Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Novi Sad Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Novi Sad

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $1,486 in Novi Sad, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $2,237 in Novi Sad, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $2,987 in Novi Sad, rent included.

Medellin costs about 13% more than Novi Sad, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Novi Sad sit above the global median – Medellin by 23%, Novi Sad by 8%.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

$11.95 RSD 1,197

-33.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

$52.3 RSD 5,244

-14.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

$12.64 RSD 1,267

-26.50%

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

$2.76 RSD 276

5.07%

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

$1.81 COP 5,541

$2.44 RSD 244

-25.82%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

$1.95 RSD 195

-20.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

$2.97 RSD 297

9.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

$3.83 RSD 383

53.52%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$1.46 RSD 147

-5.48%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$1.02 RSD 103

140.20%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

$2.94 RSD 294

-48.64%

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$2.66 RSD 266

4.51%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

$13.75 RSD 1,378

-34.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

$7.41 RSD 743

43.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$14.77 RSD 1,481

-0.95%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$1.70 RSD 170

133.53%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

$1.91 RSD 192

-27.75%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

$1.71 RSD 171

34.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$2.62 RSD 263

-22.90%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

$1.06 RSD 106

97.17%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$0.66 RSD 66.4

146.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$0.98 RSD 98.6

10.20%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$0.72 RSD 72.5

73.61%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$4.75 RSD 476

-15.16%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

$8.01 RSD 803

68.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$0.93 RSD 93.0

72.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

$2.37 RSD 238

26.58%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

$0.97 RSD 96.9

21.65%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

$25.61 RSD 2,567

212.14%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

$2.34 RSD 234

-31.20%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

$0.89 RSD 88.8

139.33%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

$10.80 RSD 1,083

-21.11%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

$1.90 RSD 190

-28.95%

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

$28.3K COP 86.8M

$31.8K RSD 3.2M

-10.92%

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

$35.7K COP 109.4M

$26.6K RSD 2.7M

34.24%

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

$151 COP 463.8K

$240 RSD 24.1K

-36.96%

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

$13.10 COP 40.1K

$21.43 RSD 2,147

-38.87%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

$34.93 RSD 3,501

-7.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

$38.11 RSD 3,819

21.57%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

$11.40 RSD 1,142

51.40%

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

$7.74 RSD 776

-16.93%

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

$835 COP 2.6M

$382 RSD 38.3K

118.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

$7,841 RSD 785.8K

13.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

$123 RSD 12.3K

-27.46%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

$46.15 RSD 4,625

19.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

$138 RSD 13.8K

-0.72%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

$129 RSD 12.9K

-15.30%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

$521 RSD 52.3K

82.61%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

$420 RSD 42.1K

59.08%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

$1,000 RSD 100.3K

101.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

$776 RSD 77.8K

47.92%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

$3,777 RSD 378.6K

-2.16%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

$2,710 RSD 271.6K

-41.50%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

$1,217 RSD 121.9K

-48.59%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

5.23

99.43%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Novi Sad: August 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $521 in Novi Sad. 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 95% higher in Novi Sad, 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 $52.0 in Novi Sad. Groceries tell a different story – $297 in Medellin vs $252 in Novi Sad – so Novi Sad 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 Novi Sad: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 13%, and the gap shows up most in Getting Around. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $2,530 per month in Medellin and $2,229 in Novi Sad. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Novi Sad, 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 $52.0 in Novi Sad. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,687 in Medellin and $1,486 in Novi Sad. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Novi Sad, where all-in costs run around $1,486, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Novi Sad it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Novi Sad – 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 Novi Sad. 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.