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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $759 in Prilep, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,145 in Prilep, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,531 in Prilep, rent included.

Medellin costs about 34% more than Prilep, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Medellin and Prilep are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Prilep 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$4.15 MKD 220

43.37%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$27.80 MKD 1,475

19.89%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$5.79 MKD 307

24.87%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.53 MKD 81.4

6.54%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$1.66 MKD 88.1

-34.34%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$1.23 MKD 65.1

-40.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$1.57 MKD 83.2

10.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$2.04 MKD 108

58.33%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.23 MKD 65.3

-14.63%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.71 MKD 37.88

81.69%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.60 MKD 84.7

-17.50%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$2.13 MKD 113

6.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$6.96 MKD 369

-37.50%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$5.80 MKD 308

1.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$9.91 MKD 526

-13.12%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$0.93 MKD 49.26

141.94%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.43 MKD 75.8

-25.17%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$1.01 MKD 53.4

50.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.54 MKD 81.6

-7.79%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.81 MKD 42.90

44.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.94 MKD 49.68

24.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.62 MKD 32.66

43.55%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.44 MKD 23.44

104.55%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$3.03 MKD 161

-25.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$4.71 MKD 250

134.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$0.96 MKD 51.0

18.75%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$1.18 MKD 62.8

101.69%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.40 MKD 21.15

110.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$18.45 MKD 979

127.37%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.96 MKD 50.8

46.87%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.50 MKD 26.44

280.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$6.50 MKD 345

19.23%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.51 MKD 80.2

-33.11%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$33.2K MKD 1.8M

-47.05%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$30.1K MKD 1.6M

-11.92%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$129 MKD 6,823

-34.92%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$17.62 MKD 935

-46.37%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$14.31 MKD 760

68.48%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$16.83 MKD 893

50.39%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$5.79 MKD 307

230.57%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$5.30 MKD 281

-22.64%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$284 MKD 15.1K

9.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$1,179 MKD 62.6K

408.28%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$41.69 MKD 2,212

39.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$37.38 MKD 1,983

-12.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$74.4 MKD 3,946

33.95%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$93.8 MKD 4,979

15.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$237 MKD 12.6K

103.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$174 MKD 9,229

118.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$511 MKD 27.1K

63.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$285 MKD 15.1K

153.32%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,059 MKD 56.2K

168.17%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$833 MKD 44.2K

46.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$607 MKD 32.2K

-10.96%

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: June 8, 2026

Last update for Prilep: June 9, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 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 12% higher in Prilep, 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 $33.00 in Medellin versus $28.00 in Prilep. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $168 – 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 34%, 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 $1,525 per month in Medellin and $1,138 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 $1,017 in Medellin and $759 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 $759, than in Medellin at $1,017. 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.