Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Prilep Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Prilep

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $745 in Prilep, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,134 in Prilep, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,523 in Prilep, rent included.

Medellin costs about 35% more than Prilep, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Prilep are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 25% lower, Prilep 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.91 COP 18.9K

$4.03 MKD 217

46.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.96 COP 105.2K

$27.76 MKD 1,493

18.73%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.43 COP 23.7K

$5.74 MKD 308

29.44%

Cappuccino

$1.65 COP 5,276

$1.46 MKD 78.6

13.01%

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

$1.10 COP 3,514

$1.68 MKD 90.2

-34.52%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.78 COP 2,491

$1.29 MKD 69.1

-39.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.72 COP 5,484

$1.56 MKD 84.1

10.26%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.18 COP 10.1K

$2.06 MKD 111

54.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.10 COP 3,521

$1.23 MKD 65.9

-10.57%

White Bread (500g)

$1.26 COP 4,015

$0.74 MKD 39.93

70.27%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,407

$1.59 MKD 85.7

-13.21%

Eggs

$2.18 COP 6,950

$2.11 MKD 114

3.32%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.49 COP 14.3K

$7.18 MKD 386

-37.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.79 COP 18.5K

$5.78 MKD 311

0.17%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.97 COP 28.6K

$9.90 MKD 532

-9.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.32 COP 7,405

$0.86 MKD 46.17

169.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.06 COP 3,397

$1.36 MKD 72.9

-22.06%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 4,838

$0.97 MKD 52.3

56.70%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.36 COP 4,327

$1.46 MKD 78.8

-6.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 3,599

$0.89 MKD 47.76

26.97%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 3,738

$0.96 MKD 51.8

21.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.90 COP 2,876

$0.61 MKD 32.54

47.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 2,861

$0.44 MKD 23.66

104.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.23 COP 7,128

$3.07 MKD 165

-27.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.12 COP 38.7K

$4.75 MKD 256

155.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 3,793

$0.91 MKD 48.89

30.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.48 COP 7,920

$1.22 MKD 65.9

103.28%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.85 COP 2,723

$0.37 MKD 19.78

129.73%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.62 COP 132.8K

$18.81 MKD 1,012

121.27%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.42 COP 4,518

$0.96 MKD 51.5

47.92%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.95 COP 6,223

$0.49 MKD 26.61

297.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.89 COP 25.2K

$6.43 MKD 346

22.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.99 COP 3,160

$1.44 MKD 77.7

-31.25%

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

$17.6K COP 56.2M

$34.4K MKD 1.8M

-48.83%

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

$26.8K COP 85.5M

$29.6K MKD 1.6M

-9.52%

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

$83.0 COP 264.9K

$128 MKD 6,888

-35.19%

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

$9.70 COP 30.9K

$17.38 MKD 934

-44.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.52 COP 75.0K

$14.24 MKD 766

65.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.26 COP 80.6K

$17.21 MKD 925

46.78%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.10 COP 60.9K

$5.53 MKD 297

245.39%

Cinema Ticket

$3.95 COP 12.6K

$5.28 MKD 284

-25.19%

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

$316 COP 1.0M

$281 MKD 15.1K

12.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,975 COP 19.1M

$1,212 MKD 65.2K

392.85%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.0 COP 191.4K

$42.44 MKD 2,282

41.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 101.5K

$37.97 MKD 2,042

-16.20%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$102 COP 324.4K

$74.7 MKD 4,018

36.05%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 342.8K

$95.1 MKD 5,112

13.02%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$475 COP 1.5M

$237 MKD 12.8K

100.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$374 COP 1.2M

$173 MKD 9,301

116.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$849 COP 2.7M

$512 MKD 27.5K

65.94%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$719 COP 2.3M

$281 MKD 15.1K

155.88%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,265 COP 10.4M

$1,044 MKD 56.1K

212.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,441 COP 4.6M

$827 MKD 44.5K

74.12%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 COP 2.0M

$609 MKD 32.7K

2.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

4.54

195.81%

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

Last update for Medellin: July 27, 2026

Last update for Prilep: July 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $237 in Prilep. 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 3% higher in Medellin, 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 $28.00 in Prilep. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $193 vs $167 – making Prilep 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 Prilep: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 35%, 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 $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,118 in Prilep. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Prilep, 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 $33.00 in Medellin and $28.00 in Prilep. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $745 in Prilep. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Prilep, where all-in costs run around $745, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Prilep it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Prilep – 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 Prilep. 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.