Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nis Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Nis

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $1,024 in Nis, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,524 in Nis, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $2,024 in Nis, rent included.

Medellin is about 1% cheaper than Nis, driven mainly by Eating Out.

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

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Nis
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.95 COPΒ 20.8K
$7.62 RSDΒ 771
-21.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$33.33 COPΒ 116.3K
$29.33 RSDΒ 2,966
13.64%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.23 COPΒ 25.2K
$9.72 RSDΒ 983
-25.62%
Cappuccino
$1.63 COPΒ 5,687
$2.00 RSDΒ 202
-18.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.09 COPΒ 3,821
$1.89 RSDΒ 192
-42.33%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.73 COPΒ 2,548
$1.27 RSDΒ 129
-42.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.74 COPΒ 6,065
$2.50 RSDΒ 253
-30.40%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.23 COPΒ 11.3K
$2.97 RSDΒ 300
8.75%
πŸ›’ Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Nis
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.05 COPΒ 3,662
$1.34 RSDΒ 136
-21.64%
White Bread (500g)
$1.29 COPΒ 4,515
$0.71 RSDΒ 71.5
81.69%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.32 COPΒ 4,617
$1.85 RSDΒ 187
-28.65%
Eggs
$2.27 COPΒ 7,927
$2.48 RSDΒ 251
-8.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.35 COPΒ 15.2K
$7.82 RSDΒ 791
-44.37%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.88 COPΒ 20.5K
$6.75 RSDΒ 682
-12.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.61 COPΒ 30.0K
$11.83 RSDΒ 1,196
-27.22%
Apples (1kg)
$2.25 COPΒ 7,844
$1.15 RSDΒ 116
95.65%
Banana (1kg)
$1.07 COPΒ 3,733
$1.73 RSDΒ 175
-38.15%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COPΒ 5,322
$1.50 RSDΒ 152
1.33%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.42 COPΒ 4,964
$1.78 RSDΒ 180
-20.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,084
$1.08 RSDΒ 109
8.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COPΒ 4,077
$1.10 RSDΒ 111
6.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.89 COPΒ 3,096
$0.55 RSDΒ 55.8
61.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COPΒ 3,146
$0.61 RSDΒ 61.8
47.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.25 COPΒ 7,837
$4.19 RSDΒ 424
-46.30%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.04 COPΒ 38.5K
$6.53 RSDΒ 660
69.07%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 COPΒ 3,977
$0.71 RSDΒ 71.7
60.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 COPΒ 8,301
$2.04 RSDΒ 206
16.67%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Nis
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.84 COPΒ 2,916
$0.75 RSDΒ 75.9
12.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.95 COPΒ 146.4K
$26.24 RSDΒ 2,654
59.87%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.41 COPΒ 4,912
$1.46 RSDΒ 148
-3.42%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 COPΒ 6,634
$0.42 RSDΒ 42.88
352.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.75 COPΒ 27.0K
$6.88 RSDΒ 696
12.65%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.01 COPΒ 3,509
$1.76 RSDΒ 178
-42.61%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COPΒ 61.4M
$31.0K RSDΒ 3.1M
-43.33%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.5K COPΒ 92.5M
$27.4K RSDΒ 2.8M
-3.17%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Nis
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.7 COPΒ 292.1K
$142 RSDΒ 14.3K
-40.91%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.45 COPΒ 33.0K
$16.69 RSDΒ 1,688
-43.38%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$24.11 COPΒ 84.1K
$22.77 RSDΒ 2,303
5.88%
πŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Nis
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.31 COPΒ 88.3K
$29.32 RSDΒ 2,966
-13.68%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.14 COPΒ 66.8K
$19.33 RSDΒ 1,955
-0.98%
Cinema Ticket
$4.10 COPΒ 14.3K
$5.07 RSDΒ 513
-19.13%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Nis
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$312 COPΒ 1.1M
$234 RSDΒ 23.7K
33.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,993 COPΒ 20.9M
$5,145 RSDΒ 520.3K
16.48%
πŸ‘•πŸ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Nis
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.0 COPΒ 202.6K
$88.8 RSDΒ 8,978
-34.62%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$32.56 COPΒ 113.6K
$47.06 RSDΒ 4,759
-30.81%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$99.6 COPΒ 347.7K
$93.2 RSDΒ 9,422
6.92%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$109 COPΒ 378.8K
$103 RSDΒ 10.4K
5.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Nis
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$482 COPΒ 1.7M
$409 RSDΒ 41.4K
17.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$379 COPΒ 1.3M
$284 RSDΒ 28.7K
33.56%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$837 COPΒ 2.9M
$554 RSDΒ 56.0K
51.12%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$723 COPΒ 2.5M
$406 RSDΒ 41.1K
77.91%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,840 COPΒ 9.9M
$2,597 RSDΒ 262.7K
9.34%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,223 COPΒ 4.3M
$1,910 RSDΒ 193.2K
-35.97%
πŸ’΅ Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Nis
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$541 COPΒ 1.9M
$890 RSDΒ 90.0K
-39.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
13.43
7.45
80.27%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Nis: June 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $409 in Nis. 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 65% higher in Nis, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $29.00 in Nis. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $197 in Nis – so Medellin wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Nis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nis cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Nis is pricier by about 1%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,535 in Nis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Medellin, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or Nis?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin and $29.00 in Nis. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and cafΓ© pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin vs Nis?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,017 in Medellin and $1,024 in Nis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Medellin or Nis?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Medellin, where all-in costs run around $1,017, than in Nis at $1,024. In Medellin it covers expenses comfortably, while in Nis it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Nis more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Medellin – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Nis?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Medellin. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Nis makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Medellin vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities