😐A single person spends $1,003 per month in Medellin vs $780 in Struga, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $1,573 per month in Medellin vs $1,193 in Struga, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $2,143 per month in Medellin vs $1,605 in Struga, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 29% more than Struga, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.
📊Both Medellin and Struga are more affordable than the global median – Medellin25% lower, Struga41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Struga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91COP 18.6K
$7.69MKD 411
-23.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96COP 103.8K
$30.52MKD 1,631
7.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.43COP 23.4K
$4.68MKD 250
58.76%
Cappuccino
$1.65COP 5,207
$1.51MKD 80.5
9.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10COP 3,468
$1.69MKD 90.4
-34.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78COP 2,458
$1.29MKD 69.1
-39.53%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.72COP 5,412
$2.66MKD 142
-35.34%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18COP 10.0K
$3.41MKD 182
-6.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Struga
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.10COP 3,474
$1.14MKD 60.9
-3.51%
White Bread(500g)
$1.26COP 3,962
$0.63MKD 33.71
100.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.38COP 4,349
$1.75MKD 93.3
-21.14%
Eggs
$2.18COP 6,858
$2.09MKD 111
4.31%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$4.49COP 14.1K
$6.94MKD 371
-35.30%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.79COP 18.2K
$5.62MKD 300
3.02%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.97COP 28.2K
$9.51MKD 508
-5.68%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32COP 7,308
$0.57MKD 30.60
307.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.06COP 3,352
$1.32MKD 70.7
-19.70%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52COP 4,774
$0.92MKD 49.14
65.22%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.36COP 4,270
$1.10MKD 58.9
23.64%
Potato(1kg)
$1.13COP 3,552
$0.77MKD 40.94
46.75%
Onion(1kg)
$1.17COP 3,689
$0.90MKD 47.93
30.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.90COP 2,838
$0.54MKD 28.86
66.67%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90COP 2,823
$0.37MKD 19.66
143.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23COP 7,034
$3.14MKD 168
-28.98%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.12COP 38.2K
$3.68MKD 197
229.35%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19COP 3,743
$1.06MKD 56.9
12.26%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48COP 7,815
$1.01MKD 53.9
145.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Struga
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.85COP 2,687
$0.69MKD 36.87
23.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$41.62COP 131.0K
$20.37MKD 1,089
104.32%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.42COP 4,459
$0.99MKD 52.7
43.43%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.95COP 6,141
$0.53MKD 28.21
267.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.89COP 24.8K
$7.70MKD 412
2.47%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.99COP 3,118
$1.46MKD 78.1
-32.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6KCOP 55.4M
$34.0KMKD 1.8M
-48.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KCOP 84.4M
$29.6KMKD 1.6M
-9.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Struga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$83.0COP 261.4K
$90.9MKD 4,858
-8.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70COP 30.5K
$14.98MKD 800
-35.25%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52COP 74.1K
$19.69MKD 1,052
19.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Struga
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.26COP 79.5K
$25.84MKD 1,381
-2.24%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10COP 60.1K
$22.22MKD 1,187
-14.04%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95COP 12.4K
$6.64MKD 355
-40.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Struga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$316COP 994.2K
$311MKD 16.6K
1.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,975COP 18.8M
$1,179MKD 63.0K
406.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Struga
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0COP 188.9K
$77.9MKD 4,161
-22.95%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82COP 100.2K
$27.82MKD 1,486
14.38%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$102COP 320.1K
$66.4MKD 3,546
53.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107COP 338.3K
$37.12MKD 1,984
189.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Struga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$475COP 1.5M
$290MKD 15.5K
64.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$374COP 1.2M
$231MKD 12.3K
62.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$849COP 2.7M
$396MKD 21.2K
114.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$719COP 2.3M
$321MKD 17.2K
123.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,265COP 10.3M
$1,569MKD 83.9K
108.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,441COP 4.5M
$1,355MKD 72.4K
6.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Struga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$624COP 2.0M
$878MKD 46.9K
-28.91%
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: July 27, 2026
Last update for Struga: July 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $475 in Medellin versus $290 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 41% 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: $193 vs $156 – 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
Is Struga cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 29%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,504 per month in Medellin and $1,169 in Struga. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Medellin or in Struga?
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.
What are total monthly expenses in Medellin and in Struga?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,003 in Medellin and $780 in Struga. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Struga?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Struga, where all-in costs run around $780, than in Medellin at $1,003. In Struga it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Struga more family-friendly?
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.
Which city is safer, Medellin or Struga?
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.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
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.