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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,003 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 – Medellin 25% lower, Struga 41% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Struga
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.91 COP 18.6K
$7.69 MKD 411
-23.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.96 COP 103.8K
$30.52 MKD 1,631
7.99%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.43 COP 23.4K
$4.68 MKD 250
58.76%
Cappuccino
$1.65 COP 5,207
$1.51 MKD 80.5
9.27%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.10 COP 3,468
$1.69 MKD 90.4
-34.91%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.78 COP 2,458
$1.29 MKD 69.1
-39.53%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.72 COP 5,412
$2.66 MKD 142
-35.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 COP 10.0K
$3.41 MKD 182
-6.74%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Struga
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.10 COP 3,474
$1.14 MKD 60.9
-3.51%
White Bread (500g)
$1.26 COP 3,962
$0.63 MKD 33.71
100.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.38 COP 4,349
$1.75 MKD 93.3
-21.14%
Eggs
$2.18 COP 6,858
$2.09 MKD 111
4.31%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$4.49 COP 14.1K
$6.94 MKD 371
-35.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.79 COP 18.2K
$5.62 MKD 300
3.02%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.97 COP 28.2K
$9.51 MKD 508
-5.68%
Apples (1kg)
$2.32 COP 7,308
$0.57 MKD 30.60
307.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.06 COP 3,352
$1.32 MKD 70.7
-19.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.52 COP 4,774
$0.92 MKD 49.14
65.22%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.36 COP 4,270
$1.10 MKD 58.9
23.64%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 COP 3,552
$0.77 MKD 40.94
46.75%
Onion (1kg)
$1.17 COP 3,689
$0.90 MKD 47.93
30.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.90 COP 2,838
$0.54 MKD 28.86
66.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.90 COP 2,823
$0.37 MKD 19.66
143.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.23 COP 7,034
$3.14 MKD 168
-28.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.12 COP 38.2K
$3.68 MKD 197
229.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 COP 3,743
$1.06 MKD 56.9
12.26%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.48 COP 7,815
$1.01 MKD 53.9
145.54%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Struga
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.85 COP 2,687
$0.69 MKD 36.87
23.19%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$41.62 COP 131.0K
$20.37 MKD 1,089
104.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.42 COP 4,459
$0.99 MKD 52.7
43.43%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.95 COP 6,141
$0.53 MKD 28.21
267.92%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.89 COP 24.8K
$7.70 MKD 412
2.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.99 COP 3,118
$1.46 MKD 78.1
-32.19%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$17.6K COP 55.4M
$34.0K MKD 1.8M
-48.29%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8K COP 84.4M
$29.6K MKD 1.6M
-9.50%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Struga
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$83.0 COP 261.4K
$90.9 MKD 4,858
-8.69%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.70 COP 30.5K
$14.98 MKD 800
-35.25%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$23.52 COP 74.1K
$19.69 MKD 1,052
19.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Struga
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.26 COP 79.5K
$25.84 MKD 1,381
-2.24%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.10 COP 60.1K
$22.22 MKD 1,187
-14.04%
Cinema Ticket
$3.95 COP 12.4K
$6.64 MKD 355
-40.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Struga
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$316 COP 994.2K
$311 MKD 16.6K
1.43%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$5,975 COP 18.8M
$1,179 MKD 63.0K
406.92%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Struga
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.0 COP 188.9K
$77.9 MKD 4,161
-22.95%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$31.82 COP 100.2K
$27.82 MKD 1,486
14.38%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 COP 320.1K
$66.4 MKD 3,546
53.23%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 COP 338.3K
$37.12 MKD 1,984
189.47%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Struga
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$475 COP 1.5M
$290 MKD 15.5K
64.00%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$374 COP 1.2M
$231 MKD 12.3K
62.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$849 COP 2.7M
$396 MKD 21.2K
114.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$719 COP 2.3M
$321 MKD 17.2K
123.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,265 COP 10.3M
$1,569 MKD 83.9K
108.06%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,441 COP 4.5M
$1,355 MKD 72.4K
6.29%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Struga
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$624 COP 2.0M
$878 MKD 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.

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