Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Struga Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Struga

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,017 per month in Medellin vs $800 in Struga, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,602 per month in Medellin vs $1,199 in Struga, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,188 per month in Medellin vs $1,598 in Struga, rent included.

Medellin costs about 27% more than Struga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Struga are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 24% lower, Struga 40% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.95 COP 20.8K

$7.72 MKD 410

-22.93%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$33.33 COP 116.3K

$30.59 MKD 1,623

8.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.23 COP 25.2K

$4.64 MKD 246

55.82%

Cappuccino

$1.63 COP 5,687

$1.56 MKD 82.9

4.49%

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

$1.09 COP 3,821

$1.71 MKD 90.6

-36.26%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.73 COP 2,548

$1.23 MKD 65.3

-40.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.74 COP 6,065

$2.70 MKD 143

-35.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.23 COP 11.3K

$3.40 MKD 180

-5.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.05 COP 3,662

$1.14 MKD 60.5

-7.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.29 COP 4,515

$0.68 MKD 36.07

89.71%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 COP 4,617

$1.69 MKD 89.6

-21.89%

Eggs

$2.27 COP 7,927

$1.99 MKD 106

14.07%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.35 COP 15.2K

$6.78 MKD 360

-35.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.88 COP 20.5K

$5.62 MKD 298

4.63%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.61 COP 30.0K

$9.50 MKD 504

-9.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.25 COP 7,844

$0.55 MKD 29.10

309.09%

Banana (1kg)

$1.07 COP 3,733

$1.29 MKD 68.7

-17.05%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.52 COP 5,322

$0.96 MKD 50.9

58.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.42 COP 4,964

$1.15 MKD 61.1

23.48%

Potato (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,084

$0.78 MKD 41.26

50.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 COP 4,077

$0.96 MKD 50.9

21.87%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.89 COP 3,096

$0.58 MKD 30.63

53.45%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.90 COP 3,146

$0.40 MKD 21.02

125.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.25 COP 7,837

$3.27 MKD 174

-31.19%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.04 COP 38.5K

$4.63 MKD 246

138.44%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.14 COP 3,977

$1.10 MKD 58.3

3.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.38 COP 8,301

$1.01 MKD 53.8

135.64%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.84 COP 2,916

$0.69 MKD 36.42

21.74%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.95 COP 146.4K

$19.91 MKD 1,056

110.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.41 COP 4,912

$0.93 MKD 49.09

51.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.90 COP 6,634

$0.53 MKD 28.31

258.49%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.75 COP 27.0K

$7.54 MKD 400

2.79%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.01 COP 3,509

$1.46 MKD 77.7

-30.82%

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

$17.6K COP 61.4M

$34.3K MKD 1.8M

-48.73%

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

$26.5K COP 92.5M

$29.8K MKD 1.6M

-10.97%

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

$83.7 COP 292.1K

$92.5 MKD 4,910

-9.56%

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

$9.45 COP 33.0K

$15.25 MKD 809

-38.03%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.11 COP 84.1K

$19.70 MKD 1,045

22.39%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.31 COP 88.3K

$26.47 MKD 1,404

-4.38%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.14 COP 66.8K

$22.13 MKD 1,174

-13.51%

Cinema Ticket

$4.10 COP 14.3K

$6.42 MKD 341

-36.14%

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

$312 COP 1.1M

$324 MKD 17.2K

-3.64%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,993 COP 20.9M

$1,183 MKD 62.7K

406.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$58.0 COP 202.6K

$77.0 MKD 4,085

-24.61%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.56 COP 113.6K

$27.65 MKD 1,467

17.76%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.6 COP 347.7K

$66.3 MKD 3,519

50.19%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$109 COP 378.8K

$37.22 MKD 1,975

191.62%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$482 COP 1.7M

$283 MKD 15.0K

70.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$379 COP 1.3M

$230 MKD 12.2K

65.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$837 COP 2.9M

$393 MKD 20.9K

112.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$723 COP 2.5M

$330 MKD 17.5K

119.22%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,840 COP 9.9M

$1,552 MKD 82.4K

82.94%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,223 COP 4.3M

$1,413 MKD 75.0K

-13.42%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$541 COP 1.9M

$970 MKD 51.4K

-44.22%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

3.5

283.71%

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

Last update for Medellin: June 8, 2026

Last update for Struga: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $482 in Medellin versus $283 in Struga. 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 79% higher in Struga, 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 $31.00 in Struga. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $190 vs $158 – making Struga 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 Struga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 27%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. 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 $1,200 in Struga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Struga, 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 $31.00 in Struga. 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 $800 in Struga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Struga, where all-in costs run around $800, than in Medellin at $1,017. In Struga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Struga – 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 Struga. 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.