Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sabac Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Sabac

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,687 per month in Medellin vs $860 in Sabac, rent included.

A couple spends around $2,535 per month in Medellin vs $1,322 in Sabac, rent included.

A family of three spends $3,383 per month in Medellin vs $1,784 in Sabac, rent included.

Medellin costs about 96% more than Sabac, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Medellin sits 23% above the global median, while Sabac is 37% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.89 COP 24.2K

$8.48 RSD 850

-6.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$44.53 COP 136.5K

$28.35 RSD 2,842

57.07%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$9.29 COP 28.5K

$7.05 RSD 706

31.77%

Cappuccino

$2.90 COP 8,874

$2.01 RSD 201

44.28%

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

$1.81 COP 5,541

$1.86 RSD 186

-2.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.55 COP 4,741

$1.44 RSD 144

7.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$3.25 COP 9,962

$2.62 RSD 262

24.05%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.88 COP 18.0K

$2.80 RSD 281

110.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.38 COP 4,230

$1.36 RSD 136

1.47%

White Bread (500g)

$2.45 COP 7,517

$0.64 RSD 64.6

282.81%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.51 COP 4,617

$1.97 RSD 198

-23.35%

Eggs

$2.78 COP 8,516

$2.06 RSD 206

34.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.05 COP 27.7K

$6.03 RSD 604

50.08%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$10.65 COP 32.6K

$6.75 RSD 676

57.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$14.63 COP 44.8K

$11.87 RSD 1,189

23.25%

Apples (1kg)

$3.97 COP 12.2K

$1.28 RSD 129

210.16%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 COP 4,219

$1.89 RSD 189

-26.98%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.30 COP 7,056

$1.48 RSD 149

55.41%

Tomato (1kg)

$2.02 COP 6,185

$1.99 RSD 199

1.51%

Potato (1kg)

$2.09 COP 6,390

$0.70 RSD 70.4

198.57%

Onion (1kg)

$1.63 COP 4,996

$0.35 RSD 35.22

365.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.08 COP 3,313

$1.04 RSD 105

3.85%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.25 COP 3,843

$0.45 RSD 44.66

177.78%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.03 COP 12.4K

$3.83 RSD 383

5.22%

Wine (Bottle)

$13.47 COP 41.3K

$7.90 RSD 792

70.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.60 COP 4,904

$0.67 RSD 66.7

138.81%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.00 COP 9,189

$1.03 RSD 103

191.26%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.18 COP 3,611

$1.09 RSD 109

8.26%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$79.9 COP 244.9K

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.61 COP 4,920

$1.45 RSD 146

11.03%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$2.13 COP 6,533

$1.00 RSD 100

113.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.52 COP 26.1K

$5.57 RSD 558

52.96%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.35 COP 4,142

$1.88 RSD 189

-28.19%

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

$28.3K COP 86.8M

$31.7K RSD 3.2M

-10.72%

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

$35.7K COP 109.4M

$26.0K RSD 2.6M

37.27%

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

$151 COP 463.8K

$144 RSD 14.5K

4.78%

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

$13.10 COP 40.1K

$26.30 RSD 2,636

-50.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$32.30 COP 99.0K

$19.89 RSD 1,993

62.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.33 COP 141.9K

$29.76 RSD 2,983

55.68%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.26 COP 52.9K

$13.72 RSD 1,375

25.80%

Cinema Ticket

$6.43 COP 19.7K

$5.63 RSD 564

14.21%

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

$835 COP 2.6M

$179 RSD 18.0K

365.73%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,887 COP 27.2M

$3,985 RSD 399.4K

122.99%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$89.3 COP 273.7K

$63.9 RSD 6,400

39.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$55.3 COP 169.5K

$69.0 RSD 6,910

-19.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$137 COP 418.5K

$59.6 RSD 5,968

129.35%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 335.1K

$121 RSD 12.1K

-9.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$952 COP 2.9M

$236 RSD 23.6K

303.83%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$668 COP 2.0M

$157 RSD 15.7K

325.95%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$2,020 COP 6.2M

$354 RSD 35.4K

471.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,148 COP 3.5M

$266 RSD 26.6K

332.24%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,696 COP 11.3M

$1,953 RSD 195.8K

89.20%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,586 COP 4.9M

$1,564 RSD 156.7K

1.38%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$625 COP 1.9M

$964 RSD 96.7K

-35.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.43

4.84

115.50%

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

Last update for Medellin: August 17, 2026

Last update for Sabac: August 18, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $952 in Medellin versus $236 in Sabac. 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 54% higher in Sabac, 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 $28.00 in Sabac. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $297 vs $191 – making Sabac 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 Sabac: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 96%, 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 $2,530 per month in Medellin and $1,291 in Sabac. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 56% 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 $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Sabac, where all-in costs run around $860, than in Medellin at $1,687. In Sabac it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Sabac – 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 Sabac. 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.