM 12.20

7.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.78 COP 145.7K

$29.00 BAM 50.4

54.41%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.24 COP 30.1K

$5.87 BAM 10.19

57.41%

Cappuccino

$2.95 COP 9,591

$1.73 BAM 3.00

70.52%

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

$1.80 COP 5,861

$1.84 BAM 3.19

-2.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.35 COP 4,391

$1.26 BAM 2.18

7.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 COP 9,544

$2.40 BAM 4.16

22.08%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.46 COP 17.8K

$2.22 BAM 3.85

145.95%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.43 COP 4,663

$1.15 BAM 1.99

24.35%

White Bread (500g)

$2.39 COP 7,785

$0.98 BAM 1.70

143.88%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.60 COP 5,209

$2.02 BAM 3.51

-20.79%

Eggs

$2.88 COP 9,364

$2.70 BAM 4.68

6.67%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.71 COP 31.6K

$8.03 BAM 13.94

20.92%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$9.44 COP 30.7K

$7.31 BAM 12.70

29.14%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$13.24 COP 43.1K

$10.68 BAM 18.54

23.97%

Apples (1kg)

$3.75 COP 12.2K

$1.11 BAM 1.92

237.84%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 COP 4,703

$1.62 BAM 2.81

-10.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.10 COP 6,829

$1.37 BAM 2.38

53.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.13 COP 6,930

$1.23 BAM 2.13

73.17%

Potato (1kg)

$1.92 COP 6,259

$0.84 BAM 1.46

128.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.53 COP 4,984

$0.67 BAM 1.17

128.36%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 COP 3,549

$0.79 BAM 1.38

37.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.18 COP 3,843

$0.67 BAM 1.17

76.12%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.79 COP 12.3K

$4.02 BAM 6.98

-5.72%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.16 COP 42.8K

$4.03 BAM 6.99

226.55%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.64 COP 5,337

$0.74 BAM 1.28

121.62%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.28 COP 7,410

$0.90 BAM 1.56

153.33%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,825

$1.18 BAM 2.05

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$73.6 COP 239.5K

$33.39 BAM 58.0

120.43%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.28 COP 4,157

$1.75 BAM 3.04

-26.86%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.98 COP 6,434

$0.60 BAM 1.04

230.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.7K

$10.36 BAM 18.00

-23.84%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.29 COP 4,211

$1.43 BAM 2.48

-9.79%

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

$26.8K COP 87.2M

$30.8K BAM 53.5K

-13.10%

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

$34.7K COP 112.9M

$22.2K BAM 38.5K

56.45%

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

$158 COP 513.6K

$123 BAM 213

28.58%

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

$13.39 COP 43.6K

$17.95 BAM 31.16

-25.40%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.28 COP 88.8K

$26.22 BAM 45.54

4.04%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.15 COP 143.7K

$35.80 BAM 62.2

23.32%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$15.99 COP 52.0K

$11.66 BAM 20.25

37.14%

Cinema Ticket

$6.39 COP 20.8K

$5.55 BAM 9.64

15.14%

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

$777 COP 2.5M

$148 BAM 257

424.85%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,800 COP 28.6M

$13.7K BAM 23.7K

-35.61%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$82.7 COP 269.2K

$59.0 BAM 103

40.11%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$56.1 COP 182.6K

$33.87 BAM 58.8

65.66%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$131 COP 425.7K

$86.4 BAM 150

51.40%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$95.9 COP 312.1K

$82.7 BAM 144

16.03%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,006 COP 3.3M

$429 BAM 745

134.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$627 COP 2.0M

$258 BAM 449

142.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,826 COP 5.9M

$671 BAM 1,165

172.06%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$969 COP 3.2M

$461 BAM 801

110.09%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,907 COP 12.7M

$2,370 BAM 4,116

64.82%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,576 COP 5.1M

$1,589 BAM 2,760

-0.85%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$620 COP 2.0M

$854 BAM 1,483

-27.40%

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 28, 2026

Last update for Mostar: September 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,006 in Medellin versus $429 in Mostar. 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 38% higher in Mostar, 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 $45.00 in Medellin versus $29.00 in Mostar. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $188 – making Mostar 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 Mostar: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 64%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,333 per month in Medellin and $1,426 in Mostar. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Mostar, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $45.00 in Medellin and $29.00 in Mostar. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,555 in Medellin and $951 in Mostar. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Mostar, where all-in costs run around $951, than in Medellin at $1,555. In Mostar it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Mostar – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Mostar. 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.