😐A single person spends $1,641 per month in Medellin vs $910 in Strumica, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,447 per month in Medellin vs $1,275 in Strumica, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,253 per month in Medellin vs $1,640 in Strumica, rent included.
😐Medellin costs about 80% more than Strumica, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Medellin sits 19% above the global median, while Strumica is 34% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.04COP 24.8K
$3.68MKD 194
118.48%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$48.29COP 148.7K
$23.33MKD 1,233
106.99%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.42COP 29.0K
$3.84MKD 203
145.31%
Cappuccino
$2.94COP 9,045
$1.60MKD 84.4
83.75%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.86COP 5,738
$1.43MKD 75.6
30.07%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.46COP 4,481
$1.21MKD 63.9
20.66%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.21COP 9,887
$1.95MKD 103
64.62%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.71COP 17.6K
$2.05MKD 109
178.54%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.44COP 4,431
$1.29MKD 67.9
11.63%
White Bread(500g)
$2.40COP 7,393
$0.82MKD 43.56
192.68%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.70COP 5,230
$1.81MKD 95.9
-6.08%
Eggs
$2.89COP 8,901
$2.31MKD 122
25.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06COP 31.0K
$8.61MKD 455
16.84%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.97COP 30.7K
$6.32MKD 334
57.75%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$14.20COP 43.7K
$10.37MKD 548
36.93%
Apples(1kg)
$3.98COP 12.3K
$0.69MKD 36.57
476.81%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58COP 4,880
$1.48MKD 78.2
6.76%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.15COP 6,627
$1.25MKD 66.2
72.00%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.30COP 7,082
$2.14MKD 113
7.48%
Potato(1kg)
$2.00COP 6,172
$0.87MKD 45.71
129.89%
Onion(1kg)
$1.51COP 4,648
$0.84MKD 44.32
79.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.20COP 3,703
$0.65MKD 34.12
84.62%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.28COP 3,948
$0.62MKD 32.97
106.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.84COP 11.8K
$2.80MKD 148
37.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$14.01COP 43.1K
$5.75MKD 304
143.65%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71COP 5,259
$0.94MKD 49.52
81.91%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.74COP 8,444
$1.25MKD 66.2
119.20%
🚌 Getting Around
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.25COP 3,836
$0.78MKD 41.44
60.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$77.9COP 239.9K
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.31COP 4,018
$1.11MKD 58.5
18.02%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$2.17COP 6,684
$0.65MKD 34.15
233.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$8.29COP 25.5K
$8.07MKD 426
2.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.36COP 4,174
$1.60MKD 84.3
-15.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.5KCOP 84.6M
$36.6KMKD 1.9M
-25.01%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$36.5KCOP 112.5M
$28.6KMKD 1.5M
27.59%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$169COP 519.5K
$154MKD 8,154
9.32%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.57COP 41.8K
$13.20MKD 697
2.80%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.32COP 87.2K
$18.60MKD 983
52.26%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.71COP 140.8K
$20.43MKD 1,079
123.74%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.22COP 53.0K
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.65COP 20.5K
$7.07MKD 374
-5.94%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$803COP 2.5M
$383MKD 20.2K
109.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,190COP 28.3M
$5,508MKD 291.0K
66.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$87.4COP 269.0K
$91.7MKD 4,842
-4.69%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$59.4COP 182.8K
$39.33MKD 2,078
50.95%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$139COP 427.7K
$110MKD 5,810
26.32%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102COP 314.2K
$95.1MKD 5,024
7.30%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,071COP 3.3M
$323MKD 17.0K
231.96%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$653COP 2.0M
$239MKD 12.7K
172.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,925COP 5.9M
$506MKD 26.7K
280.33%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,048COP 3.2M
$296MKD 15.6K
254.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,123COP 12.7M
$1,535MKD 81.1K
168.62%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,697COP 5.2M
$1,008MKD 53.3K
68.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Medellin
Strumica
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$655COP 2.0M
$653MKD 34.5K
0.30%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.94
4
173.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Medellin: September 7, 2026
Last update for Strumica: September 6, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A central one-bedroom costs $1,071 in Medellin versus $323 in Strumica. 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 0% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.
🛒A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin versus $23.00 in Strumica. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $300 vs $187 – making Strumica 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 Strumica: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Strumica cheaper than Medellin?
Yes – Medellin is pricier by about 80%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. 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 $2,462 per month in Medellin and $1,366 in Strumica. 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 Strumica, 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 Strumica?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $48.00 in Medellin and $23.00 in Strumica. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Medellin and in Strumica?
Groceries cost about 60% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $1,000 a realistic budget for living in Medellin or in Strumica?
A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Strumica, where all-in costs run around $910, than in Medellin at $1,641. In Strumica it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Medellin or Strumica more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Strumica – 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 Strumica?
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 Strumica. 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.