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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,681 per month in Medellin vs $1,046 in Nis, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,445 per month in Medellin vs $1,534 in Nis, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,210 per month in Medellin vs $2,022 in Nis, rent included.

Medellin costs about 61% more than Nis, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Nis is 24% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$8.02 COP 25.0K

$7.72 RSD 783

3.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$47.87 COP 149.4K

$34.65 RSD 3,512

38.15%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.89 COP 30.8K

$9.88 RSD 1,001

0.10%

Cappuccino

$3.13 COP 9,767

$2.01 RSD 204

55.72%

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

$1.91 COP 5,954

$2.47 RSD 250

-22.67%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.51 COP 4,712

$1.81 RSD 184

-16.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.12 COP 9,747

$3.85 RSD 391

-18.96%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.75 COP 17.9K

$4.49 RSD 455

28.06%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.44 COP 4,509

$1.18 RSD 119

22.03%

White Bread (500g)

$2.49 COP 7,759

$0.71 RSD 71.7

250.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 COP 5,535

$1.69 RSD 171

4.73%

Eggs

$2.96 COP 9,235

$2.31 RSD 234

28.14%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.07 COP 31.4K

$7.58 RSD 768

32.85%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.12 COP 31.6K

$5.95 RSD 603

70.08%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.30 COP 44.6K

$10.79 RSD 1,094

32.53%

Apples (1kg)

$4.14 COP 12.9K

$1.11 RSD 112

272.97%

Banana (1kg)

$1.61 COP 5,019

$1.69 RSD 171

-4.73%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,007

$1.49 RSD 151

51.01%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,028

$2.04 RSD 207

10.29%

Potato (1kg)

$2.04 COP 6,375

$0.84 RSD 84.9

142.86%

Onion (1kg)

$1.54 COP 4,790

$0.78 RSD 79.2

97.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 COP 3,651

$0.70 RSD 71.1

67.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 COP 4,077

$0.58 RSD 59.2

125.86%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.90 COP 12.2K

$4.59 RSD 465

-15.03%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.01 COP 43.7K

$5.58 RSD 565

151.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.74 COP 5,439

$0.72 RSD 73.1

141.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.87 COP 8,956

$1.27 RSD 129

125.98%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.22 COP 3,792

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$80.5 COP 251.1K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.31 COP 4,084

$1.89 RSD 191

-30.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.19 COP 6,825

$0.65 RSD 66.3

236.92%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.71 COP 27.2K

$8.47 RSD 858

2.83%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.37 COP 4,260

$1.90 RSD 192

-27.89%

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

$27.8K COP 86.9M

$32.1K RSD 3.3M

-13.21%

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

$35.8K COP 111.6M

$24.8K RSD 2.5M

44.21%

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

$177 COP 553.2K

$159 RSD 16.1K

11.69%

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

$13.88 COP 43.3K

$19.82 RSD 2,008

-29.97%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.72 COP 92.8K

$23.75 RSD 2,407

25.14%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$44.88 COP 140.1K

$31.60 RSD 3,202

42.03%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.12 COP 53.4K

$16.01 RSD 1,622

6.93%

Cinema Ticket

$6.65 COP 20.7K

$5.03 RSD 509

32.21%

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

$813 COP 2.5M

$258 RSD 26.1K

215.21%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,187 COP 28.7M

$5,164 RSD 523.3K

77.91%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.5 COP 279.3K

$92.3 RSD 9,358

-3.09%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$59.0 COP 184.0K

$39.12 RSD 3,965

50.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$138 COP 431.2K

$104 RSD 10.5K

32.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$102 COP 318.7K

$112 RSD 11.3K

-8.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,062 COP 3.3M

$402 RSD 40.7K

164.11%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$663 COP 2.1M

$291 RSD 29.5K

127.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,888 COP 5.9M

$597 RSD 60.5K

216.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,027 COP 3.2M

$414 RSD 42.0K

148.12%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,183 COP 13.1M

$2,641 RSD 267.7K

58.37%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,675 COP 5.2M

$1,886 RSD 191.2K

-11.23%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$678 COP 2.1M

$946 RSD 95.9K

-28.37%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.94

5.11

114.09%

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

Last update for Medellin: September 14, 2026

Last update for Nis: September 14, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,062 in Medellin versus $402 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 40% higher in Nis, 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 $35.00 in Nis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $305 vs $183 – making Nis 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 Nis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 61%, 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 $2,521 per month in Medellin and $1,569 in Nis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nis, 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 $48.00 in Medellin and $35.00 in Nis. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 67% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Nis, where all-in costs run around $1,046, than in Medellin at $1,681. In Nis it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Nis – 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 Nis. 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.